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HSC-26 Progressing Post-Redesignation

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060427-21
4/27/2006

By Journalist Seaman Brandon Shelander, Fleet Public Affairs Center Atlantic

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- More than a year ago, Helicopter Combat Squadron (HC) 6 was re-designated to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26 as part of the Navy’s efforts to combine the helicopter combat support and anti-submarine communities.

The goal was to create a highly flexible Navy helicopter force capable of adapting to future missions while maintaining their previous mission duties.

“Progress was good in that regard,” explained Cmdr. Grady Banister, HSC-26’s commanding officer. “From that day in April, we were still the same people as we were before. The designation was just an acknowledgment that the airplanes have changed and the missions were becoming much broader than just simple search and rescue.”

Although the primary mission of HSC-26 is to disperse supplies to ships and other units and conduct search and rescue operations, the Navy is searching for new ways to use HSC-26’s highly adaptable MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter.

One idea includes supporting special operations, such as SEAL (Sea, Air, Land) and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) teams.

“We have always provided them a training platform,” Banister said. “We would go over to Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek and let them fast-rope, take them up and let them do para-drops, but we never did much of anything out in the field.”

Banister also commented on HSC-26’s expanding capabilities to support special operations forces.

“It’s going to continue to grow. As we get more systems on the airplane that allow us to do more, we’re going to do more with it,” Banister added. “We’re going to become an integrated part of what the SEALs do. This airplane - maybe not us - but this airplane is here to replace some of the other aircraft that have supported the SEAL for years.”

Banister isn’t the only one excited about the future of HSC-26.

“I see our mission expanding a lot more into the SEAL community,” said HSC-26’s Command Master Chief, CMDCM Terry A. Newhart, “as well as special warfare in Iraq and on the ground.”

Newhart has been HSC-26’s command master chief since August 2005 and understands the Navy’s expanding role in Iraq.

“Basically, we have the same helicopter as the Army except for the attack helicopters. We do a lot of practice with them, so we know their mission, and they understand the capabilities of our helicopters,” Newhart said.

But with all the new capabilities of the MH-60S comes a host of new training and equipment.

“We’ve upped our training on all of the equipment and helicopters,” Newhart said. “We make sure that they’re ready to operate the new gear before it goes out.”

Banister said much of the learning happens through-on-the-job training.

“A lot of the skills that are used on the H-3 and H-46 helicopters translate almost directly to this,” Banister added. “I’ve got the best, most-capable Sailors around. They bring a lot of capabilities to the fight.”

A well-trained crew and a versatile platform will help HSC-26 adapt to a variety of missions.

“This aircraft, though, has so many capabilities,” said Lt. Martin Wright, an HSC-26 pilot and Naval Air Training and Standardization (NATOPS) officer, “so many new ways it can be used, that everyone from the youngest airman to the top echelon of command sees it’s very capable and how it’s going to be applied in the future.”