As a pilot with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 225 landed the last of eight F/A-18s here, the rumor suggesting the exercise might be cancelled was crushed.
Due to typhoon conditions in the original flight-path from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, the rumor was all concern but exercise Air Warrior 2009 officially commenced here June 23.
Air Warrior is a multi-lateral exercise demonstrating joint and multinational capabilities, and improving interoperability between the United States and Malaysia.
“It’s an opportunity to build relations with another one of our allies because it may be that we have to fight alongside them,” said Lt. Col. Douglas W. Pasnik, commanding officer for VMFA(AW)-225.
To lubricate the gears, most units currently aboard MCAS Iwakuni are aiding VMFA(AW)-225s efforts including, Marine Aircraft Group 12, Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12, Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 and Marine Air Controller Squadron 4.
The exercise will provide VMFA(AW)-225 pilots the opportunity to engage air-to-air targets and, in the later stages of the exercise, the movement of multinational ground forces via Navy ships.
Pasnik said the greater scope allows the Marines and all forces involved to operate in a Marine Air-Ground Task Force.
Air Warrior, as the name implies, is the air component of the overall exercise Landing Force Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training.
LF CARAT is a multi-faceted exercise incorporating units from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines as well as U.S. forces.
While the initial part of Air Warrior will be focused on combating a Malaysian squadron of Mikoyan MiG-29s, the exercise is scheduled to culminate in an amphibious assault supported by the F/A-18s of VMFA(AW)-225.
“The opportunity to fight that fourth generation MiG is the opportunity of a lifetime,” said Pasnik.
Even though the Marines on the ground won’t get the opportunity, their support will prove just as instrumental in the successful execution of the exercise.
“We’re really looking forward to bringing our team together,” said Pasnik. “We’ve got a lot of good Marines.”