San Diego Union Tribune pays respect to USN Chopper Command.
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Hooray for Navy Helicopter Pilots
- Thread starter KBayDog
- Start date
Aren't there two helo squadrons on a Carrier? Where are the other guys who have been there all along? Nice.
Not necessarily. Traditionally, there has only been one. And the main point of the article is talking about the legacy LAMPS community that was based on small boys migrating to deploying as a whole squadron from traditional model of Dets with CO/XO being shore-based. That community operated the SH-60B variant of the Seahawk whereas the carrier helo was the SH-60F (joined later by HH-60H). The advent of the R model allowed one variant to serve the small boy and carrier.
Meanwhile, some air wings have been augmented by a MH-60S squadron, which is a totally different variant. Perhaps that is what you're thinking about, but not what the article is focused on.
Must've been a slow news day...I keed, I keed...but really...
I'm not gonna lie. It was pretty cool to see the article top center on the front page when I woke up yesterday morning and have neighbors and friends ask "is that what you do?" But a split second later, the helo bubba in me woke up and remembered that I kind of like being one of the Navy's redheaded stepchildren. I like the blue collar feel of my condemned hangar, my chewed up brown boots with kneeknocker scars, and being in a wardroom where nobody is too cool for school. I'm all for the first Bubba CAG, but I hope that guy doesn't have to sell his soul and stand on the backs of his troops to get it. And WHEN he does get it, I hope he remembers his humble roots. End of aimless rant.
Funny you should ask...up til now, every single one of my underways has been on a gator (2 Mid cruises, H2P, HAC, MINI tour). Looks like my next det is going to be of the VERTREP variety. Psyched.
I think Lumpy's point was that the article made it sound like helos had never been based on a carrier. It talks about how they now have a ready room, skipper at sea, gyms etc. HS has had this for ages. It's only new to HSM bubbas.
Helo CONOPS calls for each air wing to have two squadrons: HSM and HSC(cvw). This concept was test by using HSL and HS squadrons. HSM will be the new kids on the block. The HSC squadrons will have come from HS squadrons that transitioned to the 60S.
I know this was talked about as making life better for the HSM bubbas. As having their CO there would decrease shenanigans that got pulled on OICs in the past. Any reports on how that's actually working, from a non-news article source?
I have to say I "enjoyed" the article about the potential of a helo CAG. Funny how everyone but the pointy nose guys think it would work fine. How many times has anyone walked into CVIC for a strike (or any planning) team and found a fixed wing guy who knew anything about any of our missions? Yet for the most part, the helo guys have a pretty good grasp on what all the players do. Might be nice to have someone who can speak to all missions.
Concur. Reporter may even think that. No doubt it's confusing to outsiders with all the active and reserve helo squadron designation changes and multiple 60 variants (6 and counting when you include the VH versions and then there's multiple MH-60S configurations due to mission kits and lot/blocks) even in Navy alone. It's especially daunting for reporters trying to grasp it all and make a deadline.
First to go through Fallon...
HJ photo
If missions and demand signal for Expeditionary tagged squadrons ramp up, then you just might see CO and/or XO deploying. Watch that space for sure. It's been a long time coming! Just might see more helos on deck than fixed wing if situation calls for it....it's happened before and just might happen again...
USS Kitty Hawk post 9/11 in intial stages of OEF with Helicopter Assault Force embarked and considerable amount of Air Wing left ashore.
USSOCOM image
Unfortunately the next time the opportunity for that type of deployment came up and real lives were on the line, CAG said no way would he take his jets off the boat for a bunch of helos. So that time the KHK stayed home and another boat got to do the real work. Funny how some sort of politics always seems to come up.