Rotor Review Spring 2022 #156 by Naval Helicopter Association, Inc

Spring 2022 Number 156

The Human Advantage Also in this Issue: • • • • •

Hold the Line By CAPT Teague “Metro” Laguens, USN Rotary Wing Success at COMPTUEX A Clear Direction for the Jack of All Trades Resolute Hunter 22-1 Honoring a Naval Aviation Legend

FOCUS: The Human Advantage NHA Symposium 2022:The Human Advantage......................................................................28 CAPT Steve Thomas, USN, Vice President Symposium 2022 Reserve Duty Helps Retain "Our Human Advantage”............................................................30 CAPT Quinton Packard, USN “What’s a Ground Job?”: Setting Junior Officer Pilots Up for Success Outside of the Cockpit..................................................................................................................32 LT Andrew “Gonzo” Gregory, USN

Spring 2022 ISSUE 156

About the Cover CDR Pavao Huldisch, head of the Air Department aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C . Stennis (CVN 74), addresses Sailors on the flight deck during a department quarters. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jeffery L. Southerland.

Rotor Review (ISSN: 1085-9683) is published quarterly by the Naval Helicopter Association, Inc. (NHA), a California nonprofit 501(c)(6) corporation. NHA is located in Building 654, Rogers Road, NASNI, San Diego, CA 92135. Views expressed in Rotor Review are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the policies of NHA or United States Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard. Rotor Review is printed in the USA. Periodical rate postage is paid at San Diego, CA. Subscription to Rotor Review is included in the NHA or corporate membership fee. A current corporation annual report, prepared in accordance with Section 8321 of the California Corporation Code, is available on the NHA Website at www.navalhelicopterassn.org. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Naval Helicopter Association, P.O. Box 180578, Coronado, CA 92178-0578. Rotor Review supports the goals of the association, provides a forum for discussion and exchange of information on topics of interest to the rotary community and keeps membership informed of NHA activities. As necessary, the President of NHA will provide guidance to the Rotor Review Editorial Board to ensure Rotor Review content continues to support this statement of policy as the Naval Helicopter Association adjusts to the expanding and evolving Rotary Wing and Tilt Rotor Communities.

Rotor Review #156 Spring '22

Hurricane Harvey Rescue

FEATURES Rotary Wing Success at COMPTUEX...........................................................................................36 LCDR John “Dom” Bamonte, USN Clear Direction for the Jack of All Trades: Confidently Defining a Role for the Expeditionary MH-60 Sierra Community in Future Conflicts....................................38 LTJG Jackson Cotney, USN Resolute Hunter 22-1: Broadening Distributed Operations...................................................44 LCDR David “Fishstix” Vasquez, USN and LCDR Andrew “BIO” Miller, USN A Yankee in King Arthur’s Test Pilot School................................................................................46 LT Ben “3D” Putbrese, USN (HX-21)

Read Rotor Review on your Mobile Device Did you know that you can take your copy of Rotor Review anywhere you want to go? Read it on your kindle, nook, tablet or on your phone. Rotor Review is right there when you want it. Go to your App Store. Search for "Issuu." That’s the name of the platform that hosts Rotor Review (there is no charge for you to use this App). To Download Issuu’s App Create a login (this doesn’t have to be your NHA login) They will send you a verification code – enter it per instructions Next, enter “Rotor Review” in the search bar. Click on Rotor Review. Download to your device. Be informed, be entertained, be NHA. 2

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DEPARTMENTS Chairman’s Brief ....................................................................................................................6 Executive Director's View.....................................................................................................7 National President's Message...............................................................................................8 National J.O. President Message ...........................................................................................9 Vice President of Membership Report.............................................................................10 From the Editor-in-Chief......................................................................................................12 Scholarship Fund Update .....................................................................................................14

Editorial Staff EDITOR -IN - CHIEF LT Michael "Bubbles" Short, USN michael.v.short.mil@us.navy.mil michaelshort91@gmail.com MANAGING EDITOR Allyson Darroch rotorreview@navalhelicopterassn.org

Historical Society.....................................................................................................................18

COPY EDITORS CDR John Ball, USN (Ret.) helopapa71@gmail.com

On Leadership.........................................................................................................................20 The Human Advantage - RDML Wayne “Mouse” Baze, USN

LT Luke "TUC" Vaughn, USN luke.vaughn1@navy.mil

Commodore's Corner...........................................................................................................22 Hold the Line - CAPT Teague "Metro" Laguens, USN

AIRCREW EDITOR AWR1 Aaron Messner, USN mess.aaron@gmail.com

Report from the Rising Sun................................................................................................24 LT R.O. Swain, USN

COMMUNITY EDITORS

View from the Labs ..............................................................................................................26 CAPT George Galdorisi, USN (Ret.)

LT Molly "Deuce" Burns, USN (HM) mkburns16@gmail.com

Industry and Technology.........................................................................................................34 Protecting the Tiltrotor Industrial Base - CAPT Chris “chet” Misner, USN (Ret)

LT John "Gid'r" Dunne, USN (HSC) john.dunne05@gmail.com

Squadron Updates ................................................................................................................50

LT Sarah Beth "MAC" Rupp, USN (HSC) sarahbrupp@gmail.com

Off Duty ..................................................................................................................................54 Helo History Honoring a Naval Aviation Legend - LT Tyler “Waterboy” Hunt, USN and LT Rosalyn “TOTS” Lopez, USN.................................................................................................................56 NHAHS Oldest Helix Award - 91 Years Young! CAPT Paul L. “Scratch” Hryskanich, USN (Ret.) - CAPT Bill Personius, USN (Ret.)................................................................58 Radio Check ..........................................................................................................................60 Change of Command ...........................................................................................................62 Engaging Rotors ....................................................................................................................64 Signal Charlie .........................................................................................................................68

LT Elisha "Grudge" Clark., USN (HSM) elishasuziclark@gmail.com LT Johnattan "Snow" Gonzalez, USN (HSM) johnattang334@gmail.com USMC EDITOR Capt. Nolan "Lean Bean" Vihlen, USMC nolan.vihlen@gmail.com USCG EDITOR LT Marco Tinari, USCG marco.m.tinari@uscg.mil PHOTOGRAPHER Raymond Rivard TECHNICAL ADVISOR LCDR Chip Lancaster, USN (Ret.) chipplug@hotmail.com

Editors Emeriti Wayne Jensen - John Ball - John Driver Sean Laughlin - Andy Quiett - Mike Curtis Susan Fink - Bill Chase - Tracey Keefe Maureen Palmerino - Bryan Buljat - Gabe Soltero Todd Vorenkamp - Steve Bury - Clay Shane Kristin Ohleger - Scott Lippincott - Allison Fletcher Ash Preston - Emily Lapp - Mallory Decker Caleb Levee - Shane Brenner - Shelby Gillis

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Rotor Review #156 Spring '22

Naval Helicopter Association, Inc. P.O. Box 180578, Coronado, CA 92178-0578 (619) 435-7139 www.navalhelicopterassn.org National Officers

Regional Officers

President....................................CDR Emily Stellpflug, USN Vice President ........................................CDR Eli Owre, USN Executive Director...............CAPT Jim Gillcrist, USN (Ret.) Business Development..............................Ms. Linda Vydra Managing Editor, Rotor Review .......Ms. Allyson Darroch Retired Affairs ..................CDR Mike Brattland, USN (Ret.) Legal Advisor ..............CDR George Hurley, Jr., USN (Ret.) VP Corp. Membership..........CAPT Tres Dehay, USN (Ret.) VP Awards ..........................................CDR Ian Adams, USN VP Membership ...............................LCDR James Teal, USN VP Symposium 2022 ..............CAPT Steven Thomas, USN Secretary..........................................LT Jimmy Gavidia, USN Special Projects........................................................VACANT NHA Branding and Gear...............LT Shaun Florance USN Senior HSM Advisor.............AWRCM Nathan Hickey, USN Senior HSC Advisor ......AWSCM Darren Hauptman, USN Senior VRM Advisor........AWFCM Jose Colon-Torres,USN

Region 1 - San Diego Directors ............................ ..... CAPT Brannon Bickel, USN CAPT Ed Weiler, USN CAPT Sam Bryant, USN CAPT Nathan Rodenbarger, USN President ...….................................... CDR Mike King, USN Region 2 - Washington D.C. Director ....................................... CAPT Andy Bernier, USN President ...........................................CDR Tony Perez, USN Co-president................................CDR Pat Jeck, USN (Ret.) Region 3 - Jacksonville Director ..................................CAPT Teague Laguens, USN President ..........................................CDR Justin Banz, USN Region 4 - Norfolk Director .............................................CAPT Ryan Keys, USN President ............................ CDR Santico Valenzuela, USN

