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Air Force EWOs showcase "joint" effort in Iraq

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Wes Carter
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq --  As branches of the U.S. military continue to collocate at joint installations and combine resources, an increasing number of Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers, and Marines also find themselves working together in the operational environment to be a more proficient force.

One such unit is a select group of Air Force and Navy electronic warfare officers at Al Asad, Iraq, flying convoy support missions for the Army and Marines - a total force mission package.

Four Air Force EWOs are partnering with the Navy's Electronic Attack Squadron 133 to provide cover from the air to servicemembers on the ground in Iraq. Operating inside the cockpit of an EA-6B Prowler, the uniforms differ slightly, but the mission is the same for both branches.

"It's definitely a unique opportunity to be a part of something so specialized," said Air Force Capt. Jason Constantine, a VAQ-133 electronic warfare officer. "Flying with the Navy offers a different perspective conducting flight operations."

As EWOs, the Airmen not only work with Sailors, but ground forces from all branches involved in missions that VAQ-133 helps protect.

"We are out here for the guys on the ground," Captain Constantine said. "Every time you take off and talk to someone on the ground, you get the human element. You know you're out there helping the fight, trying to save people's lives. Every person you help bring home safely makes everyday out here more than worth it."

The minor differences between the branches do little to impede the performance of the EWO's and have the potential to positively affect the entire joint force concept.

"Being embedded with a Navy squadron for 3 years you really get the joint perspective," Captain Constantine said. "Not only learning how different services work, but getting to appreciate them more and hopefully take back some of their practices to the Air Force to make the joint team a little better."

The opportunity that the Air Force EWOs are partaking in is a sought-after position, not only because they get to work with the Navy or the job satisfaction, but the experience they get in the EA-6B. When embedded with the Navy, the EWO's have the opportunity to become mission instructors, said Navy Commander Frank Mays, VAQ-133's commanding officer.

VAQ-133 is an example of the efficiency joint units can provide to the fight in Iraq and Afghanistan, he said. In the joint environment, individual branches have different missions, but a similar goal.

"At the end of the night we are all on the same team trying to save the same lives," Captain Constantine said.