The Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville, FL) December 01, 2002
Navy squadrons brace for potential war in Iraq Jacksonville NAS units will head to Mediterranean
By Rachel Davis, Times-Union staff writer
Navy Cmdr. Doug Cuthbert sits behind his desk in the helicopter squadron's hangar discussing the HS-7 Dusty Dogs' deployment and the possibility of war with Iraq.
'We don't know what we're going to be doing,' the squadron's executive officer said matter-of-factly.
He hesitated for a moment, then added with an anticipatory smile, 'but we're going to be doing something.'
The Jacksonville Naval Air Station squadron, along with the VS-22 Checkmates aircraft squadron from NAS, will be deploying on Thursday aboard the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, bound for the Mediterranean. However, should attempts at diplomacy and weapons inspections fail in Iraq and President Bush decides to attack, the Truman and its air wing will likely be dispatched to the Persian Gulf. While most squadron personnel understand they could be diverted to war with Iraq, most professed no fear about the potential for combat.
Rather than helicopter missions over Iraq, Petty Officer Chris Schmitt is most looking forward to earning awards and air medals -- 'chest candy,' he said. But he does admit an air war in Iraq could make his time away from his wife, Laura, and their baby-on-the-way, Joey, more bearable.
'I hope we get to go do something, see some sort of combat,' said Schmitt, a member of the Dusty Dogs. 'I don't want to just float around in the ocean.'
Industrial-sized tarps are stretched from one end of the hangar to the other and sailors are marking each with the squadron's name. They'll be used to protect equipment left behind for the six-month leave.
The squadron's family pre-deployment party has come and gone, and only last-minute checklists are being tended to. About half the squadron is on leave to wrap up family affairs and personal errands -- part of the 30-day stand-down before deployment.
And over at the Checkmates' hangar, much of the same deployment preparations are busying the squadron members.
Yet beneath the excitement, there is a gnawing sense of uncertainty about the deployment as the approximately 500 members of both squadrons wait in limbo, not knowing whether they will be called on.
Petty Officer Rich Hannaman, with the Checkmates, has been in the Navy almost 10 years and understands that the war-in-Iraq dialogue, while just TV talk right now, could become his reality.
'We listen a lot,' Hannaman said. 'And it's looking like we'll probably do something this time.' Both squadrons are attached to Carrier Air Wing 3 aboard the Norfolk, Va.-based Truman carrier, the newest in the Navy's fleet.
The Dusty Dogs fly SH-60F and HH-60H Seahawk helicopters with primary missions as search and rescue and anti-submarine warfare aircraft. The Checkmates fly S-3B Vikings, a refueling aircraft also used for sea surveillance and anti-submarine warfare.
Each has more than 200 personnel, including officers and enlisted, with an average age between 20 and 22.
Although the squadrons' faces may have changed since the opening night of the first Gulf War, the Checkmates and Dusty Dogs have already made their mark on Iraq.
The Viking squadron, then embarked on the USS John F. Kennedy, flew 1,100 combat hours and 324 combat sorties in support of Kuwait's liberation in 1991. The helicopter squadron also deployed with the Kennedy during Operation Desert Storm.
Checkmate Lt. j.g. Robert Null, then an enlisted sailor, served during Desert Shield and Storm aboard the Marine amphibious assault ship USS Guam. He was an aviation electronics technician, fixing the aircraft that Marines flew over the beach.
'It's a different mission now, considering I'm on the front line and actually using the equipment . . . rather than on the boat,' Null, now a naval flight officer, said.
'I used to fix it. Now I go out there and break it.'
While the upcoming deployment promises to be considerably different, some things remain the same.
'We're deploying for a reason,' he said, 'and that always makes it easier to be away from family and friends.'
Eighteen months of preparation has squadron personnel confident that they're ready. The Dusty Dogs trained for six weeks in Fallon, Nev., enduring desert heat and dust storms comparable to those in the Middle East. Both squadrons have trained alongside other countries, simulating a multi-national coalition like the one currently operating south of Afghanistan or the one that could be involved in a campaign against Iraq.
