SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The "Blue Hawks" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 78, the fourth of six HSM squadrons established, held its commissioning ceremony aboard Naval Air Station North Island, March 1.
"The significance of this establishment ceremony is to introduce to our Navy, the public, and soon those across the globe that the HSM community's newest MH-60R Carrier Air Wing squadron has arrived," said Capt. Jeffrey W. Hughes, commander of Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing Pacific. "We are meeting a significant milestone in its progression to becoming the primary and premiere aviation sea control asset."
After months of training its pilots and maintenance crew while acquiring all of their equipment and preparing for maintenance inspections, the crewmembers were able to enjoy the benefits of being the first members of the HSM-78 squadron.
"It's a rare occasion and a great day when a new squadron is commissioned in the Navy, " said HSM-78 first Commanding Officer Cmdr. William Bucey. "And it's a very unique opportunity to stand up a squadron, I am honored."
"I am loving the fact that I get to be a plankowner," said Aviation Machinist's Mate 1st Class Marvin Journet. "I've been in the Navy for 15 years and this is my first time being a plankowner."
"The Blue Hawks will contribute unique and awesome capabilities to the geographic combat commanders in the Pacific and Central areas of responsibilities to provide necessary influence to global affairs via humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts or through kinetic striking power," Hughes said.
HSM-78 is currently assigned to Carrier Air Wing 17 and is scheduled to deploy aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) in 2014.
HSM-78 will consist of 280 crewmembers, both enlisted and officers, and 11 new MH-60R Seahawk Helicopters before their first deployment.
"I can say with absolute confidence that they will be ready," said Hughes.
Bucey said all of the other helicopter squadrons are going through the transition of changing from flying MH-60B helicopters to flying MH-60R model.
Showing posts with label NAS North Island. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NAS North Island. Show all posts
Saturday, March 03, 2012
Thursday, October 27, 2011
HSM-78 Prepares for Establishment
By Aviation Machinist’s Mate Airman Amanda Huntoon, Navy Region Southwest Public Affairs
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 78, the second HSM squadron to stand up in San Diego, prepared for its establishment at Naval Air Station North Island by hanging the squadron's sign Oct. 25.
The squadron's establishment ceremony is scheduled for March 2012, but until then the pre-commissioning unit is focusing on training its pilots and maintenance crew, getting all of their equipment and preparing for upcoming maintenance inspections.
"Everything that I am doing right now in preparation for the establishment of the squadron will be affecting the people a few years from now," said Logistics Specialist 1st Class Sparkole Dyeth. "We are setting the future Sailors of this command either up for success or up for failure based on how we put it all together. I am nervous, but we are on the right path. It's all coming together."
There are currently fewer than 50 Sailors assigned to HSM-78, both enlisted and officer, who are preparing the squadron for its establishment. By the time of the establishment ceremony, HSM-78 will have 290 Sailors and 12 new MH-60R Seahawk helicopters.
"It is cool being a plankowner at this new squadron," said Logistic Specialist 3rd Class Clint Kear, assigned to HSM-78. "I think that they hand-picked a lot of people to come and be part of the establishment of this command. We have a really great chain of command."
The mission of HSM-78 will be to assist the air wing on aircraft carriers, as well as sending detachments out to the strike groups on destroyer squadrons. They are scheduled to begin deploying in 2014.
"This command is unique, because it is a new standup squadron," said HSM-78 Commanding Officer Cmdr. William Bucey. "The Navy and the helicopter community, in general, do not build many helicopter squadrons up from scratch."
According to Bucey, all of the other helicopter squadrons are going through the transition of changing from flying MH-60B helicopters to flying the MH-60R model. HSM-78 is the second squadron in San Diego that is starting from the ground up.
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 78, the second HSM squadron to stand up in San Diego, prepared for its establishment at Naval Air Station North Island by hanging the squadron's sign Oct. 25.
The squadron's establishment ceremony is scheduled for March 2012, but until then the pre-commissioning unit is focusing on training its pilots and maintenance crew, getting all of their equipment and preparing for upcoming maintenance inspections.
"Everything that I am doing right now in preparation for the establishment of the squadron will be affecting the people a few years from now," said Logistics Specialist 1st Class Sparkole Dyeth. "We are setting the future Sailors of this command either up for success or up for failure based on how we put it all together. I am nervous, but we are on the right path. It's all coming together."
There are currently fewer than 50 Sailors assigned to HSM-78, both enlisted and officer, who are preparing the squadron for its establishment. By the time of the establishment ceremony, HSM-78 will have 290 Sailors and 12 new MH-60R Seahawk helicopters.
"It is cool being a plankowner at this new squadron," said Logistic Specialist 3rd Class Clint Kear, assigned to HSM-78. "I think that they hand-picked a lot of people to come and be part of the establishment of this command. We have a really great chain of command."
The mission of HSM-78 will be to assist the air wing on aircraft carriers, as well as sending detachments out to the strike groups on destroyer squadrons. They are scheduled to begin deploying in 2014.
"This command is unique, because it is a new standup squadron," said HSM-78 Commanding Officer Cmdr. William Bucey. "The Navy and the helicopter community, in general, do not build many helicopter squadrons up from scratch."
According to Bucey, all of the other helicopter squadrons are going through the transition of changing from flying MH-60B helicopters to flying the MH-60R model. HSM-78 is the second squadron in San Diego that is starting from the ground up.
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Newly Named HSC 12 Carries on Rich Tradition
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Sarah E. Bitter, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West
CORONADO, Calif. (NNS) -- After 57 years of service, the longest standing helicopter squadron in Navy history, Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 2 (HS-2), became the most recent squadron to transition to the MH-60S Seahawk Helicopter and changed its name to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 12 (HSC-12) during a ceremony on Naval Air Station North Island, Aug. 6.
Despite the new command designation, aircraft and mission, at least one thing remained unchanged - the squadron's keeps its nickname, "Golden Falcons".
"The aircraft may look different, the name may be different, but the excellence, the history, the dedication, the courage and the legacy of HS-2 not only will remain, but that is the foundation that will be the bedrock that these men and women will use to build HSC-12's legacy from this day forward," said Cmdr. Terence Hoeft, a native of Livonia, Mich., HSC-12 commanding officer.
Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class (AW) John Alba, a Porterville, Calif., native, explained that he is looking forward to the new experience and is happy to be part of this transition.
"This is my first squadron, and it's going to be a great experience," said Alba. "It is a great experience to say that I am plankowner of the squadron, and I am very excited to be a part of it."
This transition is a major milestone for the "Golden Falcons," who were established March 7, 1952 as the first anti-submarine warfare helicopter squadron on the West coast. The squadron has flown six different models of helicopters, most recently the SH-60F and HH-60H, which are now being retired as the squadron accepts MH-60S Seahawks. The squadron will lose the anti-submarine warfare mission, but HSC-12 will continue to focus on the core mission areas of search and rescue, combat search and rescue, naval special warfare, anti-surface warfare and logistics.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Navy Establishes First MH-60R Squadron
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/NAC) David C. Mercil, Fleet Public Affairs Center Pacific
Sailors assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71 service a MH-60R Seahawk.
The Navy established Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71 in a ceremony held at Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island, Oct. 4.
The first MH-60R squadron, HSM 71's aircraft is replacing the SH-60B and SH-60F aircraft due to possessing the combined capabilities of the two aircraft.
“The (MH-60R) aircraft changes the way we fly, the way we fight and the way we go to sea,” said Rear Adm. Garry E. Hall, commander, Amphibious Group 2.
The Navy has been working to implement the MH-60R for more than a decade. HSM 71 is the first of five MH-60R squadrons; other MH-60R squadrons are expected to be established in the future.
“Now, we have one aircraft with all the capabilities of every (previous) aircraft,” said Cmdr. Michael K. Nortier, HSM-71's commanding officer. “That’s a significant change.”
Although the mission requirements of the MH-60R will be similar to the SH-60B and SH-60F, the new aircraft features upgraded mission and flight displays, an improved advanced flight control computer and an integrated self-defense suite.
“This aircraft is the aircraft that is taking over the anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare helicopter missions for the U.S. Navy,” said Lt. Carey Castilian, HSM 71's readiness officer. “It has the radar of the SH-60B and the sonar from the SH-60F.”
Unlike traditional helicopter anti-submarine light squadrons, which deploy in separate detachments to small ships, HSM 71 will deploy to an aircraft carrier as part of the carrier air wing. HSM 71’s first deployment is scheduled to be aboard USS John C. Stennis’ (CVN 74) next deployment.
“We just got a new ‘bird,’ and it’s a new squadron,” said Aviation Machinist’s Mate Airman Joseph Grandas, assigned to HSM 71. “I feel it’s more exciting than challenging.”
HSM 71’s primary mission will be to support surface and anti-submarine warfare, command, control and communications, command and control warfare and mobility and non-combat operations. The secondary mission will be to support search and rescue, medical evacuation, vertical replenishment, naval surface fire support and communications relay.
Sailors assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71 service a MH-60R Seahawk.The Navy established Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71 in a ceremony held at Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island, Oct. 4.
The first MH-60R squadron, HSM 71's aircraft is replacing the SH-60B and SH-60F aircraft due to possessing the combined capabilities of the two aircraft.
