Navy Helo MEDEVAC Update 2515th Navy Air Ambulance Deatchment

[wink]

So if it's got a red cross you can't put any sort of defensive weapons on it?

Here is what I got from some phrog guys whose squadron deployed as a CASEVAC unit. The Navy is working under the Army protocol. Red Crosses, no crew served weapons, Dust Off call signs. When the Marines deploy they take the same missions, but they do not use the Dust Off call sign. That is because when the Army asked for help with Dust Off the Marines declined to play their game unarmed. So, it is CASEVAC for the Marines because they are armed, Dust Off/AA for the Navy. I expect that is because the Navy was so happy to get the invite, they just went along with the Army program. They should have held out for the .50 cals in the doors.

 

[bobbybrock]

Most army bubbas get to do their dust quals at Udari pre movement north. I had about 400 hours of desert time at the NTC prior to deployment. It was an eye opener. The lack of vegitaion makes for some big time pucker factor.

 

[zero]

Wink, not to sound nitpicky but CASEVAC stand for Casualty Evacuation. Your basic grab and go. MEDEVAC stands for MEDICAL Evacuation. The difference being in-flight care is provided via Navy SAR Corpsman. The mission is different from the Marines in that we don't expect to go in guns blazing to pull guys off the front line every launch. We do move folks from lower levels of care to higher while providing in-flight medical assistance.

I'll stay out of the politics of 'happy to be getting the invite' to go. I'd say being volun-told from extremely high up is more accurate. From what I understand the last sentence of your opening thread to this forum is the level where the assistance was requested. After that, "make it happen" was the name of the game. It just so happens that some of us don't mind being here and are excited about the new mission. But you're right on about us working for the Army, my tier 3 Commander is an Army Lt Col.

On moonless hazy nights at Udari unprepared landings ARE IMC, both external and internal. I never imagined I'd get pelted by rocks bouncing off the inside of the windscreen from the back gunners windows (despite the CC and 2C's attempts to shut them quickly after touchdown!).

 

[Gatordev]

I'll stay out of the politics of 'happy to be getting the invite' to go. I'd say being volun-told from extremely high up is more accurate. From what I understand the last sentence of your opening thread to this forum is the level where the assistance was requested. After that, "make it happen" was the name of the game. It just so happens that some of us don't mind being here and are excited about the new mission. But you're right on about us working for the Army, my tier 3 Commander is an Army Lt Col.

Is there anyone below the star level that isn't happy about this? Seems like, besides the getting shot at part, it would be greatly accepted in order to broaden the skill-set and do more than just moving pallets from place to place or providing SSC/Stbd D coverage.

 

[wink]

Wink, not to sound nitpicky but CASEVAC stand for Casualty Evacuation. Your basic grab and go. MEDEVAC stands for MEDICAL Evacuation. The difference being in-flight care is provided via Navy SAR Corpsman. The mission is different from the Marines in that we don't expect to go in guns blazing to pull guys off the front line every launch. We do move folks from lower levels of care to higher while providing in-flight medical assistance.

I'll stay out of the politics of 'happy to be getting the invite' to go. I'd say being volun-told from extremely high up is more accurate. From what I understand the last sentence of your opening thread to this forum is the level where the assistance was requested. After that, "make it happen" was the name of the game. It just so happens that some of us don't mind being here and are excited about the new mission. But you're right on about us working for the Army, my tier 3 Commander is an Army Lt Col.

On moonless hazy nights at Udari unprepared landings ARE IMC, both external and internal. I never imagined I'd get pelted by rocks bouncing off the inside of the windscreen from the back gunners windows (despite the CC and 2C's attempts to shut them quickly after touchdown!).

Appreciate the effort at straightening out what I was led to believe. But I am still confused so help me out. I didn't think the Marines went in guns blazing just because they had them or were more or less likely to get the hot assignments. My impression was that the Marines, CASEVAC, and Navy/Army MEDEVAC, conducted the same mission and were assigned missions/sorties without much regard for whether it was Army Navy or Marines. I was told the difference in name was largely because the Marines opted for guns and could not, therefore be called MEDEVAC/Dust Off. I certainly didn't think there was a different level of care or capability between the Navy Dust Off and Marine CASEVAC. Both are crewed by USN Corpsmen. So is there a difference and does that determine the types of missions assigned?


Glad you guys are getting the opportunity to fly in that environment and learn a new mission. Good luck.

 

[Lawman]

Im really curious why the Army is sticking with the Red Cross, it isnt like our enemies are respecting it. Take off the red cross placard and add some guns, you can still have the same amount of medical equiptment on board you jsut arent counting in Int'l law to protect you anymore. I realize any of the Army guys here probably dont have a say in policy, is this a case of "we've always done it this way"?

