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HSC-25 detachments return from deployment

  • Published
  • By Lt. Andrew Bradstreet
  • Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25
Andersen Air Force Base, Guam --  Nearly 70 Sailors from two detachments of the U.S. Navy's Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 based here returned from six and seven month deployments Dec. 11 and Dec. 15 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.

HSC-25's Detachment 1 returned on Dec. 11 after a seven month deployment supporting a Combat Logistic Force mission from the USNS Washington Chambers in support of Commander Task Force 73 including the George Washington Carrier Strike Group, Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group and numerous Republic of Korea and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels.  While deployed, Detachment 1 transferred more than 2,000 tons of cargo and 136 passengers while completing 750 mishap-free flight hours.

Detachment 1's first mission was ensuring the USS George Washington (CVN-73) had its full complement of ordnance for the summer patrol.  This effort involved more than 45 flight hours, moving more than 1,200 pieces of ammunition. 

While the USNS Washington Chambers was pier-side for scheduled repairs in August, the detachment demonstrated HSC-25's capability to deploy on short notice, moving ashore to Desiderio Army Airfield in South Korea for joint training with the U.S. Army's Combat Aviation Battalion 3-2.  The detachment provided in-depth overwater Search and Rescue academic and flight training while the Army aviators reciprocated by sharing their overland and regional expertise.  The exercise yielded more than 70 flight hours of jointly integrated unit level training in an extremely demanding environment. 

Continuing to exercise their expeditionary muscles, Detachment 1 repeatedly pushed ashore to conduct overland training.  Three times they packed up and moved inland to work with HSC-25's Detachment 6 in Japan.  In the largest of these undertakings, the detachment flew both aircraft 700 miles across Japan from Sasebo to Atsugi.   While working with partner squadrons Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 12 and Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 77, crews conducted 26 hours of overland training flights at the Mount Fuji Range, gaining valuable mountain flying and international flight experience.

Detachment 6 departed Guam June 3, reporting to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, for shore-based operations.  They spent four months conducting training in support of CTF 76 and the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6).

Detachment 6 flew cross-county from MCAS Iwakuni to Kadena Air Base for unit level training and to support Marine Special Operations Command from in July. The detachment flew 33 flight hours and completed nine training sorties in conjunction with MARSOC.  Pilots and aircrew received valuable training in Special Operation Forces insert/extract operations including fast rope, Special Patrol Insertion and Extraction, and cast and recovery evolutions.

Detachment 6 completed a shore-based location shift to Naval Air Facility Atsugi in October, concluding nearly 20 years of detached operations at MCAS Iwakuni. The new location will enable the detachment to integrate with sister squadrons of Carrier Air Wing Five and complete advanced training in the primary mission areas of SOF, Anti-Surface Warfare, and Personnel Recovery.
 
The professionalism, expertise, and dedication of all 34 Sailors ensured the successful completion of over 650 mishap free flight hours.

HSC-25 provides aircraft and crews to support Commander, 7th Fleet in anti-surface warfare, special operations, and personnel recovery mission areas.  Detachment 1 and Detachment 6 are proud to be another link in the chain and uphold HSC-25's 30-year tradition of excellence.