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Sidewinders Return Home

Navy Newsstand

Story Number: NNS040318-07

Release Date: 3/18/2004 12:20:00 PM

By Journalist Seaman Sara Gray, USS Enterprise Public Affairs

ABOARD USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea (NNS) -- The "Sidewinders" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 86 returned to their home base at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C., in late February, after a successful deployment as part of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1, embarked aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65).

"We have had a nearly flawless deployment," said Commanding Officer Cmdr. Mark Brooks. "We have racked up 3,000 flight hours, 1,500 sorties, 1,500 landings, 160 combat sorties and 750 combat hours, and we have had zero mishaps."

VFA-86 is made up of 230 personnel who fly and maintain the F/A-18 Hornet. "We fly the most mature F/A-18 in the fleet," said Brooks. "This means that we have to maintain our aircraft just a little bit harder than everybody else, and we have done that."

When the Sidewinders are not busy maintaining and flying aircraft, they are constantly working toward personal and professional growth. "We have had a very successful deployment," said CMDCM (AW/SCW) Melvin Girard, squadron command master chief. "I measure that success by the fact that not only have we flown and maintained aircraft, but that we have done that in conjunction with what I call 'people programs.'"

The Sidewinders' people programs are designed to help their Sailors advance in their naval career, whether it is Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist (EAWS) training, on-the-job training, advancement in-rate training or mentorship programs.

"I have had the pride of pinning on 45 EAWS pins," said Brooks. "We also have had one of the highest numbers of personnel to advance in rate within Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1. Our personnel are accomplishing their career goals while working just as hard, if not harder, than their peers."

Based out of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C., the Sidewinders have overcome many obstacles from the very beginning of deployment.

"It has been very challenging for us," said Brooks. "We had to deal with the fact that we didn't know when we would be leaving during the pre-deployment workups. We weren't sure what our focus would be in relation to the global war on terrorism. But we overcame that and stayed focused on what we had to do. We are very proud to be a part of this strike group."

"We did what we were supposed to do," said Girard. "This is a really good squadron, and the Sailors here did really well. I couldn't be more proud of them."