Directors at Large

Chairman...............................RADM Dan Fillion, USN (Ret.) CAPT Gene Ager, USN (Ret.) CAPT Chuck Deitchman, USN (Ret.) CAPT Dennis DuBard, USN (Ret.) CAPT Tony Dzielski, USN (Ret.) CAPT Greg Hoffman, USN (Ret.) CAPT Bill Personius, USN (Ret.) CAPT Mario Mifsud, USN (Ret.) CAPT Arne Nelson, USN (Ret.) LT Alden Marton, USN AWRCM Nathan Hickey, USN

Region 5 - Pensacola Director ..........................................CAPT Jade Lepke, USN President .........................................CDR Annie Otten,USN 2022 Fleet Fly-In Coordinator..........LT Chris Stuller, USN Region 6 - OCONUS Director .........................................CAPT Derek Brady, USN President ................................CDR Jonathan Dorsey, USN

NHA Historical Society

Junior Officers Council

National Pres. / Region..LT Alden "CaSPR" Marton, USN Region 2 ....................LT Matthew “Cheeese” Wellens, USN Region 3 .................................LT Ed "Rhino" Stephens, USN Region 4 .................................LT Tyler "Kuzco" Bothel, USN Region 5 ....................................LT Connor McKiernan, USN Region 6......................................................................VACANT

President............................CAPT Bill Personius, USN (Ret.) Vice President……...…....CDR Mike Brattland, USN (Ret.) Secretary................................LCDR Brian Miller, USN (Ret.) Treasurer..........................CDR Chris Fitzgerald, USN (Ret.) S.D. Air & Space Museum...CAPT Jim Gillcrist, USN (Ret.) USS Midway Museum....CDR Chris Fitzgerald, USN (Ret.) Webmaster........................CDR Mike Brattland, USN (Ret.)

NHAHS Committee Members

NHA Scholarship Fund

CAPT Dennis DuBard, USN (Ret.) CAPT Mike Reber, USN (Ret.) CAPT Arne Nelson, USN (Ret.) CAPT Jim O’Brien, USN (Ret.) LCDR Brian Miller, USN CDR Mike Brattland, USN (Ret.) CDR John Ball, USN (Ret.) CDR Chris Fitzgerald, USN (Ret.) Drew Hamblen

President .............................CAPT Arne Nelson, USN (Ret.) Executive VP/ VP Ops ...CAPT Todd Vandegrift, USN (Ret.) VP Plans................................................CAPT Jon Kline, USN VP Scholarships ..............................Ms. Nancy Ruttenberg VP Finance ...................................CDR Greg Knutson, USN Treasurer........................................................Ms. Jen Swasey Webmaster........................CDR Mike Brattland, USN (Ret.) Social Media .............................................................VACANT CFC/Special Projects ...............................................VACANT Navy Helicopter Association Founders CAPT A.E. Monahan, USN (Ret.) CAPT Mark R. Starr, USN (Ret.) CAPT A.F. Emig, USN (Ret.) Mr. H. Nachlin

CDR H.F. McLinden, USN (Ret.) CDR W. Straight, USN (Ret.) CDR P.W. Nicholas, USN (Ret.) 5

CDR D.J. Hayes, USN (Ret.) CAPT C.B. Smiley, USN (Ret.) CAPT J.M. Purtell, USN (Ret.) CDR H.V. Pepper, USN (Ret.)

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Chairman’s Brief NHA’s Advantage is our Weapons System with a Heart By RADM D.H. “Dano” Fillion, USN (Ret.)

HA Symposium 2022 is going to be like no other in the history of NHA. Never before JO and DH Calls with very senior Leadership. Keynote speaker at the opening ceremony this year will be a civilian. Never has that happened at NHA! Panels that are unprecedented will occur every day addressing never before issues / topics that are 100% germane and laser spot on to the theme of this year’s symposium: “The Human Advantage.” The focus of this year’s symposium is in response to your input that informed our efforts. We heard that you want to see what NHA can provide to membership while in the service when you are operating as the “Weapons System with a Heart.” And, when you and your family decide that it is time to move on from serving your country in uniform, that there are things that your organization can do for you and assist you with during your transition. There will be more Retired Flag Officers at this year’s symposium than in previous years and they are all your mentors, just engage them. Topics and discussions will not only be pertinent to active-duty personnel while more then one event will focus solely on the support systems for the “Weapons System with a Heart,” our families who are the motivation factor to do well and never come off 100% Nr. It is you, the members who fly, fight, and maintain the rotary component of Naval Aviation that absolutely give the Navy and the nation the “Human Advantage,” to always be ready to deliver strategic deterrence, when called for a decisive response and to always be combat ready. I am excited to see all of you at NHA Symposium 2022 and eager to hear your feedback; we are your professional organization!

“Remember that life develops what it demands - the toughest path creates the strongest warrior. Pray not for a lighter load; but for stronger shoulders.” Dan Millman, American author As always, I am, V/r and CNJI (Committed Not Just Involved), Dano Fillion

RADM Dano Fillion, STRATCOM,J3, reading to his son, Daniel Jr., and his preschool class.

Rotor Review #156 Spring '22

Executive Director’s View The Human Advantage is NHA’s Advantage

By CAPT Jim Gillcrist, USN (Ret.) am excited about the direction of this year’s symposium theme, “The Human Advantage.” The 2022 NHA Symposium will be less about the “hardware” we need to win the fight, and more about our true competitive advantage in peace and war, our people. The Rotary Force is a mix of high-end rotary wing, unmanned, and tilt rotor platforms. However, what makes it unique is an organization made up of maintainers, aircrew, and pilots who train, operate, and deploy together. We fix, we fly, and we strike as a team – united through a shared purpose and reinforcing culture. This is what makes us different and provides the edge in combat.

So too, NHA is about the people with the same shared purpose and reinforcing culture. Professional development, camaraderie, and the opportunity for mentorship and networking are our key mission sets. This is the value proposition for being a member. It is about taking care of each other and paying it forward when you can. This is my reflection after three years as Executive Director. Besides swag and a magazine, your membership in this professional organization enables you to tap into shipmates and career mentors, all of whom provide support and sage counsel. We are each other’s keeper. Allow me to provide a real-world example. In the past 18 months, I have had the privilege to mentor and make key connections for two active duty NHA members who reached a point where they had decided to transition to a civilian career. Both individuals had excelled and been successful in the Navy. As we crossed paths professionally aboard North Island and socially at the I-Bar, I made introductions (as we all would have) for each within a local aerospace and defense company where both landed jobs as strategic hires. This is what we do as a professional organization – we look out for each other. Attracting more JOs, aircrew, and maintainers to the organization makes NHA more vibrant, builds the team, and enriches the overall experience. Reaching 3,000 active members this year is a strategic priority. Currently, NHA is at 2,775 members. Membership is the lifeblood of the organization, and it is NHA’s “human advantage!” • • •

Please keep your membership profile up to date. Register NOW for the 2022 Symposium. If you should need any assistance at all, give us a call at (619) 435-7139 and we will be happy to help – you will get Linda, Mike, Allyson, or myself.

Warm regards with high hopes, Jim Gillcrist.

