Page 16 www.NORTHWESTNAVIGATOR.com Northwest Navigator> KITSAP/EVERETT EDITION • Friday, MARCH 19, 2010

in the 7th Fleet AOR supporting the commander’s theater security Black cooperation plan. During this time the Ravens were able to visit Thailand, Ravens Malaysia and Hong Kong. While in port, many of the Ravens par- ticipated in volunteer community projects, helping the local popula- coming tions. One of the most popular programs assisted a local horse riding camp created to benefit the home blind. Following the last port visit, By Lt.j.g. the USS Nimitz and Black Ravens Stephen Murphy headed east for home. Everyone VAQ-135 is looking forwarded to reuniting earing the end of a lengthy with friends and family. eight-month deploy- “I’m most excited about getting ment, the Black Ravens to see my family, having a regular Nof Electronic Attack Squadron schedule and playing with my two (VAQ) 135 are returning to their dogs,” said Naval Career Counselor beloved home port of Naval Air 1st Class (AW/SW) Bryan Lewis, Station Whidbey Island for some Black Ravens’ Command Career well deserved and much needed Counselor. rest. Following the Black Ravens’ Raven family and friends are Lt.j.g. Stephen Murphy home period, the squadron will also preparing to see their loved Four VAQ-135 Prowlers lined up on the carrier deck of USS Nimitz for the transit home to NAS Whidbey Island. begin ramping back up to sup- ones for the first time in quite port the Nimitz Strike Group and a while. Since deploying in July The squadron was well pre- first taste of the busy pace that about the authentic Indian food. Carrier Air Wing Eleven during of 2009, the Black Ravens have pared, having completed all pre- persisted throughout their cruise. Shortly after a transit through the Rim of the Pacific Exercise this been supporting joint and naval deployment training. The transit While operating in the 7th Fleet the Strait of Malacca, the Black summer. For now though, all look operations throughout Asia and across the Pacific was busy. The area of responsibility (AOR), the Ravens began flying missions in forward to a little quality time at the Middle East. Black Ravens got their first real Ravens stopped at various ports, September over Afghanistan in home in the Pacific Northwest. The Black Ravens left NAS taste of flying during deployment including Yokosuka, Japan and support of Operation Enduring VAQ-135 Black Ravens are led Whidbey Island on July 21, 2009 when the air wing participated in Singapore. The crew took full Freedom (OEF). VAQ-135 per- by Commanding Officer, Cmdr. for San Diego, Calif. to board multiple large force exercises near advantage of the port visits and formed at an extremely high James Ware III and Executive the USS Nimitz (CVN 68). After the Hawaiian Islands. enjoyed the local shopping, his- optempo, supporting 185 sorties Officer, Cmdr. Vincent Johnson. a short period at sea to com- Although not scheduled for a toric sights, and cuisine. totaling 1,170 flight hours. During the 2009/2010 WESTPAC plete carrier qualifications, they stop in the Islands, the ship and Technical Cryptologic Although the Ravens began the deployment, in addition to OEF returned to San Diego for two air wing spent a week honing their Technician 2nd Class (AW/SW) transit home in late January 2010, operations, the Black Ravens com- days’ rest. They officially began skills for the coming months of Elizabeth Schroeder referred to the cruise was not over yet. As part pleted over 550 cruise sorties total- their Western Pacific (WESTPAC) combat. The Black Ravens main- Singapore as “a very beautiful and of the Nimitz Strike Group, the ing more than 1,700 hours during deployment on July 31. tenance department also got their culturally diverse city” and raved Ravens spent nearly two months the course of the deployment. VAQ-136 returns to Guam for Cope North By Lt.j.g. Bryon Yamaji bi-annual tactical evalua- F-16,” said Garbitelli. Gauntlet reporter tion, more formally known “Normally in the Prowler During two weeks in as Electronic Warfare I can’t see anything during February, VAQ-136 joined Advanced Readiness the fight.” U.S. Air Force and Japan Air Program (EWARP). With just three jets, the Self Defense Force (JASDF) The squadron prepared Gauntlet team completed squadrons in the annual for this intense period of 42 of 42 scheduled sorties, joint and bilateral exercise flying by undergoing a week 22 of which were Prowler known as Cope North. In of academic lectures back Weapons and Tactics addition to the Gauntlets, at NAF Atsugi in January, Program syllabus events. this iteration of the yearly taught by visiting instruc- The Gauntlets also flew exercise included JASDF tors from the Electronic several large force exercise F-2s from the 6th Squadron, Attack Weapons School missions with a visiting F-22 Tsuiki Air Base and E-2Cs (EAWS) and subject matter Raptor squadron, enabling from the 601st Squadron, experts from Johns Hopkins Gauntlet aircrew to learn Misawa Air Base. University Applied Physics the intricacies of supporting Also participating were Laboratory. EAWS also sent the Air Force’s newest and USAF F-16s from the three instructors to Guam most capable fighter. 18th Aggressor Squadron, for the airborne portion of Two Gauntlets were rec- Eielson Air Force Base, EWARP. ognized at the completion of Alaska, and B-52s that Cope North is one of the Cope North for top perfor- are currently deployed to longest running exercises in mance. One was Garbitelli the Pacific Rim Operating for his professional brief- Andersen AFB, Guam, from Andy Kim the 20th Expeditionary Area. The first Cope North ing and execution in the jet. Bomb Squadron, Barksdale took place in 1978 in Aviation Structural Mechanic Airman Jose Contreras, VAQ-136 Plane Captain (Trainee), gives the Aviation Structural Mechanic AFB, La. Misawa, Japan, while Guam thumbs up to release the jet to the pilot, Lt. Cmdr. Hunter Bankart, to fly a Large Force Exercise at Cope 3rd Class (AW) Tim Mingle This year’s detachment has hosted the last eleven. North at Anderson AFB, Guam. was also recognized for keep- also served as the Gauntlets’ This year marked the fifth ing the jets in combat-ready time that JASDF partici- vices and countries. the back of an F-16 dur- condition every day. pants were able to drop live In addition to sor- ing a BFMC training flight “Cope North is a realistic ordnance for training. The ties flown in support of against the Prowler. exercise for today’s fight,” overall focus of this year’s the exercise, 100 percent One of those selected was said Lt. Ben Reust, “I learned exercise was to coordinate, of Gauntlet aircrew flew Lt. Joey Garbitelli, Gauntlet how to effectively employ plan and successfully exe- against F-16 aggressors for pilot and Landing Signal my Prowler in concert with cute missions incorporating Basic Fighter Maneuver Officer. my sisters and brothers in the various challenges that Counters (BFMC) training. “I finally had situation- the Air Force, even if there are presented when VAQ- A few Gauntlets also had al awareness to the entire was no ship to drive here in 136 works with other ser- the opportunity to fly in engagement while in the Tumon Bay!”