Far from the water, close to the mission

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tong Duong
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  Far from the water but close to the mission, members of the Navy VP-26 Patrol Squadron are enjoying being deployed on an air base, they say.

"We really appreciate being on an Air Force base, because of the facilities and it's a great feeling to come back to solid ground after a mission," said Lt. Jonathan Jacesko, a Navy flight officer. "With our flight schedule so varied, having services like a 24-hour galley (dining facility) is nice and we look forward to the opening of the Blatchford-Preston Complex pool."

Exposure and the ability to interact with sister services and coalition forces is another advantage the sailors pointed out.

"This is a very big and diverse base, everything seems to run so smoothly," said Tanika Milligan, Petty Officer 3rd Class, VP-26 personnel specialist on her second deployment. "One of the reasons that I joined the Navy was to experience different things."

The Navy members have traded in their "Cracker Jack" and utility blue uniforms for desert camouflage and boonie hats. Their mission here is to fly the Navy's P-3C Orion in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.

"Our primary mission is anti-submarine warfare, but we contribute to the security of the entire region by providing reconnaissance missions, which in turn improves the air wing's lines of supply and communication," said Lieutenant Jacesko. 

Patrol Squadron 26, a maritime patrol squadron with a worldwide theater of operations is based out of Naval Air Station Brunswick, Maine. These sailors deploy for six months at a time and currently have more than 200 sailors assigned in support of the P-3C Orion on the air base.

According to U.S. Navy fact sheets, the P-3C is a land-based, long range anti-submarine warfare patrol aircraft. It has advanced submarine detection sensors such as directional frequency and ranging sonobuoys and magnetic anomaly detection equipment.

The P-3C's mission evolved in the late ninties and early 21st century to include surveillance of the battle space. 

Either at sea or over land, its long range and long loiter time have been very useful during Operation Iraqi Freedom as it can view the battle space and instantaneously provide that information to ground troops. 

"This base fosters a sense of camaraderie and really embodies the phrase, 'One team, one fight.' " Petty Officer Milligan said.

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