Every Member Counts / Stronger Together

DCAG Drenning gets “coined” as Lifetime Member #700 with E-Dub, Bick, Tracksuit, Gump, Easy, Bomb, and JMel at the I-Bar on Friday, 25 February 2022. 7

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National President's Message Symposium 2022: The Human Advantage By CDR Emily “ABE” Stellpflug, USN

hether it’s on the flight deck of the USS Midway, pool side at the Viejas Casino, or at a local brewery in Norfolk, the NHA Members Reunion never disappoints. The Reunion and Symposium are a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with friends and colleagues from years past and enjoy the irreplaceable bonds that have formed with lifelong friends. As I reflect on NHA Symposiums that I’ve attended throughout the years, the connection and camaraderie is what keeps me coming back! It is part of what makes Naval Aviation so unique and exceptional. In addition to the opportunity to reunite and network, this year’s Symposium boasts a unique theme, “The Human Advantage." Today’s Navy recognizes that our people are the true competitive advantage in the high-end fight. I still think back to day one at USNA (merely a few years ago) memorizing the mission, “To develop midshipmen morally, mentally, and physically…” and consider the importance of preparing ourselves each day for what lies ahead. And not just ourselves as individuals, but the Sailors who we lead and our loved ones who support us. I once had a flight instructor who bragged that they could teach anyone to fly, but said the difficulty was teaching decision-making and leadership within the cockpit. This theme, aptly described by RADM “Dano” Fillion as “Weapons System with a Heart," isn’t just about flying and executing TTPs. The theme targets individual readiness, including training, innovation, leadership, work-life-balance, resilience, and supporting our military families. The NHA Planning Team dug into the schedule of events and strives to deliver meaningful discussions and panels aimed at enhancing our personal effectiveness within rotary winged aviation. We kick off the week’s activities with the Aircrew Challenge out at the Ocean View Fishing Pier as a way to demonstrate our teamwork and grit. The following are some panel highlights: • • • • • • • • • • •

Keynote Speaker - Jamie Cochran from Echelon Front Major Commander’s Panel PERS-43 Briefs Second Sea Tour Panel Retention Panel OCONUS Experience Panel Post Military / Entrepreneurial Lunch Women Aviator Mentorship Breakfast JO & DH calls (with VCNO) Captains of Industry Panel Flag Panel

Each evening includes a social event: Members Reunion at O’Connor’s Brewery, Flight Suit / Industry Social at the Marriott Waterside Hotel, and the capstone Top Golf Tournament to raise money for the NHA Scholarship Fund and NHA Historical Society at Top Golf, Virginia Beach. Please register at: https://www.navalhelicopterassn.org Don’t miss your opportunity to be a part of this phenomenal event. I look forward to seeing you all there! Fly Safe! V/R ABE, NHA Lifetime Member #481

Rotor Review #156 Spring '22

NHA JO President Update Hardware

By LT Alden "CaSPR" Marton, USN

ur weapon systems and tactics are the standard by which other nations compare, no doubt about it. As a warfighting culture, we have hundreds of mil-tech conferences occurring around the country at any one time. I’m as guilty as the next guy, gear is cool. But as “The Human Advantage” Symposium is rapidly approaching, I’m reminded of the dogma so many of us like to quote: “Man. Train. Equip.” Our lethality comes not just from our equipment, but from our sailor/warriors/ operators. How do we train each other? How do we adapt? Usually operating with fixed equipment, our own individual ability is the x-factor. Our willingness to take our equipment, to experiment, and grow to the limits of our ability is the edge of the warfighting blade. But just like the equipment we operate, we need maintenance. We need our software updates in the form of professional development. We need our oil inspected in the form of physical health, mental health, and medical services. Too often the squeaky wheel gets the grease so let’s take the time for a periodic inspection of our people. Just as we expect our equipment to perform at 11,000 RPM, we expect the same precision from one another. Two thirds of “Man. Train. Equip.” focuses on the gravity of people-power. Our conviction should mirror the same. As the proverb states, “an individual too busy to take care of their health is like a mechanic too busy to take care of their tools.” Now is the time to reflect – are we looking out for our most valuable assets? Are our strongest weapons, our warriors, taken care of? Every ounce of effort that goes into honing our people is another sharper tool for the Navy, the Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE), and the future of vertical lift. Let’s all make the conscious decision to lean into the people-first mentality this quarter and bring those fresh ideas to the NHA Symposium in Norfolk this spring!

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VP for membership Report Three Thousand is a Milestone By LCDR Bill "WYLD Bill" Teal, USN

t is an exciting time to be a NHA Member!! We are within reach of achieving 3,000 active members! In major league baseball, there are only 32 players who have achieved 3,000 hits during their careers. Those who accomplish this feat are practically guaranteed a future spot in Cooperstown. But what does baseball trivia have to do with NHA? I am glad you asked. The important thing to realize is that while the attainment of 3,000 hits was a milestone in each of those 32 players’ careers, it was not the pinnacle, but just another step in their paths to greatness. Achieving 3,000 members is not the finish line for NHA, but another milestone in our path to greatness. NHA is running full steam ahead working hard to increase our value to members. Whether it is the annual Symposium, social meetups, mentoring opportunities, networking venues, scholarship opportunities, or historical preservation, NHA is working for you. The creation of our Lifetime Membership has taken off with over 620 Lifetime Members signing up to date. Our mentorship portal is live, and members can update their profiles right now. Symposium is around the corner with the focus on “The Human Advantage.” You and what each of you bring to the fight makes the difference. But I know we are missing something, and I bet you know what, or more appropriately, who we are missing. We are truly “Stronger Together and Every Member Counts.” So, give us the competitive edge on our shared path to greatness and become a member. Connect us with WHO we are missing because you are “The Human Advantage.” And we need everyone!! See you in Norfolk! WYLD Bill LCDR Bill Teal, USNR NHA V.P. for Membership LTM#291 / RW #29418

HSM-78 Blue Hawks crush Lifetime Membership Coining at I-Bar on Friday, 25 March: Skipper Eckhoff (#590), XO Terry (#292), LT Allen (#586), LT Lahey (#588), and LT Wilson (#585) with CDR Mike “Bus” Short (#1) officiating.

Rotor Review #156 Spring '22

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From the Editor-in-Chief The Human Advantage

By LT Mike "Bubbles" Short, USN

reetings from Norfolk, Virginia! Today, I conducted my Last Flight Flown (LFF) as a member of the mighty Fleet Angels of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron TWO (HSC-2). As tradition dictates, after I landed and handed off the aircraft, I walked from the flight line to the hangar where my squadron mates were standing by, ready to douse me with buckets of water. This is a ritual that’s undoubtedly been carried out, in some form or another, thousands of times throughout the history of US Military Aviation. By now, I’ve taken part LT Lowell "Gonzo" Reeh, LT Tyler "Kuzco" Bothel, LT Austen in the tradition for departing peers and seniors in more "GG" Wildberger, and LT Justin "MONGO" Menke pour water on instances than I can even count. At times, I’ve allowed LT Short after his Last Flight Flown (LFF). myself to think of this wonderful custom as commonplace, or consider it “just something we have to do.” But after a moment of indulging in cynicism or jadedness, I always come back to the same place. Tradition—no matter how silly a specific one may seem, and no matter how often we find ourselves repeating it—is a cornerstone of who we are as Naval Aviators. Tradition, in my mind, is a critical aspect of the culture that ties members of an organization together. Tradition grounds individuals in a common professional heritage—one that celebrates both the values and the achievements of the people who have contributed to that organization throughout its history. The traditions that we espouse as members of Naval Aviation give us repeated opportunities to acknowledge and celebrate the people who have gone before us, and the people with whom we serve today. As you’ve likely seen by now, the theme for this issue of Rotor Review is “The Human Advantage.” I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to experience the thoughts, words, and interpretations of our contributors LT Short and LT Sarah Beth "MAC" Rupp during LFF. as they pertain to this theme. Our people are the strength of our organization. And to me, our advantage lies in the unbreakable bonds forged between people by culture and strengthened by tradition. Today’s flight felt like a milestone to me. It won’t be my last flight in the MH-60S, and it won’t be my last in Norfolk either. I’m headed right Fleet Angel Wardroom after Change of Command Ceremony for CAPT Steve down the Seawall to start Thomas and CDR Santico Valenzuela. a Super JO job with the Dragon Whales of HSC-28, where I’ll continue to fly. My flight was meaningful because, at the end, even though I was obnoxiously late for my scheduled hot seat time, I shared in a tradition that celebrates my connection with some of the greatest professionals I’ll ever know. In nearly three years at this squadron, I’ve experienced “The Human Advantage” up close, and that’s made me so grateful for my time as a Fleet Angel. Rotor Review #156 Spring '22

Letters to the Editors It is always great to hear from our membership! We need your input to ensure that Rotor Review keeps you informed, connected and entertained. We maintain many open channels to contact the magazine staff for feedback, suggestions, praise, complaints or publishing corrections. Please advise us if you do not wish to have your input published in the magazine. Your anonymity will be respected. Post comments on the NHA Facebook page or send an email to the Editor-in-Chief; his email is michaelshort91@gmail.com or the Managing Editor; rotorreview@navalhelicopterassn.org. You can use snail mail too. Rotor Review’s mailing address is: Letters to the Editor, c/o Naval Helicopter Association, Inc. P.O. Box 180578, Coronado, CA 92178-0578.