Neither squadron participated in Operation Enduring Freedom and for that reason, many are eager to get in on the action.
Petty Officer Matthew Hughes just transferred to the Checkmates parachute loft from the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance department on base -- a duty he volunteered for, much to his wife's chagrin.
It was a chance to deploy on a new ship, to get back to sea. But, more importantly, he said, 'A year later, it's finally my turn to go.' Staff writer Rachel Davis can be reached at (904) 359-4614 or via e-mail at racheldavis@jacksonville.com.
CARRIERS POSITIONED FOR POSSIBLE USE AGAINST IRAQ
As many as four U.S. aircraft carriers are expected to be within striking distance of Iraq by the end of December, Navy officials said, marking what may be the earliest possible moment for a full-scale U.S.-led attack.
Two carriers and their battle groups are in the region, the Navy said. They are the USS George Washington, which deployed on June 20 and is in or near the Mediterranean, and the USS Abraham Lincoln, which got under way July 24 and is in the Persian Gulf. Scheduled to relieve them are the USS Constellation, which left the West Coast late last month, and the USS Harry S. Truman, due to ship from the East Coast this month, officials said.
The four battle groups would bring together as many as 250 precision-strike aircraft and more than 2,000 Tomahawk cruise missiles -- assuming the nuclear-powered Washington, homeported in Norfolk, Va., and the Lincoln, based in Everett, Wash., stay on beyond their normal six-month cruises.
A fifth carrier, the San Diego-based USS Nimitz, also could be in the gulf by late December, said Patrick Garrett, who has been tracking U.S. deployments for GlobalSecurity.org, a research group in Alexandria, Va. And a sixth, the Yokosuka, Japan-based USS Kitty Hawk, also would be available to be sent there by the end of the year, he said.
During the Gulf War, the USS John F. Kennedy, which hadn't replaced the USS Saratoga at Mayport Naval Station yet, launched 114 strikes and 2,895 sorties, with the carrier's air wing flying 11,263 combat hours and delivering more than 3.5 million pounds of ordnance in the conflict. The Saratoga also launched strikes, including on the opening night of the war.
-- Rachel Davis/staff AREA BATTLE GROUPS AND BASES
East Coast battle groups and their Jacksonville-based ships and aircraft, plus other military units in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia: CARRIER BATTLE GROUPS WASHINGTON GROUP -- HS-15 Red Lions: Seahawk anti-submarine helicopters -- VS-30 Diamond Cutters: Viking multi-purpose re-fueling aircraft
The USS George Washington is the only East Coast carrier currently deployed. It left its Norfolk, Va., home port June 20 along with Jacksonville Naval Air Station's HS-15 Red Lions and VS-30 Diamond Cutters. Dec. 20 is their expected return date. TRUMAN GROUP -- HS-7 Dusty Dogs: Seahawk anti-submarine helicopters -- VS-22 Checkmates: Viking multi-purpose refueling aircraft
The USS Harry S. Truman is the ready carrier. It, along with Jacksonville's HS-7 Dusty Dogs and VS-22 Checkmates, completed joint task force exercises Nov. 5 and is scheduled to deploy from Norfolk, Va., this month to the Mediterranean. ENTERPRISE GROUP -- HS-11 Dragonslayers: Seahawk anti-submarine helicopters -- VS-32 Maulers: Viking multi-purpose refueling aircraft -- Philippine Sea: Guided-missile cruiser -- Gettysburg: Guided-missile cruiser
The USS Enterprise is in maintenance in Norfolk, Va., until January. The Enterprise will begin workups around March. KENNEDY GROUP -- HS-5 Nightdippers: Seahawk anti-submarine helicopters -- VS-31 Topcats: Viking multi-purpose refueling aircraft -- Hue City: Guided-missile cruiser -- Vicksburg: Guided-missile cruiser -- Carney: Guided-missile destroyer -- The Sullivans: Guided-missile destroyer -- Roosevelt: Guided-missile destroyer -- Spruance: Destroyer -- Underwood: Guided-missile frigate -- Taylor: Guided-missile frigate
