The Maritime Patrol Squadron One, the Screaming Eagles, recently returned from Guam, where they spent two weeks participating in exercise Valiant Shield. Valiant Shield is a biennial, U.S.-only exercise that integrates the Navy, Marine Corps, Army and Air Force.
The goal of the exercise is to refine the interoperability of the four services against collective land, sea, air and cyberspace adversaries. This year’s exercise included 18,000 sailors, more than 200 aircraft, and 19 surface ships from two carrier strike groups.

In addition to managing daily operations, the Screaming Eagles completed 63 missions for 302 tactical flight hours. Flights were conducted around the clock and missions included anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, and direct and associated support to two carrier strike groups.

VP-1’s Combat Aircrew 11 completed a very successful AGM-85K Harpoon air to surface missile engagement as part of a live-fire sinking exercise against the decommissioned 5,000 ton USS Fresno. The shot validated a Maritime Patrol Reconnaissance Aircraft tactic for long-range, low-altitude Harpoon employment and was the first of its kind in the MPRA community.

Valiant Shield provided a great opportunity for joint training with other services as well as within the MPRA community. It also gave the squadron a glimpse into operations in the Western Pacific, which was invaluable in their preparations for their upcoming deployment. The hard work and tireless dedication of all in VP-1 helped make Valiant Shield a successful exercise, while also strengthening camaraderie within the squadron.