RADIO CHECK Tell Us What You Think! The Radio Check Question for Summer, 2022 # 157. Mentorship is a critical factor impacting the personal and professional growth of the members of our organization. The Navy has developed a variety of programs and tools to encourage formal mentorship (i.e. Naval Personnel Command's Mentor Certification Program and My Navy HR's "Reverse Mentoring Guide") amongst service members. Before the advent of these formal measures, however, leaders provided mentorship informally. Informal mentorship is, and will continue to be, an extremely important part of our culture. In your life and career, how have mentors positively impacted you and your family? What are the hallmarks of a good mentor-mentee relationship? What are the characteristics of a great mentor? As always, if you feel inclined to share personal experiences and individual shout-outs, both are welcome! Our editorial staff is looking forward to hearing from you! You can send your responses to rotorreview@navalhelicopterassn.org or We want to hear from you! Please send your responses to the Rotor Review Editor-in-Chief at the email address listed below. or to rotorreview@navalhelicopterassn.org. V/r, LT Mike “Bubbles” Short Editor-in-Chief, Rotor Review michael.v.short.mil@us.navy.mil

Articles and news items are welcomed from NHA’s general membership and corporate associates. Articles should be of general interest to the readership and geared toward current Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard affairs, technical advances in the rotary wing / tilt rotor industry or of historical interest. Humorous articles are encouraged.

Rotor Review and Website Submission Guidelines

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Articles: MS Word documents for text. Do not embed your images within the document. Send as a separate attachment. Photos and Vector Images: Should be as high a resolution as possible and sent as a separate file from the article. Please include a suggested caption that has the following information: date, names, ranks or titles, location and credit the photographer or source of your image. Videos: Must be in a mp4, mov, wmv or avi format. • With your submission, please include the title and caption of all media, photographer’s name, command and the length of the video. • Verify the media does not display any classified information. • Ensure all maneuvers comply with NATOPS procedures. • All submissions shall be tasteful and in keeping with good order and discipline. • All submissions should portray the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard and individual units in a positive light.

All submissions can be sent via email to your community editor, the Editor-in-Chief (michael.v.short.mil@us.navy.mil), or the Managing Editor (rotorreview@navalhelicopterassn.org). You can also use the USPS mail. Our mailing address is Naval Helicopter Association Attn: Rotor Review P.O. Box 180578, Coronado, CA 92178-0578

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Naval Helicopter Association Scholarship Fund NHA Scholarship Fund and the 2022 Selection Slate By CAPT Arne Nelson, USN (Ret.) President (NHA LTM #4 RW#- 13762)

wo years ago, I shared an anecdote regarding the three essential crisis action steps of senior Naval leadership. Maybe you remember the Pentagon’s three-envelope turnover gouge (blame, reorganize, prepare three envelopes). This past year, the NHASF leadership skipped envelope 1 (blame) and went right into step two. With our newly reorganized Scholarship Committee, we prepared for the 2022 selections, leaving the regional presidents to recommend regional award winners and a “Functional Committee” to select active-duty personnel and military spouses. In March, the NHA Board of Directors approved the slate. The general comment coming out of the selection boards was that our 2022 pool of 50 eligible applicants was highly competitive. We are proud to announce the awardees for the 2022 NHA Scholarship Fund (see column to the right). Of note, four of our scholars are return awardees: Lucy Young (University of Maryland), Carly Vigeant (Arizona State University), Julia Frey (The Ohio State University) and Shane Ball, a three-time awardee and Mark Starr memorial recipient (University of Colorado). Our overall goal is to have selections announced at the annual NHA Symposium in May 2022. We intend to make our payments to the various school’s financial offices no later than 1 August 2022. The Scholarship Committee is updating the operations manual with a goal of streamlining the application procedures and the selection process. Apply. Our website is in work with a goal to be ready for the next application season 1 September 2022 to 31 January 2023. Most important, the successful applicant will continue to be a solid academic profile, with good grades in the toughest environment. Other attributes follow: athletics, school extracurriculars, and community service … so NHASF is still looking for the all-around great student; not really different than the selections NHASF has made going back to 1993.

NHASF 2022 Slate and Fund Sources Region One Lauren Jones Reg 1 Director’s Scholarship/NHA, (HS) Liam Conlon USS Midway Museum Foundation, (HS) Shane Ball* NHAHS Mark Starr Memorial/NHA, U. Colorado Region Two Lucy Young* Reg 2 NHA Director’s U. Maryland, Lauren Adams Teledyne FLIR Memorial Washington University of St Louis Emma Marsh Kaman Memorial / NHA award, Wash & Lee U. Region Three Stephanie Navin, NHA Reg 3 Director’s GA Tech Michael Pedicone USS Midway Museum, Florida State College Sarah Reilein, Region 4 Director’s NHA award Auburn Region Four Carly Vigeant* HS-5/Capt Bill Roop Memorial, ASU Bronwen Bailey Teledyne FLIR Wellesley College Julia Frey* Raytheon STEM Ohio State Active-Duty Personnel LT Joshua Wombolt, USCG, NHA BoD Scholarship Ohio U. Military Spouse Megan Buriak, Gold Star, USS Midway Museum U. San Diego My Le Ream Family Memorial, NHA BoD South College The three Region 5 and 6 candidates competed in regions 3 and 4. *denotes previous NHA Scholarship Awardee

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Donate. Over the last year, we noted that our investment accounts were growing steadily, thanks to the foresight of earlier leadership, but in 2022 donations are down, accompanied, thus far, by recent unrealized losses in our investment accounts – still healthy, but down. We’d like to strengthen our ties to existing corporate sponsors, develop some new partnerships and raise awareness among our flags, trustees, active-duty shipmates, both enlisted and officer, maintenance personnel and aircrew. This will include memorial and community legacy awards (e.g., H-5/Bill Roop, Big Iron legacy, and legacy and memorials for our historic squadrons and memorials to fallen shipmates.) This spring, our goal is to raise an additional $10,500 (or three scholarships) by 31 May to make up for some corporate sponsorships that dropped off unexpectedly. We’ll go to the new (HSC and HSM) and old (HM/HC/HS/HSL) communities and ask for a generous, leadership donation to sustain our scholarship funds. More additionally, we rely on continued growth of the gifts established 15 years ago by Raytheon, Kaman, Ream Family, and Don Patterson’s 1000 Points of Light that founded our investment accounts And, to make giving easier, we have added a QR code tied to our PayPal accounts to direct your generous donations ($5, $50, $100, etc.). Remember, the scholarships are not just for our kids and grandchildren, but for our spouses and shipmates, too! Since 1993, NHA Scholarships have been awarded to hundreds of the best and most fully qualified NHA affiliated Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel and their family members to help with the rising costs of higher education. Look at our website https://www. nhascholarshipfund.org and tell your shipmates and family members to look at our scholarship program … and … Apply and Donate.

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Congratulations to Region One

Lauren Jones (High School)

Liam Conlon (High School)

Shane Ball University of Colorado Mark Starr Memorial Award

Region Two

Lucy Young University of Maryland

Lauren Adams Washington University of St. Louis

Emma Marsh Washington and Lee University Kaman Family Memorial and NHA Scholarship Fund

Region Three

Stephanie Navin Georgia Tech

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Michael Pedicone Florida State College

Sarah Reilein Auburn University

our Scholarship Winners! Region Four

Carly Vigeant* Arizona State University

LT Joshua Wombolt, USCG Purdue Active-Duty Personnel

Bronwen Bailey Wellesley College

Megan Buriak University of San Diego Gold Star Family / Military Spouse

Julia Frey Ohio State University

My Le South College Military Spouse

BREAKING NEWS!!

Mr Dominic Sargiotto of Gilbert AZ visited NHA and provided a tour of the NHA offices and the flight line squadrons. After a brief visit to the flight line, he was hosted at the IBar with a chance to rub elbows with offduty Naval Aviators and get a feel for Naval Aviation. Mr Sargiotto, as a “friend of Naval Aviation (and NHA)”, has donated $3500 for a 16th full scholarship in the 2022 Scholarship rounds. With Mr Sargiotto’s discussions focused on Navy helicopter aviation, it is appropriate that the 16th 2022 award be provided to LT Victor Nguyen who will be pursuing graduate studies at Ohio University.

