With that, I'll jump in.
@Brett327, you stating the problems, solutions, and missions executed by my community has about as much credibility as when you stated that you teach pilots how to fly and trap on the boat. I'm happy to have a legitimate discussion with individuals such as
@Python1287 who genuinely owns that he doesn't know that much about HSC and would like to learn. To this point, you are the only one that I have seen from other communities, specifically VFA and VAQ that sells as having a clue about what we do. The typical HSC JO, whether CVW or expeditionary will spend the overwhelming majority of his time doing PMC and SAR/MEDEVAC. This is especially true of CVW squadrons. And yet, they are a valuable asset for FAC/FIAC if the mission arises, as well as other ASUW areas and overwater SOF/PR. But even when shown multiple examples of instances where we have executed missions outside of that, you call it the "laughably aspirational state of HSC" and those missions aren't visible to the naked eye.
@lowflier03, DT, and the boys did great things in Irbil. I don't give two shits what you think about the video on youtube.
On two deployments, I executed ASUW, NTISR, and operational overwater SOF support. From a training standpoint, I have supported CAG (not the Navy Air Wing Commander), MARSOC, DEVGRU and others. I understand that I won't be their first call and maybe not at all. But its a blast to support their training and the flights are a great time. That being said, I agree with you that I mostly flew trash and ass. And I'm ok with that. I love the mission. I have voiced that we should minimize the overland training, especially DA and CAS. We train to it so heavily in my opinion due to the multitude of overland ranges, and lack of overwater ranges that can meet the mission expectations. The overwater piece is trained to as much as we can support not for the fact that we are doing it now, but having a base line knowledge of how to do it when the SHTF. I don't claim to be the TF. Or the RQS community. If I wanted to fly black helicopters, I would have taken the IST I was offered. One of my former FRS students just did.
I agree with
@fc2spyguy that we don't get nearly the NCEA that would make us proficient. But I will appreciate knowing my way around the weapons systems if I ever need them. KD can speak to what -85 is doing in the PI, which from what I understand is incredible. Thankfully guys with that experience now sit in HSC front offices.
Remind me again, how many air-to-air kills does the VAQ community have in the last 20 years. I'll wait, and yet you spend page upon page arguing with a VFA TO about the need to train to the mission. Last I checked, VFA has one. I am happy to stand corrected if my knowledge is off base. I find is great the attention that HSC gets on this site, but we aren't even close to the only community that trains to missions we haven't done much of operationally. It appears that your definition of mission execution is rounds leaving the aircraft. So therefore I ask, how many subs has HSM and VP sunk? How many mines has HM neutralized? Going back to Korea, Navy helicopters have primarily been PMC/SAR. Yet, numerous conflicts have led these squadrons to fly missions well outside of what they were expected to perform.
Finally, I agree that people in my community walk around in the two piece bullshit, IR velcro patches, and camo helmet covers like they work for JSOC. I'm not one of them. I am realistic when it comes to what big Navy expects of me, especially CAG. Next time I deploy, I will happily VERTREP your ordnance and fly your broken/sick to the beach. At this point, I have .7 hours in the D thank god! But the aperture of our capabilities and exposure of them is getting better. Just had a visit with 2nd Fleet and without being asked, raved about HSC and HSM. What I hope, based on your obvious success is that when you are CAG, or another major command position you put your misconceptions aside. You continuously state "based on your experience," which is likely around CVW HSC squadrons turning circles around the boat. HSC CVW squadrons bring much more to the table, and there is another half to the community that does great things.