“The (MH-60R) aircraft changes the way we fly, the way we fight and the way we go to sea,” said Rear Adm. Garry E. Hall, commander, Amphibious Group 2.
The Navy has been working to implement the MH-60R for more than a decade. HSM 71 is the first of five MH-60R squadrons; other MH-60R squadrons are expected to be established in the future.
“Now, we have one aircraft with all the capabilities of every (previous) aircraft,” said Cmdr. Michael K. Nortier, HSM-71's commanding officer. “That’s a significant change.”
Although the mission requirements of the MH-60R will be similar to the SH-60B and SH-60F, the new aircraft features upgraded mission and flight displays, an improved advanced flight control computer and an integrated self-defense suite.
“This aircraft is the aircraft that is taking over the anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare helicopter missions for the U.S. Navy,” said Lt. Carey Castilian, HSM 71's readiness officer. “It has the radar of the SH-60B and the sonar from the SH-60F.”
Unlike traditional helicopter anti-submarine light squadrons, which deploy in separate detachments to small ships, HSM 71 will deploy to an aircraft carrier as part of the carrier air wing. HSM 71’s first deployment is scheduled to be aboard USS John C. Stennis’ (CVN 74) next deployment.
“We just got a new ‘bird,’ and it’s a new squadron,” said Aviation Machinist’s Mate Airman Joseph Grandas, assigned to HSM 71. “I feel it’s more exciting than challenging.”
HSM 71’s primary mission will be to support surface and anti-submarine warfare, command, control and communications, command and control warfare and mobility and non-combat operations. The secondary mission will be to support search and rescue, medical evacuation, vertical replenishment, naval surface fire support and communications relay.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
HSC-8 New Name, New Mission, New Helicopter
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Porter Anderson, Fleet Public Affairs Center, Pacific
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron (HS) 8 became the first HS squadron to transition to a Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) Sept. 28 at Naval Air Station North Island.
Despite the name change (HSC-8), new aircraft (MH-60S), and new missiion, at least one thing remained unchanged, the squadron’s nickname, “Eightballers.”
“It’s going to change the mission entirely because you’re going from anti-submarine warfare to search and rescue (SAR), to VERTREP [vertical replenishment] and SAR type events,” said Aviation Structural Mechanic 2nd Class (AW) Michele Reynolds, HSC-8 helicopter mechanic.
Due to the new aircraft that replaced the SH-60F in the transition, new training has been implemented to maintain and service the new MH-60S.
“We are sending our AZs [Aviation Maintenance Administrationman] and AEs [Aviation Electrician’s Mate] to a full two-month training course to learn how to work on the aircraft,” said HSC-8 Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Lawrence S. Vincent.
This transition to HSC-8 is another benchmark for the Eightballers past endeavors, which date back to June 1, 1956.
Guest speaker Rear Adm. Gerard M. Mauer, commandant, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, said he had a history with HS-8. Mauer said that in 1975, when he took his first flight in a U.S. Navy aircraft, it was with HS-8. That flight made such an impact with him that it led him to joining the naval aviation field.
The transition of mission, name and aircraft are big changes for the squadron, but the men and women who make up the Eightballers have accepted each change and are incorporating them into its long and proud history.
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron (HS) 8 became the first HS squadron to transition to a Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) Sept. 28 at Naval Air Station North Island.
Despite the name change (HSC-8), new aircraft (MH-60S), and new missiion, at least one thing remained unchanged, the squadron’s nickname, “Eightballers.”
“It’s going to change the mission entirely because you’re going from anti-submarine warfare to search and rescue (SAR), to VERTREP [vertical replenishment] and SAR type events,” said Aviation Structural Mechanic 2nd Class (AW) Michele Reynolds, HSC-8 helicopter mechanic.
Due to the new aircraft that replaced the SH-60F in the transition, new training has been implemented to maintain and service the new MH-60S.
“We are sending our AZs [Aviation Maintenance Administrationman] and AEs [Aviation Electrician’s Mate] to a full two-month training course to learn how to work on the aircraft,” said HSC-8 Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Lawrence S. Vincent.
This transition to HSC-8 is another benchmark for the Eightballers past endeavors, which date back to June 1, 1956.
Guest speaker Rear Adm. Gerard M. Mauer, commandant, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, said he had a history with HS-8. Mauer said that in 1975, when he took his first flight in a U.S. Navy aircraft, it was with HS-8. That flight made such an impact with him that it led him to joining the naval aviation field.
The transition of mission, name and aircraft are big changes for the squadron, but the men and women who make up the Eightballers have accepted each change and are incorporating them into its long and proud history.
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