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By Lt. Thomas MorrisVAQ-132

For two weeks in December 2009, Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nev. was completely inundated with naval electronic attack. The Air Force Mission Employment phase of training, a graduation exercise for their Weapons School, usually includes the Electronic Attack Weapons School (EAWS) as a player.

However, this last exercise also included Electronic Attack squad-rons VAQ-131, VAQ-132, VAQ-137, and VAQ-138, flying different variants of the EA-6B and the new EA-18G. VX-9, the air test and evaluation squadron, was also on hand to lend their expertise.

It was exciting to see all of the EA assets working together in one place, said Lt. Cmdr. Philip Zarum. We had aircrew flying both active variants of the EA-6B

with their own range of capa-bilities, and we had the opportu-nity to integrate them with the

capabilities of the EA-18G and everything we bring to the fight. I think we all learned a lot from the

experience.Since VAQ-132 finished the

transition to the Growler in September 2009, they have been on several detachments, including time spent at Naval Air Weapon Station China Lake, Calif., NAS Fallon, Nev., and Nellis AFB. Most of the flying time on those detach-ments was dedicated to building aircrew experience in the new aircraft, as well as developing procedures and tactics for future Growler squadrons to follow.

Saturation of the electronic spectrum means there is very little that any warfighter can ignore, said Lt. Kevin Cahill, VX-9s EA-18G operational test direc-tor. VAQ-132 will be taking the most advanced EA platform to the Fleet and executing their mis-sions with ease after this rigorous exercise. The knowledge we have gained working with this squad-

ron will aid in follow-on tests for the EA-18G.

In the coming months VAQ-132 will stay busy with multiple detachments, including several more joint exercises. Cmdr. Scott Bunnay, commanding officer of VAQ-132, is confident that the squadron is coming together as a fully mission capable EA-18G squadron.

These large force exercises are giving our squadron, from the air-crew to our maintainers, the expe-rience that we will need to become a combat effective unit capable of executing our Electronic Attack mission, said Bunnay. Helping EAWS and VX-9 also represents an investment in the future of our community, so we will continue to work with these agencies as well.

Scorpions make EA-18G exercise debut

Kristen Levasseur

Cmdr. Scott Bunnay, VAQ-132 commanding officer, and Lt. Cmdr. Chase Dale pilot aircraft 500 over the mountains in China Lake, Calif.

NOPF Whidbey IslandDuring a recent trip to

Subic Bay, Philippines, the crew of the USNS Impeccable (T-AGOS 23), based out of Naval Ocean Processing Facility, Whidbey Island (NOPF Whidbey Island) partici-pated in a community ser-vice project with Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron (MSRON) 7, Guam to aid the Subic Bay Childrens Home located in Olongapo City.

The Subic Bay Childrens Home was founded by Pastor Theodore F. Fulfer in 1990. The home is located on a seven-acre property and consists of a white-walled, shingled school house, dormitories and a church that is reminiscent of a large hut with one back wall where a stage has been set up for large gatherings.

Since the home opened, over 300 children have been taken in and rescued from

a life of starvation, physical abuse and sexual exploita-tion. Currently, 49 children live in the home.

MSRON 7 Master at Arms 1st Class Jason Falls, securi-ty force officer in charge and Master at Arms 1st Class Daniel Girgan, coordinated the project with Associate Pastor Odek Valbuena, who oversees the shelter.

After a few pictures the crew broke into teams and went to work painting inte-rior walls; building and re-screening windows and doors; and digging an irri-gation ditch. The hardest job involved moving boul-ders swept away during a recent typhoon back into place to support a hand-built dam. The dam is a vital part in supplying fresh water to the home.

The crew of the Impeccable faced many challenges during their visit. Digging a 12-inch deep, forty foot long ditch with

a pick ax and a shovel was quite an adventure.

We take for granted the access to tools and supplies we have at home. Here it is a different story. There are only a few tools to the work with and thats it. said SURTASS Mission Commander Lt. Mike Spangler.

Through their efforts volunteers raised over $847 and contributed hours of labor desperately needed to help the mission continue. The home used the some of the donations to provide a healthy, filling meal for the children.

Everyone from the shel-ter was extremely apprecia-tive and grateful for all the hard work accomplished in a short period of time. Sailors were treated to a home-cooked meal despite a food shortage and were given a nice send off by the children, who sang a few songs and presented them with certifi-

cates of appreciation. This will be a visit

Impeccable crewmembers will never forget. It wasnt just breaking boulders and building doors; it was breaking down barriers

and building bridges with a community in need.

Halfway around the world, it was the experience as these underprivileged children sang, smiled, and laughed with the Sailors of

the USNS Impeccable. This experience symbolizes more than a port visit, it repre-sents the continued efforts of the men and women of the U.S. Navy to go forth and build relationships.

Whidbey Sailors reach out to Philippines children