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VP-4 ready for 2003 deployment

Hawai'i Navy News

Release Date: 6/6/2003

Lt. j.g. Joshua Calloway VP-4 Public Affairs

Excitement builds in Hanger 104 as Patrol Squadron 4 (VP 4) prepares to embark on a six-month deployment to the Far East. The hanger is cluttered with boxes, pallets, and crates as squadron members pack up their workspaces because "everything must go." In addition walls are being painted and floors waxed to hand over the hangar spaces to the returning patrol squadron, VP-9.

Deployment preparations began months ago as Combat Aircrews (CAC) qualified in dozens of mission areas including anti-submarine warfare, maritime and over land reconnaissance, maritime patrol, and the employment of multiple weapon systems. Aircrews and maintenance personnel have also been extremely busy receiving immunizations, attending force protection briefs, and receiving presentations on deployment sites. Additionally, VP-4 personnel have been preparing their families for the extended separation by putting personal, legal, and financial affairs in order. This flurry of activity is taking place while still conducting a busy flight schedule, maintenance and ground training.

While on deployment the squadron will be divided between two sites in Japan; Misawa Naval Air Facility, and Kadena Air Base. They are ready to take on operational tasking, patrolling areas in the Sea of Japan, East and South China Seas, as well as vast amounts of the Pacific. VP-4 will also be participating in multiple scheduled and unscheduled training exercises including Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2003. CARAT is a series of bilateral exercises held annually throughout Southeast Asia that originally began in 1995 by combining a number of separate exercises under one hat. It involves training in areas such as operational planning, tactics, command and control, logistic support, maritime law, and community service programs.

The overarching goal of CARAT is the enhancement of regional cooperation, promotion of understanding between participating military forces and the continued development of operational readiness of participating forces through mutually beneficial training scenarios. VP-4 aircrews and maintenance personnel will send small detachments to several of the countries including Thailand, Brunei, Singapore and Malaysia. Simultaneously, the squadron will also be participating in is the Southeast Asia Cooperation Against Terrorism (SEACAT) exercise. The same countries and assets participating in CARAT will also participate in SEACAT, which is a U.S. Pacific Fleet sponsored exercise that began in 2002.

These are just a few of the operations and exercises the "Skinny Dragons" will be participating in while the squadron takes its "turn on watch" in the Seventh Fleet Area of Operations. The squadron is well prepared to tackle the wide variety missions as well as dealing with the hardship of being separated from loved ones. The "Skinny Dragons" are poised to do the job they have been preparing for and will eagerly assume the position at the "tip of the spear" for the Navy.