Marine Fighter Attack Squadron VMFA 323 — better known as the “Death Rattlers” — completed training in Nevada last week prior to their deployment on the USS Nimitz in the summer.
“This gives us an opportunity to hone our sills and prepare ourselves for deployment,” said Maj. Scott Foster, the squadron’s operations officer.
The training took place at Naval Air Station Fallon over a one-month period ended last week.
“The air wing gets together and focuses on a lot of air-specific things,” said Foster, adding that they trained for “large-force strikes, focusing on all the mission sets of the F/A-18.”
The Miramar-based unit is one of two Marine F/A-18 Hornet squadrons that deploy aboard Navy aircraft carriers, providing additional strike capability.
The Bremerton, WA-based Nimitz is the oldest of the Navy’s 10 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.
