RAAF TINDAL, NT, AUSTRALIA -- Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 concluded flight operations for Southern Frontier at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, Sept. 1, 2016.

VMFA-122 gained experience and qualifications in close air support, air ground, high explosive ordnance delivery and low altitude tactics during the three week unit level training.

The biennial training evolution afforded the squadron several training opportunities not readily available in Japan or the U.S. VMFA-122 arrived to RAAF Tindal at the end of a six month deployment to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan.

“Training at Tindal allowed us to employ a large amount of high explosive ordnance and to support 1st Battalion, 1st Marines on the ground through close air support,” said U.S. Marine Corps Maj. David Dunsworth, F/A-18C Hornet pilot assigned to VMFA-122. “We took advantage of training while in Australia because we could not execute certain missions or drop ordnance while in Japan. There are also not a lot of live ranges in the states that we are able to utilize. All these opportunities are available to us here.”

Southern Frontier kicked off with close air support to ground combat units at Bradshaw Range Complex. Close air support is the employment of air-to-ground ordnance in support of ground forces that requires detailed coordination with forward air controllers and joint terminal attack controllers attached to the ground units.

“This training increased both the squadron’s and the infantry unit’s preparedness to provide close air support in any future combat missions,” said U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Matthew Halbert, operations officer for VMFA-122. “Coordinating with forward air controllers and joint terminal attack controllers on the ground also increased qualifications and proficiency while ensuring both units are ready to properly support a close air support mission.”

A crucial part of close air support is dropping ordnance. With an end result of 114 tons with a net explosive weight of 69,767 pounds of ordnance dropped, members of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 built 1,000 and 2,000 pounds munitions as well as laser guided bomb units to support of the squadron’s mission.

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. James Martin, aviation ordnance officer for MALS-12 and Marine Aircraft Group 12, said he is happy to have accomplished the MAG-12 mission and successfully supported the flying squadron’s training requirements, helping his Marines train and the pilots gain qualifications.

During the last week of training, the squadron performed low-altitude tactics training, flying below 500 feet to evade simulated enemy radar detection or to escape enemy aircraft vectored toward friendly aircraft. By integrating low-altitude tactics into the training evolution, pilots gained their final qualifications during Southern Frontier.

Members of Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 and MAG-12 also supported VMFA-122 throughout the training with aircraft rescue firefighters and aircraft refuelers, making it possible to complete the mission successfully, trained and qualified.

"Southern Frontier wrapped up an incredible squadron detachment to Australia for not only VMFA-122, but also for the MAG-12 team,” said U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Derek M. Brannon, VMFA-122 commanding officer. “The herculean efforts of the MALS-12 and VMFA-122 ordnance teams allowed the squadron to employ nearly 230,000 pounds of high explosive ordnance in just two weeks. We were also able to complete one fighter attack instructor qualification, four low-altitude qualifications, and one low-altitude instructor designation. As we prepare to head home, I am positive VMFA-122 is a much better squadron with regards to training readiness, MOS proficiency, and mission execution than we were six months ago. But that being said, it is time to get home to our families."

VMFA-122 will make the journey home to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina after a six month deployment to MCAS Iwakuni with the Unit Deployment Program. The squadron’s training in the Pacific region prepared them for the culminating events, Exercise Pitch Black 2016 and Southern Frontier and equipped them with the experience and strength to protect and defend.