HSL-49 a 'gap-filler' for ESG
7th Fleet News
Release Date: 9/19/2003
By Expeditionary Strike Group 1 public affairs
ABOARD USS JARRETT AT SEA -- Aviation squadrons attached to Expeditionary Strike Group 1 (ESG-1) understand the Navy's critical need for flexibility.
For the pilots and crew of Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Light 49, Detachment 3, the Scorpions, assigned to USS Jarrett (FFG 33), flexibility has been the name of the game throughout their deployment training cycle and underway period, all of which began Feb 7.
We've been the gap-filler, said Lt. Cmdr. Dan Drake, Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Light 49, Detachment 3 officer in charge. We've had to be prepared for everything. When (ESG-1) wasn't sure what aircraft to send up, they sent up LAMPS, said Drake, referring to the Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System that his crew operates.
ESG-1's goal is to maintain a mobile, flexible strike group capable of diverse missions. The expeditionary nature of the group requires them to operate between ships and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) (MEU (SOC)) during missions in support of Joint Commanders.
We are not a carrier strike group, nor are we meant to be, said Rear Adm. Bob Conway Jr., ESG-1 commander. We understand that we are aircraft-light, so we must be flexible in our deck spotting- flexible in our employment of aircraft with the entire force in mind," said Conway. This is how we demonstrate our flexibility and our relevance in the Global War on Terrorism.
Despite the challenges, Drake's pilots understand the importance of their mission, especially as it contributes to the success of the ESG concept.
This is an opportunity for us to hopefully shape the future for [detachments] that follow us, said Lt. Ryan Miller, 28, of Syracuse, NY. Our goal for this deployment will be to train hard, bring the crew back safely and pass on our knowledge to future detachments, said Miller.
It is the first deployment for Lt.j.g. Jennifer Thomas, 29, of Cicero, NY and Lt.j.g. Jennifer Mitchell of Pittsburgh, Pa. They too understand the importance of their mission.
Our goal will be to make HAC [Helicopter Aircraft Commander] and to absorb as much as we can, said Thomas.
We will set the bar for everyone who comes behind us, said Mitchell, enthusiastically.
The Scorpions were able to undergo interoperability training with the air element of the 13th MEU (SOC) in preparation for their deployment. It offered the crew the prospect of new missions.
We did three, two-week workups with the Marines, said Lt. David Cass, 28, of Boston, Ma. What we're looking forward to, that we haven't done before, is the possibility of interaction with guys on the ground, said Cass. The Marine pilots do this regularly. It would be new for us.
Hopefully we'll get to do a lot of cool stuff working with the MEU, said Lt. Hector Cardenas, 29, of Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. We're hoping to explore new capabilities of our aircraft during this deployment, said Cardenas.
The aircrew, like the supporting Sailors onboard USS Jarrett, is upbeat- motivated to conduct future missions throughout the deployment.
We joke around with each other all the time, said Miller. A sense of humor gets us through difficult times.
The aircrew's direction and specific mission is determined by world events and the priorities of their leading Joint Commanders.
This is my first deployment, so I hope to pull into a lot of different ports, said Mitchell.
The crew is scheduled to return from deployment with ESG-1 in April 2004.
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