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HCS-28 Providing Support to Kearsarge ESG with New Name

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050420-04
Release Date: 4/20/2005 11:11:00 AM

By Chief Journalist (SW/AW) Dave Nagle, USS Kearsarge Public Affairs

ABOARD USS KEARSARGE, At Sea (NNS) -- An important part of the USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) Expeditionary Strike Group team, currently deployed in support of the global war on terrorism, received a new name April 1.

Helicopter Combat Support Squadron (HC) 8 was redesignated Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28 as part of a merger of the HC and helicopter anti-submarine (HS) communities.

According to Lt. Cmdr. Tim Symons, officer in charge of HSC-28 Det. 2, embarked aboard Kearsarge, the change is a result of the introduction of the MH-60S Knighthawk, replacing the CH-46D Sea Knight, UH-3H Sea King and the SH-60F Seahawk, and the future introduction of the MH-60R Seahawk, which is replacing the SH-60B Seahawk.

“The Navy is [narrowing] its helicopter inventory from seven different types to three,” explained Symons. “There is a commonality in parts and airframes with both the MH-60S and MH-60R, which afforded the Navy an opportunity to develop a new helicopter concept of operations leveraging these new weapon system platforms.”

While the squadron’s primary mission of search and rescue (SAR) and fleet logistics support remains the same, with the name change comes a change of mission, as well.

“The HSC community will consist of carrier air wing-aligned squadrons and expeditionary squadrons, such as HSC-28," said Symons. "The HSC squadrons have begun extensive training to prepare for future combat SAR and organic airborne mine countermeasure missions."

HSC-28 Det. 2 provides both Kearsarge and the Kearsarge ESG with 24-hour SAR capability in the event of an aircraft mishap or a man overboard situation, as well as moving passengers, mail and cargo, vertical replenishment (VERTREP) and medical evacuations.

“Things move at a very fast pace,” said Aviation Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class (AW) Shane Reeves. “We are in constant motion, handling changes at the drop of a hat. You have to be very fluid.”

Performing a wide variety of missions requires a lot of training while deployed to help maintain the detachment’s proficiency.

“We can accomplish most of our training while concurrently performing the mission,” said Symons. “On occasion, we need to request specific night training blocks to meet our night single spot landing, night VERTREP and gun exercise qualification requirements.”

The pace is fast, but squadron members agree the hard work is worth it.

“Our role in supporting the ship and strike group is important because if a search and rescue is called, we are the first birds off the deck,” said Aviation Machinist’s Mate Airman Misha McMath. “The most rewarding part about being in this detachment is being a part of something bigger than yourself, knowing that when that bird flies off the deck, you are part of making it happen.”

The HSC community will be administratively controlled by two wings located in Norfolk and San Diego. The community will be supported by two fleet replacement squadrons also located in Norfolk and San Diego. Symons said that as the MH-60R is introduced into the fleet, the helicopter antisubmarine (light) community will be redesignated helicopter strike maritime (HSM).