The Wizards of VAQ-133, along with all of Carrier Air Wing 9 (CVW-9) and the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), recently passed the official halfway point of their deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation New Dawn (OND). The carrier has been out to sea now for three and a half months with the halfway point fittingly marked by a well deserved port call in Dubai, UAE after 47 consecutive days underway.
The Wizards have been instrumental in the Air Wing’s support of both OEF and OND since the start of combat operations. To meet the high demand for Electronic Attack missions, the VAQ-133 maintenance department continues to provide professional and superior execution, which has been noticed at all levels.
“We’re doing good work out there, and we’re getting results,” said Lt. Cmdr. Kris “Pinto” Reid, who recently returned from temporary duty at the Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC). “There is a lot of interest in what the Prowler can provide in today’s changing battlefield.”
In addition to the hard work involved in keeping jets airborne, the Wizards have been working towards various qualifications, designations and advancements in their spare time. Since the start of deployment, the Wizards have awarded 42 Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist qualifications, three Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist qualifications, and 47 other awards for various acts of merit.
When you work as hard as the Wizards do, there has to be some time allotted to recharge and decompress. Between port calls, activities onboard the Stennis have kept the sailors refreshed and engaged.
One of the most highly attended events was the ship-sponsored swim call. Executed on a no-fly day, the ship shutdown its turbines and established a swimming area on one side of the carrier. Participants were then allowed to jump into the ocean from one of the elevators in the hangar bay, and enjoy some time relaxing in the relatively cool North Arabian Sea. Many members of VAQ-133 took advantage of the opportunity, some for no other reason than to say they leapt from an aircraft carrier into the ocean. Regardless of motive, all appearances indicate it was enjoyable for everyone involved.
Another motivational event was the squadron’s scrub exercise, in which individuals nominated other members within the command to scrub the grease and grime off a section of the flight deck. Top nominees worked diligently on cleaning the center line while many sailors came out to watch their shipmates hard at work at their behest.
As nice as ship-based activities can be, there is no substitute for a port call. Most recently, the ship pulled into Dubai, UAE for four days, allowing sailors a chance to enjoy another part of the world that most had not seen. Moral Welfare and Recreation provided many activities ranging from a trip to Ferrari World to a scuba diving expedition.
For those who decided to get away from boat life for a while, the city had countless opportunities to engage in local customs, culture and cuisine. After a month and a half at sea, everyone appreciated the time off.
The past four months have been very busy for the Wizards and there is even more to look forward to on the horizon. With everyone refreshed following the port visit, all hands are excited to get back to sea and back into the fight. Expect continued excellence from the Wizards, who refuse to grow complacent during their time deployed and who have shown a persistent and unparalleled drive to succeed in combat.