Did You Know? When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon. com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to the Naval Helicopter Association Historical Society or the Scholarship Fund. Sign-up today! It does not cost you anything and a percentage of your purchase price is donated to NHAHS or NHASF! 17

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Naval Helicopter Association Historical Society Helo on a Stick - Good Progress By CAPT Bill Personius, USN (Ret.) LTM-#46, R-16213 President

n Tuesday 22 Februarry 2022, NHA Historical Society (NHAHS) sponsored a lunch at Nicky Rotten’s Bar & Burger Joint (that’s the name) in downtown Coronado on the corner of Orange and First Avenues where our guest speaker was Captain Newt “Bomb” McKissick, USN the NBC/NASNI Base Executive Officer. Bomb gave a great presentation to 27 attendees that anchored on Rotary Wing Aviation and our many accomplishments over the years to include activity in and around the NASNI Base. Several questions were asked about the NASNI Front Gate CDR Clyde E. Lassen, USN (Ret.) Memorial, Medal of Honor SH-60F “Helicopter on a Stick” Display Aircraft. Bomb has been leading an IPT (Integrated Project Team) consisting of several NASNI Base Department Heads to accomplish the task. NAVFAC or Public Works/ (PWC), Security, Legal, NHA, NHAHS, and USS Midway are the main players with contributions from various other activities when needed like the Wing Commodores, CNAP and CNRSW has even been involved concerning some aspects of the effort. We collectively are making good progress with the main tasker at the moment being a “Gifting Letter” that needs to be routed and approved by the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations and the Environment (ASN EIE). This document will also need to be routed to CNRSW, CNIC, DNS, CNO and then the Assistant Secretary of the Navy Staff destined for the ASN EIE. The reason for the “Gifting Letter” is the dollar amount NHA/NHAHS and Midway are planning to give to the Navy and the fact that the stanchion and supporting materials are “real property,” so therefore the request needs to be routed and approved up the chain of command. To date we have raised over $35K and we are in the process of working to answer several RFIs for a construction and engineering firm so we can get a price quote to have the aircraft mounted on a stanchion that mirrors the one that supports the VADM James B. Stockdale, USN (Ret.) A-4 Skyhawk. We are currently planning the next aircraft wash job on base and that should happen by the time this article is published (sometime in April). The first event was a success with the Chief Petty Officers and Chief Selects taking on the task. This time we will rely on volunteers from the base to accomplish the work. However I have no doubt that the HSC Wing will come through as it is their turn to lead the effort. Midway should be starting the restoration process on the H-3 Sea King soon with the help of the Maritime Support Wing (MSW/Reserves) so the aircraft continue to look good at Flag Circle. The artesian volunteers at the Midway Restoration Hangar 805 out near the NASNI fuel storage area and hot refueling pits are going to assist the MSW to get the H-3 back into shape. We continue to make preparations to get ready to support the 2022 NHA Symposium in Norfolk. We have identified both the Mark Starr Pioneer and the Oldest Helix Award Recipients and have invited both to join us at the Symposium Awards Ceremony. We may be in luck as the Oldest Helix Award winner is local to the Norfolk area living in Virginia Beach and is in good health and is planning to join us as of the writing of this article. In an attempt to be more inclusive, the NHAHS Executive Committee has voted to create two new enlisted member awards this year…a Golden and a Silver Crew Chief Award! The Golden Crew Chief being the oldest Aircrewman on active duty and the Silver Crew Chief being the oldest living Crew Chief. We plan to invite and recognize both these individuals at the 2022 Symposium and hope to find these people in time so that they can join us at the awards ceremony. That’s it for this edition of the NHAH's update for Rotor Review and I hope that someone writes a story or two about our most important human advantage and support personnel…specifically our spouses…if not for them, most of us would not be able to give our all to what is a very demanding job…especially when separated by time and distance forward deployed. Hey…don’t forget to make a donation of a few dollars to the “Helicopter on a Stick Project" for the front gate at NASNI for what is the Master Helicopter Base. See the adjoining page for details. Fly safe and keep your turns up! Regards, CAPT P

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Paypal Donation Link

Computer Rendition of NASNI Stockdale Entrance with SH-60F on a Pedestal

Mail Checks to: Naval Helicopter Association Historical Society, Inc. (NHAHS) NASNI SH-60F Project PO Box 180578, Coronado, CA 92178-0578 To donate with Paypay visit https://www.nhahistoricalsociety.org/indexphp/donations/ and click on the Paypal icon or copy and paste this link in your browser https://www.paypal.com/donate?token=dUz7iSsDDUkFxuXCIsSpZE5lRrmAZ7M5diK1LRJ315ULqrsnyvU3nuz4WHPu0z4ZBCW7xiw34NubTIs 19

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On Leadership "On Leadership” is a feature column in which Rotary Wing Flag Officers submit articles on leadership topics of their choosing.

The Human Advantage

By RDML Wayne “Mouse” Baze, USN

lose your eyes. Imagine your best experience in the military, a time when everything just clicked. Things were getting done–not easily, but not harder than you could handle. Performance was high, and the team was winning. If someone asked what your purpose was, you knew. You felt like you were part of something special. Now open your eyes and answer this question. If you had to identify the one element that brought it all together, what would it be? Was it the cool machines? Maybe it was your missions/roles? Or was it the people you worked with? I know my answer (rhymes with steeple). What if we could sustain such experiences, making them the norm rather than the exception? What would that take? What would it mean for our performance, quality of service, and ability to win in combat? I am encouraged by this year’s theme for the NHA Symposium, “The Human Advantage.” We always talk about the “stuff” we need to win the fight, but often gloss over our true superpower. We say the right words, “people first,” but do we prioritize the growth, training, wellness of our Sailors/ Marines enough? My sense is that we often fall short of the mark. I recognize that it is not simple, as choices we make are seldom either-or propositions. But this is more than an academic discussion. It is fundamental to how we thrive (or not) in service, and will be key to winning or losing in combat. The days in which our military enjoyed large technological and numerical advantages are over. In a world of near-peers, what makes the difference will be us–our people, resilience, training, ways of thinking and fighting–not machines. In short, our human advantage will carry the day. You don’t have to look far for examples of “people power” making the difference. We are all tracking the horrors of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Talking heads are debating lessons of geopolitics, impacts to supply chains, the readiness of Russian forces, the strength of NATO, etc. But I think the most important takeaways are in the areas that the smartest people in the room—strategists, planners, leaders—often miss: namely, the idea that the human dimension matters most in conflict. For any who have worked with Ukrainians, you are not surprised by their resistance. They are tough, resilient, innovative, and possess a strong sense of national identity. Since 2014 their military has worked hard to improve. Anyone who saw “Molotov Grandma” on the television knows these people will not just roll over. Logistics challenges aside, the primary reason that the offensive is struggling is because Russian leaders underestimated the tenacity, shared purpose, spirit, training, and courage of the Ukrainian people. And yes, personal leadership at the right time and place really is making a difference. Thank you, President Zelenskyy. Rotor Review #156 Spring '22

Sailors offload an MH-60S Sea Hawk Helicopter, assigned to the "Tridents" of HSC-9, on USS Gerald R. Ford's (CVN 78) flight deck during flight operations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jesus O. Aguiar.

The Brits in days of sail won stunning victories against foes with more ships, weapons, and people. But what they lacked in mass, they made up for in boldness, training, mission command, and esprit-de-corps. Lord Nelson’s tactics at the Battle of Trafalgar were rooted in his trust in the training and culture of his team. He knew his ships would act correctly, independently, agilely, and with little direction from him in the heat of the moment. He so empowered his fleet that he could accept the large risks of driving his ships in close to the adversary, where his human advantage made the difference. Might we also be in fights against larger forces in the future, where how we fight matters more than what we fight with? You can’t “magic” the sort of culture suggested in these vignettes into being overnight. And just buying more stuff won’t get you there either. It takes patience, commitment, deliberate effort, and leadership to strengthen the team over time. It is a thing not easily defined, but you know it when you see it. Think of how you recognize a strong, positive culture moment after walking aboard a command. We have the best trained, most capable Sailors/Marines in the world. They can do anything given the right tools and guidance. But we must get better to face the greater challenges ahead. How do we do that? This may surprise you, but I don’t think the answer is simply about modern concepts in learning and training. Such enablers are important but insufficient. Instead, it starts with the basics of how we build top performing teams; empower our people to experiment, take risks, innovate; build resilience; and nurture our military families. You simply can’t expect a strong house when the foundation is weak. The Navy has solid initiatives to help. 20

