The Lancers of VAQ-131 are homeward bound having recently completed their support of Operations Enduring Freedom (OEF) and New Dawn (OND).

The 160 Lancers successfully supported every tasked mission over the four months they spent on station in the North Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf.

“I’m extremely proud of what we’ve accomplished as a squadron,” said Cmdr. Tom Huerter, VAQ-131 Commanding Officer, praising his team. “Every member of this Command directly contributed to the successful completion of our mission. We were able to achieve a 100 percent combat sortie completion rate due to the hard work and perseverance of our Sailors.”

VAQ-131 provided vital Electronic Attack support to U.S. and Coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. These missions often involved complex coordination with troops on the ground who consistently relied on the capabilities of the Prowler to accomplish their mission.

“It was always very rewarding to hear back from the troops about how effective we were and how much we helped them,” said Lt. William Carson. “Ground troops would often report to the Lancers that our jamming was essential to succeed in combat.”

The Lancers flew over 140 combat sorties and almost 800 hours in support of OEF and OND. The dedicated Sailors of VAQ-131 completed the daunting task of keeping the Prowlers flying daily, performing 25 hours of maintenance for every hour of flight time.

“The hours were long, and the work very challenging, but we always remembered the importance of what we were doing out here,” said Aviation Electrician’s Mate 1st Class Melissa Murphy.

VAQ-131 has been on deployment since the early fall and will continue to support maritime security operations for the 7th Fleet until returning home. While deployment is far from over, the Lancers stand proud after having completed their primary mission of supporting the troops on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq.