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Army Blackhawks Train With USS Underwood

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100503-03
5/3/2010

By Ensign Kim Hanson, USS Underwood (FFG 36) Public Affairs

USS UNDERWOOD, At Sea (NNS) -- The guided-missile frigate USS Underwood (FFG 36) completed joint operational qualifications April 10 with an Army Blackhawk aviation regiment off the coast of Honduras.

The "Winged Warriors" of 1-228th Aviation Regiment conducted 12 hours of deck landing qualifications (DLQs) over the course of two days, in which 15 "Winged Warrior" pilots became fully certified.

Underwood provided the regiment with the needed flight deck support to achieve their qualifications.

The pilots need the DQLs to enable them to complete missions which require them to land their helicopters aboard U.S. Navy ships.

"Landing on a ship can be disorienting," said Capt. Elizabeth Eaton-Ferenzi of the "Winged Warriors." "The pitch and roll and motion of the ship made landings very challenging. We also had to learn how to 'talk Navy' by using nautical terms that Underwood Sailors use to guide the Blackhawks onto the ship's flight deck."

The "Winged Warriors," stationed at Soto Cano Airbase, Honduras, primarily conduct humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions throughout Central America. The regiment transports doctors to conduct medical screenings, distribute basic medical supplies and teach classes on personal hygiene and healthy living to remote locations. The "Winged Warriors" have also been an instrumental part of Operation Unified Response, easing the suffering of the Haitian people.

Underwood is currently deployed for U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (COMUSNAVSO) under tactical control of Joint Interagency Task Force-South, conducting counter-illicit trafficking operations.

COMUSNAVSO is the naval component command for U.S. Southern Command and is responsible for all naval personnel and assets in the area of responsibility. COMUSNAVSO conducts a variety of missions in support of the Maritime Strategy, including theater security cooperation, relationship building, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, community relations and counter-illicit trafficking operations.