Some of these initiatives you should know about include: - Get Real, Get Better (GRGB). GRGB is a practical, structured way to strengthen everything we do. To paraphrase the CNO and others, it is a call to action to honestly assess ourselves, remove barriers, find and fix problems, and innovate. It is about becoming a true learning organization that rewards radical transparency and team warfighting outcomes. It is about reducing the deltas between high and low performing elements to bring us all to consistent, peak performance. Visit the link below for more on GRGB and the new Charge of Command. h t t p s : / / w w w. n a v y . m i l / R e s o u r c e s / B l o g s / D e t a i l / Article/2894808/get-real-get-better/ and https://www. navy.mil/Press-Office/Press-Releases/display-pressreleases/ Article/2895315/cno-gilday-issues-new-charge-of-commandto-commanders/ - Culture of Excellence (COE). COE and other 21st Century Sailor initiatives help foster the foundations of our warfighting readiness: psychological, physical and emotional toughness; organizational trust and transparency; inclusion and connectedness. Visit the link below for more. https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Support-Services/21stCentury-Sailor/ - Warfighting Development Centers. The Naval Aviation Warfare Development Center, Surface Warfare and Mine Warfighting Development Center, and other nodes of excellence continue to be drivers of change in how we improve, think, and fight. Such programs are moving us in the right direction, but they are only a start. Supportive principles of leadership and human relations I view as critical moving forward include: - Explain the Why. Teams without purpose lack resilience when the chips are down (think of Russian conscripts in Ukraine). We need real conversations about duty; why we serve in the first place. We are engaged in lives of service to higher ideals enshrined in the Constitution. The profession of arms is a way of life, not a job. It is dangerous, requiring real sacrifices of you and your family. You signed up to kill and die if needed for the greater good. Do we talk with our people about this enough? Or do we instead try to soften the expectations and realities of military life to our detriment at times? A former boss used to say we must,must "connect the dots for our team" not just the how but most importantly the why of our mission. Teams that believe in each other and their purpose win. - Remember we are Family. If we want teams that willingly fight and die together—caring more about mission than self—then we must treat each other like family from the start. We are entrusted with the lives of some of our nation’s finest

citizens. They are deserving of our respect and best effort. My Navy commitment and performance has always been highest when leaders took the time to be there for me, my spouse, and my shipmates. Conversely, my performance lagged when I felt like just another number. Never let the exigencies of the moment distract you from the fact that our true strength derives from our connectedness to one another. - Zero Tolerance Stifles Innovation. If you want radical improvements and great ideas, you must be ok with breaking some eggs in the process of trial and error. When I joined, no one argued with the statement, “we are a zero tolerance Navy.” We are better today, but still not quite there. As leaders you must empower your team to do their jobs. But then step back, let them own and run with it a bit, and trust them to execute. Really listen, encourage and reward reasonable risk taking and experimentation, and have your subordinates’ backs when they make recoverable mistakes. The natural, creative energies of Americans are our surest advantage vis-a-vis China and Russia. Unleash that energy. - Lead from the Front. As a leader, you must always strive for perfection in your personal and professional conduct, because subordinates look to you for what “right” is. If you want your team to embrace forward-thinking concepts like GRGB and COE, then you must live them yourself. My advice is to approach things with a humble, questioning attitude. Take care of your team, bank resilience when able, and train, train, train. You should never think you are done or good enough. That isn’t the point. The point is in the striving. And please have fun while you are at it. I always smiled at the question of what comes first… mission, stuff, or people? The answer is people, of course. You know this from experience. The mission, equipment, and technology are nothing without healthy, happy, trained people to make things happen. Thanks for your efforts keeping our Rotary Wing Community strong, and I look forward to the continued conversations at NHA.

Sailors and Marines participate in a 5k fun run on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5). Bataan is underway preparing for an upcoming deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Levi Decker.

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Commodore's Corner

Hold the Line

By CAPT Teague "Metro" Laguens, USN

ne of my all-time favorite movies is Gladiator. It has fantastic scenery and high drama, but they are not the best parts; Russell Crowe’s Maximus character provided us with those. His respectful leadership of the Roman army against the barbarians and his enslaved gladiator days are both applicable and appropriate to us. In one of the earliest competitions at the Coliseum, Maximus found himself surrounded by an unguided, scared group of men ready to battle individually to certain death. He observed this and immediately rallied them saying, “If we work together, we survive.” In spite of the overwhelming disadvantage in the arena, he gathered his team, exclaiming, “Hold … Together," until the time was right for their strike. His decisive patience and expert combat knowledge earned him the reverence of those men and respect of the crowd. In that moment, he won the battle and ultimately the war. Under tremendous pressure where everything was seemingly stacked against him, Maximus adapted his leadership, and earned the favorable outcome due to his unrelenting belief in his goal. Throughout all the adversity, Maximus maintained an unwavering dedication to the founding principles of his country and a heart for his family. I love that movie! Mic drop … lesson over … homework assigned. Go watch Gladiator. Metro out. Since I am not a SWO and I do not have great comm discipline, I meant “over” not “out!”

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As our leaders have unpacked GPC (Great Power Competition) and what they envision that fight to look like, the CNO aptly challenged us to further develop our team of seasoned naval warriors. He is asking us to fight beyond all obstacles, be successful, and persevere in the end. Hopefully now it makes sense to you why I chose a fictional movie character to lead off this article. Put Russell Crowe in a flight suit, or a flight deck jersey, or some Type IIIs and he is you or the Sailors we are privileged to serve alongside as we do our nation's bidding across the globe. For years we have been relatively unchallenged in our efforts to maintain the postWWII status quo in the global maritime commons. That is changing and we must adapt too. I have always said that E5s and LTs are the backbone of the NAE. These are the people who carry the burden of the workload; the resident keepers of the most up-to-date procedures (and the gouge); the truth-tellers unencumbered by the naiveté of inexperience or the politics of promotion. The backbone, however, cannot operate alone. It needs to connect to a set of hands to hold tools, a pair of legs to do heavy lifting, a mind with which to strategize, and a heart to bring it all to life. Our source of naval power comes from the strength we gain from all our combat-minded Sailors - the true heart of our weapons system.* If I personally sought you out and asked if you were combatminded, I would be willing to bet you some tasty Kentucky brown water that I would get a resolute “yes” from most if not all of those who stumbled upon the article. And I would believe you because I have seen you in action and because we come from a long line of historic combat-minded Sailors …

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John Paul Jones replied, “I have not yet begun to fight!” when outgunned and outmaneuvered by the British.

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Captain James Lawrence issued his final order, “Don’t give up the ship. Fight her till she sinks!” before being carried below decks and dying.

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Oliver Hazard Perry flew a large blue battle ensign stitched in white with the phrase “DON’T GIVE UP THE SHIP” in the Battle of Lake Erie during which he fortuitously stated, “If a victory is to be gained, I will gain it.”

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LTJG Howell M. Forgy, a Chaplain who was prohibited from actively participating in combat, motivated his fellow New Orleans Sailors by patting them on the back exclaiming “Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition!” while they hand-carried ammunition up from the magazines below decks during the attack on Pearl Harbor.

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Cook Third Class Doris Miller manned an antiaircraft gun for which he had no training and shot down numerous Japanese aircraft after his ship was hit and sinking during Pearl Harbor.

If those five people do not motivate you, go back to the homework assignment I gave you earlier, and then pick back up here later …

WWII; the imagination, creativity, and pure grit of Americans did. Despite a potentially overwhelming advantage of technology and size by our peer competitors, they are severely lacking the critical component. Combat-minded people remain our asymmetric advantage. Gritty Sailors are the heart of our weapons systems. We have huge shoes to fill, and I am optimistic that if we are called to similar action, we will emulate the examples of those who have gone before us. We will risk it all for something greater. We will relentlessly pursue victory. We will persevere. But let us not fool ourselves into thinking that it is going to be easy. Combat-mindedness is a hard choice that requires daily mental preparation, an indomitable spirit, and extraordinary action. As you finish skimming this article, like any highly trained Naval War College student would, I implore you to do me one favor. Hold the line. When faced with tremendous pressure where everything is seemingly stacked against us, we will be decisively patient and creatively strike when the time is right in defense of our families and the founding principles of our great country … together! Keep Winning … Commodore Metro * Thank you to my friend and the world record holder for most burpee pushups (573) in an hour, LCDR Phil Dobbs for the inspiration and being the ultimate combat-minded Sailor!

