OAK HARBOR, Wash. –
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) graduated its first five aviators from the training pipeline of the EA-18G Growler during a ceremony at the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI) Officers' Club, Feb. 27.
Australia currently flies F/A-18 Hornets and F/A-18E Super Hornets so joint cooperation on the new EA-18G Growler is based on a familiar airframe.
"It's gone very well for the first [Australian] graduates," said Cmdr. Tabb Stringer, Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129 commanding officer. "It was obvious they hand-picked them and sent really bright people."
RAAF will continue to train and work with electronic attack squadrons in preparation for receiving their own Growlers. One of the five graduates is already deployed with VAQ-135.
"The [U.S.] Navy was good enough to allow us to put a whole stack of people with the VAQ community, which means we can get experience," said RAAF Air Commodore Mike Kitcher, Air Force director, general capability planning. "When our aircraft turn up in 2017, we'll have experienced crews that can form the nucleus of the squadron, and take us forward from there."
The strong relationship between the U.S. Navy and the RAAF continues to bolster with this positive cooperation.
"The fact that the Growler is only being sold to Australia means that pretty much it's a U.S. Navy effort that Australia has been allowed to be part of," said Kitcher. "We feel extremely privileged to be such a close partner on the Growler capability."
The RAAF members went through different types of training with the squadrons to get up to speed on the EA-18G Growler. The training was based on the level of prior experience each individual had with similar airframes.
"It's really a dream come true," said Squadron Leader Shannon Kennedy, a recent graduate. "As an O-4 you don't normally go on exchanges, so to get this gig was brilliant. I get to bring my family over here, my kids get to see something different and get a bit of worldly experience."
The two countries benefit from this type of training where they both can bring different understanding and knowledge to the environment.
"I think it's a win-win situation," said Kitcher. "We've sent what we believe are quality aviators across here, and certainly the Navy seems to be really happy with them as well. I think their experience and their way of doing things is also helping the Navy out."
This cooperation will continue over an extended period of time as the RAAF continues to train with the U.S.
"We will be providing quality Australian aviators to the Navy system over the next few years, which I think will also benefit the U.S. Navy," said Kitcher.