The USS John F. Kennedy, along with its Mayport-based battle group, returned from war in August. The carrier is expected to begin an overhaul in January and complete the maintenance period in July. OTHER BASES KINGS BAY NAVAL SUBMARINE BASE
Kings Bay supports the Navy's submarine-launched ballistic missile program and is home of the Navy's Atlantic Trident submarine fleet -- Squadrons 20 and 16, with four submarines each. It is the only base in the Navy capable of supporting the Trident II missile. For security reasons, Kings Bay officials do not discuss submarine deployments or weaponry. The base's eight Tridents continue to be one of the nation's main deterrents to nuclear war. BLOUNT ISLAND COMMAND
If American troops need supplies and weapons to aid new attacks, Blount Island likely will be a starting point for getting equipment overseas. During the Gulf War, the facility and the Jacksonville Port Authority moved ships carrying 800,000 tons of cargo, from four-wheel-drive jeeps and Humvees to pre-packaged meals to helicopters such as the Apache and Black Hawk. It was the busiest port for the war effort. COAST GUARD GROUP MAYPORT
Much like after Sept. 11, 2001, the Coast Guard expects to have a greater presence on the water, increased security checks, more stringent enforcement of security zones and naval vessel protection zones and could see increased escorts not only of naval vessels but commercial vessels and the possible recall of reservists. There's always a possibility of military outloads at Blount Island, which the Coast Guard would be heavily involved in. This is in line with a similar role during the Gulf War. NATIONAL GUARD
The 125th Fighter Wing at the Jacksonville International Airport remains on alert status for threats from within or outside the United States. The 202nd Red Horse heavy engineering unit at Camp Blanding deploys small groups of individuals across the world to support small-scale projects and remains ready for large-group activity. Communication units from McDill and Patrick Air Force bases have personnel deployed across the world and are managed by the 125th Fighter Wing at Florida Air National Guard headquarters in St. Augustine. Many other Guard units are active today while others are prepared to deploy.
During the Gulf War, the Florida National Guard was not as active in protection of home-based resources as it has been since Sept. 11 performing airport and seaport security missions, security of nuclear power plants and protection of armories and facilities throughout the state. Guard units were mobilized in support of Desert Shield and Storm, but mostly were prepared for deployment and on alert. Sources: The Department of Defense, U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, Florida National Guard, officials from respective bases and Times-Union files
GRAPHIC: Graphic: insignia explanation120102.eps Staff VS-22 CHECKMATES/HS-7 DUSTY DOGS Graphic: Airwing graphics eps Staff SQUADRONS BOUND FOR MEDITERRANEANTwo Jacksonville Naval Air Station squadrons will be deploying on Thursday aboard the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier. Here's the breakdown: Photo: met_NASJAXheloWings 11481563 John Pemberton/staff Petty Officers Edward Lapushchik (left) and Daryl Richardson work on an SH-60F helicopter. Photo: met_NASJAXfuelPOD 1122481565 John Pemberton/staff Petty Officer 1st Class James Hammock checks the refueling pods for an S-3B Viking at Jacksonville Naval Air Station. Photo: met_JFK9ordnanceBox 06260 John Pemberton/file Crewmen aboard the USS Kennedy deal with missiles, rockets and weapons for the jets and helicopters on board. Photo: met_kingsBayMcNeill3 080100p Staff/file The USS Kentucky sits at Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base, home to the Navy's Atlantic Trident submarine fleet, on Aug. 1.
Illustration: Graphic; PhotoSee related story: First Coast likely to have smaller role, Page A-1
Copyright 2002 Gannett Company, Inc.