Technological superiority and force size did not help America win the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, or

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Report from the Rising Sun Ensuring a Free and Open Indo-Pacific: Allies and Partners at Home and Abroad By LT Rob “OG” Swain, USN

atta atta ne ( ), Naval Helicopter Association, on behalf of the "Report from the Rising Sun!" If current events have highlighted anything to the global audience over the past several weeks, it is how the human advantage, maximized through selfless leadership, can command respect and garner worldwide support in the face of wanton aggression. The conflict in EUCOM has validated to all Combatant Commands not only the resilience of the human spirit, but the force-multiplying effect of support-based relationships. In short, human virtue inspires partner and ally trust and optimizes the human advantage. I believe the human advantage’s capacity to increase readiness and lethality in order to deter adversarial aggression directly correlates to how well leaders can collaborate to foster effective teamwork and pursue aligned objectives. In accordance with President Biden’s IndoPacific Strategy, the human advantage is leveraged in INDOPACOM through strong, respectful relationships with our regional allies and partners. To better understand the existential crisis facing a free and open Indo-Pacific, and how the Navy’s allies on the home front will prove critical to controlling the region’s ongoing narrative, we’ll begin with a story.

9-Dash Line: “Joining the Dashes,” The Economist, Oct 4 2014

In 1947, 30-year-old Chinese geographer, Yang Huairen, worked on a map designed for the National Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party). The map introduced a line with eleven dashes encompassing 286 rock outcroppings in the South China Sea (SCS). Each dash represented the median line between the “islands” in the SCS and the large landmasses encompassing the area’s littorals. Yang contributed to naming each annotated rock and reef (almost entirely uninhabited and in some cases completely submerged), and labeled the area the “South China Sea Islands.” In 1949, when Mao Zedong and the Chinese communist revolutionaries overtook the Chinese Nationalist Party, most of the Kuomintang fled to Taiwan. Yang, however, stayed on mainland China, ostracized as an “anti-revolutionary authority.” Though Yang himself was persecuted by the new government, his eleven-dash line endured. The asserted territory remained on People’s Republic of China (PRC) maps until Mao relinquished the PRC’s claim to the Gulf of Tonkin to Vietnam as a token of communist solidarity in 1952. The eleven-dashes were reduced to nine, and PRC leadership scarcely referenced the nine-dash etching for the next sixty years. In 2009, the PRC submitted modernized Chinese maps to the United Nations during a territorial dispute with Vietnam. These 2009 maps averred the ninedash line as Chinese territorial waters, however, the boundaries had drifted further toward the coasts of other Southeast Asian nations. By 2013, a tenth line appeared; formally connected to the nine-dash line. The tenth line “symbolically subsume[d] Taiwan’s territorial claims” and ran close abeam Japan’s westernmost islands in the Ryuku chain. This contentious and expansive claim to the waterway caused outrage throughout the region. In 2016, an international tribunal in The Hague (the permanent home of the United Nations’ International Court of Justice) determined the nine-dash line lacked legal basis and violated both international law and the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea

Bilateral Helicopter 2: Japan Ministry of Defense “Japan-U.S. Bilateral Exercise,” April 21, 2021

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(UNCLOS). The PRC refused to accept this outcome, and currently continues to claim “indisputable sovereignty” over the SCS. By the second decade of the twenty-first century, the PRC had begun construction of artificial islands on top of the desolate rock formations and sunken reefs. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) equipped the “islands'' with military airstrips and anti-axis area denial (A2AD) weapons systems. On July 18, 2016, China’s naval chief flatly informed the United States Chief of Naval Operations that China would not stop its controversial campaign of SCS military expansion. The Indo-Pacific represents our global community’s center of gravity. It houses more than half of the world’s population, nearly two-thirds of the world’s economy, and seven of the world’s largest militaries. In our post-World War II world order, the United States recognizes the importance of the region and has forged “ironclad treaty alliances” with Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Philippines, and Thailand. Into the modern day, the United States has demonstrated a renewed commitment to leading regional partners including India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Pacific Islands. Ever-increasing PRC operations to establish a competitive sphere of influence threaten a free and open Indo-Pacific for each of these allies and partners. PRC economic coercion of Australia, border conflicts with India, growing pressure on Taiwan, human rights violations in China, freedom of navigation harassment, and the “bullying of neighbors in the East and South China Seas” compel the United States to challenge power with power by providing capable deterrence and reinvigorating coalition ties throughout the region. The power of the human advantage that the Navy rotarywing community, all-domain Navy, and greater joint force provides to our strategic Indo-Pacific allies and partners is not possible without first evaluating the strength of the strategic partnerships within our own Carrier Air Wings, within our own squadrons, and on our collective home front. The Navy has invested considerable time, personnel, and resources to keep the Fleet ready and lethal. A key factor in achieving maritime superiority is the Navy's success at providing each service member with the tools to achieve and maintain personal life stability at home – an essential task to ensuring sustained and effective operations abroad.

Understanding the programs the Navy offers to facilitate personal and professional success is not a passive function. Leaders must maximize Sailor exposure to resources such as Military One Source and Fleet and Family Support Center, as well as encourage Sailor participation in core command programs such as mentorship, indoctrination, and ombudsman services. These services on the home front arm our Sailors and aviators with the education and control to deploy with focus and resilience. Our coalition partners look to the U.S. Navy as the steward of maritime stability around the world. We cannot attend to that global responsibility without first attending to the stability of our own people. This is where you, the aviator, can effect change at the lowest tactical level. Engaging face-toface with your maintainers and aircrewmen, taking ownership of your shop or wardroom’s professional development in and out of the aircraft, encouraging open discussion about personal life challenges, and fostering an environment of inclusivity and respect among your peers and subordinates all contribute to solidifying trust-based partnerships within our rotary-wing community’s ranks. One wonderful benefit of flying a multi-crewed platform is gaining appreciation for the fact that a high-functioning team will always out-perform a high-functioning individual. Translating to the strategic level – strong, trust-based relationships with our allies and partners will continue to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific despite unilateral PRC aggression. The most expeditious way to instill trust throughout our ranks is for leaders at all echelons to embrace Navy core values and to respect the universal needs of our people. You cannot employ the human advantage without first acknowledging the human need for support. In this way, harnessing the human advantage out here in the Indo-Pacific applies from the deck plate to the highest levels of strategic preparation for the full range of military operations and everywhere in between. Continuing to foster strong relationships with our allies and partners will prepare you to answer all of our multi-mission rotary-wing requirements and standby for future Reports from the Rising Sun! Fly Navy!

CTF-70 Multi Carrier: “Multiple Allied Carrier Strike Groups Operate Together in 7th Fleet,” Navy.Mil, Oct 8, 2021

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View from the Labs The Human Advantage – and the Machines By CAPT George Galdorisi, USN (Ret.)

ur Rotor Review editor reminded us that this year’s theme is "The Human Advantage" and exploring how our leadership and investment in personnel and family will bring the competitive edge needed in warfighting. Great high concept. That said, I’d like to come at this from a different direction, that is, not just how we nurture our human capital, and not just how we field brilliant machines to help our warfighters fly, fight and win, but more importantly, how we ensure that when they team together they deliver maximum warfighting effectiveness. I teed up this idea of manned-unmanned teaming in a column last year. Here is part of what I shared then: The importance of focusing on a small bundle of technologies to ensure that the Navy can prevail in tomorrow’s conflict was emphasized by the Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral William Lescher, in his keynote address at the symposium when he said: The four pillars of the CNO’s NAVPLAN are: readiness, capability, capacity and Sailors. There are four cross-cutting technologies critical to supporting these pillars: unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, machine learning and mannedunmanned teaming. This address by our first rotary wing four-star put a punctuation mark on what can be accomplished if we use these emerging technologies to enhance the capabilities of our UAVs in order to achieve optimal man-machine teaming and make these capable platforms our loyal wingmen. During the Symposium Flag Panel, our senior leaders in the Naval Aviation community said a number of things that applied directly to the VCNO’s remarks: • • • • •

Manpower currently consumes 70% of the Department of the Navy’s budget. Naval Aviation is on a glideslope to be approximately 40% unmanned circa 2035. Current Navy UAS are not really autonomous, but require one or more operators “hands-on” at all times. The DoD’s “Third Offset Strategy” emphasizes man-unmanned teaming as a central concept. The P-8 Poisiden-MQ-4C Triton and the MH-60 Seahawk-MQ-8C Fire Scout are held out as exemplars of manned-unmanned teaming.

