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thedrifter
09-02-07, 11:11 AM
Miramar squadron placed in cadre status
By Patricia Kime - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Sep 2, 2007 9:36:08 EDT

The Corps has deactivated a Reserve Hornet squadron as part of the Navy and Marine Corps’ sweeping tactical aviation reorganization.

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 134, based in San Diego, was placed in “cadre” status Aug. 11, a standing not unlike a place card: The name exists, but there’s no substance — the squadron is stripped of its aircraft, equipment and personnel.

“Like the Greek gods of Homer, they have earned the right to sleep the sleep of heroes, and even in their sacred slumber will remain ever vigilant to return to the call to arms,” 4th Marine Aircraft Wing commander Brig. Gen. Mark Bircher said during the deactivation ceremony on the flight line at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.

One step above decommissioning, cadre status gives the Marine Corps the option to stand up the squadron without legislative action, Marine Forces Reserve spokeswoman Capt. Erin Wiener said Aug. 22.

“These changes were put in place to better manage the aircraft inventory,” Wiener said. “It’s just part of the decade-long aviation overhaul.”

The squadron, known by the nickname “Smoke,” was activated in 1943 as a Marine scout bombing squadron, and it played a pivotal role in the battles of Bougainville and Peleliu.

The squadron has a varied and storied past, having been deactivated in 1946, reactivated in 1958 and frequently renamed.

Most recently, the squadron’s F/A-18 Hornets provided air support for the Mojave Viper training exercises at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms.

The 220 Marines of the now-defunct squadron will find new homes at other Reserve or active-duty units.

Wiener said 124 squadron members were either active duty or Active Reserve, and those with more than two years on station will receive orders to other duty stations.

Those with fewer than two years at Miramar will be reassigned to nearby drilling units.

“There are so many possibilities. They can transfer to other Marine units and be trained in another [military occupational specialty], or they could do an interservice transfer, or augment to the active component or transfer to the [Individual Ready Reserve],” Wiener said.

Pilots who can’t transfer directly to flying billets also are being told they can train on other airframes such as the KC-130 Hercules, she added.

“Fourth Marine Air Wing is in the process of lining up billets for the members,” Wiener said.

The Marine Corps and Navy announced plans to integrate their tactical aviation forces in 2002.

In a process intended to save the Navy Department billions of dollars, the services have eliminated squadrons, sent Marine Hornets on deployments with carrier air wings and sent Navy Hornets on close-air support missions.

Like previous squadron deactivations, the stand-down of VMFA-134 allowed the Corps to redistribute aircraft.

According to the service, four of the squadron’s Hornets went to Navy squadrons in California and Virginia. One went to a Navy training squadron, and four were transferred to units at Miramar, including Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101 and VMFA-323.

Ellie