This is what I was wondering too. With reguards to the escort requirement in country, isnt there any way to just cover/subdue the red cross and throw guns on the Dash 2 or add a 3rd ship but draw from your own stock so to speak instead of trying to coordinate your assets with a group tasked specifically for escort? It seems like it would make plenty enough sense if you could since as was stated earlier all these escorts are sometimes is a single aircraft with the crew serve weapons that the medivacs arent allowed to carry. Would this method work? Or is there some rule that doesnt allow quick removal of that red cross from the aircraft?

 

[eddie]

It sounds like Navy AA is building a huge legacy. Should be greatn material for a book. I hope someone is documenting the Navy Helo Air Ambulance mission so it can be published. Hopefully you guys will build a legacy similar to HC-7 during SEA.

With Rivron 1 standing up and (I believe) deploying next year, it got me to thinking if we'd ever see dedicated Navy helo support for these kind of units a la HAL-3.

Maybe the Romeo / Sierra transition makes that impossible, or has already accounted for it.

 

[zero]

Im really curious why the Army is sticking with the Red Cross, it isnt like our enemies are respecting it. Take off the red cross placard and add some guns, you can still have the same amount of medical equiptment on board you jsut arent counting in Int'l law to protect you anymore. I realize any of the Army guys here probably dont have a say in policy, is this a case of "we've always done it this way"?

Yes

 

[KHMech]

2515th NAAD

Hello,
Lets see if I can catch you guys up to speed. I am a leading powerplant technician on the MH-60S, deployed out here from HSC-21 "Blackjacks". Currently we are doing the change over with WAVE III which is a mixture of HSC-21 and HSC-23 from San Diego. The Mission from here on out the is going to be covered by six MH60S Knighthawk helicopters. The past six months have been a great learning experience for all of us involved. We now know exactly what the aircraft is capable of in all weather conditions, from extreme rain and cold to 140+ degree temperatures and lots of sandstorms. The weather out here was something else, the heat and sandstorms were kicking our butts, but we've adapted well. Plus we got the chance to work hand in hand with the Hotel bubbas and the Army. It's definately different from the boat.
As for our bretheren from HS-15, this is the end of their Air Ambulance Missions here in Kuwait, but their contributions to this mission have been nothing less than outstanding and I'm glad I got the chance to work with them. I'm not sure what the MEDEVAC count is at now, but I'm sure Zero would know. We are still flying missions in Kuwait and out to the Northern Arabian Gulf (NAG), and of course doing the famous Navy PMC missions, at least there's no Starboard D out here. I'm sure the Pilots are thankful for that.
If you guys have any questions, I will try to answer them to the best of my abilities as OPSEC permits. Here's a weblink to a short video on NMCN (Navy Marine Corps News) about us. http://www.navy.mil/view_videos.asp?page=519&sort_type=0&sort_row=1

"To fly is heavenly, to hover is GODLY"

 

[Shrek]

Boots in the dirt...

Wave IV just left Guam about a week ago, and I am currently in the pipeline for wave V. It is interesting going through the Army training on how they do business, quite a bit different than the Navy. If you have any questions from a pilot's point of view shoot me an email. Also, as far as the Air medals go, NONE of our guys who went with the initial wave got them because of politics, they were saved for the carrier guys, even though we were the ones on the ground, flying in country. It may have changed since then, but as far as I know, no Navy Air Ambulance Detachment (NAAD) fliers have recieved them.
Go NAADS!!!

 

[Firehawk]

Amazing how low profile HCS stayed. Guess that's because we've kept our noses clean.

HCS-4 was redesignated HSC-84 and retained HH-60H airframes, but HCS-5 was disestablished outright. Several HH-60H aircraft were transferred from HCS-5 to HCS-4 to replace the airframes that were borrowed by the fleet in 2002.

HSC-84, under the control of HSCWINGLANT, continues the HCS mission in Iraq.

From March 2003 to December 2006, HCS flew over 5200 hours of direct combat support and performed over 2000 sorties, with ZERO loss of life. Over 1000 decorations have been awarded to HCS personnel, including several Bronze Stars, the Navy Cross, DFC's, and over 800 AH and AS Air Medals.

HCS Navy helicopters have been on the forward edge of the battle area in Iraq since day one.

....and, all this from "a bunch of Reservists".

 

[Stearmann4]

Firehawk,

Not trying to be an OPSEC Nazi, but locations dates, units, and specific types and numbers of aircraft all in the same paragraph is not good business. Especially when referring to spec-ops units.


quote no longer needed

 

[hscs]

Concur -- can we get someone to delete this post please?

 

[BigIron]

I've trimmed it up. Reads better now?

 

[phrogpilot73]

I've trimmed it up. Reads better now?

Perhaps clean up the quote in Stearmann's post? The info is still there...