Taken together, it is clear that the senior leaders in our Naval Aviation Enterprise “get” the importance of making our UAVs loyal wingmen to our manned aircraft. However, along with these positive statements, what we didn’t hear at the Symposium suggests that we still have a great deal of work to do to achieve this desired end state. Here is what I did not hear: • • • •

I did not hear that there is a plan to leverage big data, artificial intelligence and machine learning to make Naval Aviation’s UAS more autonomous. I did not hear that there is a concurrent plan to enable Triton and Fire Scout to perform discrete tasks, without direction, once on-station. I did not hear that there is a plan to enable Triton and Fire Scout to curate data aboard the platform, rather than send terabytes of data down a link. I did not hear that there is a plan to have Triton and Fire Scout communicate directly with their respective manned aircraft.

I did not hear that there is a plan (or even a desire) to achieve manned-unmanned teaming with the P-8 Poisiden-MQ-4C Triton and the MH-60R/S-MQ-8C. What can we do to accelerate manned-machine teaming in our community between the MH-60R/S-MQ-8C? A great deal. As a start, pick up your iPhone and ask Siri for something easy breezy. Now ask yourself: Why can’t the pilots in the MH-60R/S talk directly to a Fire Scout armed with artificial intelligence and machine learning so it can operate fully autonomously. Rotor Review #156 Spring '22

With this CONOPS, the MH-60R/S mission commander has overall control of the operation. Once the Fire Scout is launched, it responds to direction from the MH-60R/S in much the same way as your smart phone responds to your voice questions or commands. Here is what the conversation between the two platforms might look like in this manned-unmanned teaming CONOPS: • MH-60R/S: “We’re heading eastsoutheast; stay on my wing for now.” • Fire Scout: “Roger that. Fuel state 12+45, angels one.” • MH-60R/S: “Elevate to angels two for a better radar picture.”

• Fire Scout: “Climbing.” • MH-60R/S: “I’m going to head due south, you take up a heading of 100.” • Fire Scout: “Vectoring.” • MH-60R/S: “We’re looking for warships, so keep an eye out.” • …. I think you can see how the conversation continues. From my point of view, that is manned-machine teaming and it is within our reach. Now, go write the algorithms.

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Focus - The Human Advantage NHA Symposium 2022: The Human Advantage By CAPT Steve Thomas, USN, Vice President Symposium 2022

he Naval Helicopter Association is proud to host the 2022 Symposium in Norfolk, Virginia for the first time since 2018. The 2022 Symposium will occur from 11 to 13 May at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott. In developing the theme for this year’s symposium, our organization took a central focus on what truly sets the United States military apart from its adversaries, that is our people. As RADM Dan Fillion states, “Our greatest advantage in Rotary Wing Aviation is the ‘Weapons System with a Heart,’ namely our people and their families who support them. The requirement for all units to be ready to support strategic deterrence, when required, to deliver a decisive response and always be combat ready will be the mission of every ‘Weapons System with a Heart.’ Our ability to deliver these capabilities is solely dependent on our members and their families; this is our Human Advantage. We will begin our discussion on the Human Advantage with a focus on leadership, competitive edge, and flexibility in an ever-transforming combat environment. This year’s keynote speaker is Jamie Cochran of Echelon Front, the consulting firm co-founded by Jocko Willink and Lief Babin. As a business leader, mother of three, and wife of a former Navy SEAL, Mrs. Cochran is well versed in human performance, combat leadership principles, and Extreme Ownership. This emphasis on our people will also apply to the families of our members. This year’s Symposium will feature events Thursday afternoon focused on spouses of active-duty personnel. We are offering a panel/social for spouses to discuss issues such as networking, adjusting to new environments, professional life, and the role of an Officer Spouses’ Club. After that event, there will be a panel for all, both military and spouse attendees, discussing OCONUS tours, the challenges of overseas life, and the many benefits to those tours. Spouses are also invited to attend social events on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings. Rotary and Tilt-Rotor Community members can expect professional development throughout the week with multiple briefs from detailers and military / industry leaders, as well as a JO and DH Call with senior Navy Leadership. On Friday morning, we are excited to host astronaut CAPT Sunita Williams, during the Female Aviator Mentorship Breakfast, in addition to other prominent figures across the NAE. Inclusive of Aircrewmen, NHA will host the Aircrew Challenge at the Ocean View Fishing Pier on Wednesday, 11 May at 1000. At the Symposium, aircrewmen can expect deliberate briefs directly from PERS and a Call with Senior Aircrewman Leadership. Harnessing, supporting, and nurturing our people as an integral piece of combat power is the discussion we are having at the 2022 NHA Symposium. We look forward to YOU being a part of that conversation!

Rotor Review #156 Spring '22

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Reserve Duty Helps Retain Our Human Advantage” By CAPT Quinton Packard, USN

his issue of Rotor Review and its theme of “The Human Advantage” is a perfect opportunity to highlight an option available to Sailors when they decide to leave the active component, aka the “Regular Navy.” Specifically, I am referring to the chance to serve in the Navy Reserve. Now I know what you are thinking – “here we go with a Reservist sales pitch luring me from Active Duty.” Nope - far from it! I want everyone who is currently serving to A helicopter from HSC-3 combats a fire aboard the amphibious assault ship USS stay in as long as they can. Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) at Naval Base San Diego, July 14, 2020. U.S.Navy photo by With the increasing strategic Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Garrett LaBarge. competition with China and a revanchist Russia seeking regional hegemony, there has never been a stronger need for experienced, well-trained aircrew in Like our active component counterparts, our Reserve the cockpit, the cabin, and on the ground. units are busy. Very busy. At the time of this writing, two of MSW’s four Reserve squadrons are forward-deployed, and For some of you, however, the decision may have already four of our Reserve Component Units are critical deployment been made - either by you or for you - to leave the Navy enablers for their host Active Component squadrons. MSW’s and pursue other options. Whether timing did not allow you two VP squadrons maintained persistent FY20-21 GFM to break out in a competitive wardroom or family needs are deployment presence in INDOPACOM as well, and in FY23 necessitating your off-ramp from active service, there may will transition to the P-8A Poseidon, keeping pace with our be an option for you to affiliate with the Navy Reserve and Active Component counterparts, and our insatiable need for serve in a part time capacity. Michael McVay authored an Maritime ISR and ASW capabilities. outstanding article entitled “Still Flying and Serving, Just Not on Active Duty” in War on the Rocks this February. While Do not take this the wrong way, but the benefit of a Reserve Air Force-centric, he nonetheless identified many pertinent squadron is that there are no first-tour JOs, and it is also not reasons why active-duty service members consider making the first rodeo for many of our Aircrew and Maintenance the switch. But whatever the reason, the Reserve allows the personnel. This means the path to deployment readiness Navy to recapitalize on the training investment in each of us; can be faster. Each pilot, typically coming out of a Superusually this amounts to several million dollars per person by JO or Department Head tour, is hand-selected to join the the time a Sailor’s initial contract is up. That investment wardroom and arrives with a significant amount of experience. both in money and experience - is essential to our national The downside to all that experience is that the squadron is defense because it allows us to maintain freedom of the seas capable, as the Jaguars of HSM-60 presently demonstrate, to and provides us with our strongest advantage - The Human undergo an ISATT top-off and get underway with little notice Advantage. (See what I did there?) while still being the lowest risk option. To wit, within days of notification, HSM-60 got a detachment underway a full five And if you are a helo or tilt-rotor bubba, that Reserve months ahead of their scheduled GFM deployment. service falls under the Maritime Support Wing, or MSW. As the (now former) Commodore of MSW, one of the three Meanwhile, the Firehawks of HSC-85 are always able to aviation wings under Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve, perform most HSC missions, but their current mission requires I provided a mixture of Reserve advocacy and administrative a higher training standard to execute their SOF Support and control (ADCON) for over 2,200 Reservists, including a large Combat Search and Rescue tasking. Their unique Dedicated number of Sailors in six helicopter or tilt-rotor units. These Special Operations Support syllabus - informed by but set Sailors, the majority of whom are Select Reservists, continue apart from the Seahawk Weapons & Tactics Program - helps to leverage their aviation skills part-time while pursuing feed their persistently forward-deployed detachment enough civilian alternatives. properly trained combat crews. The squadron supports Rotor Review #156 Spring '22

multiple INDOPACOM Lines of Effort, from building partner nation military capacity through JCS and unit-level SOF exercises to on-call dedicated rotary lift for combat operations. Like HSM-60, they also have a wardroom of pilots on at least their second tour. HM-14 and HM-15, while active component squadrons, are the standard bearers for the benefits of active/reserve integration. Each command has over 150 Reservists who support the squadrons’ missions and help keep Big Iron flying. At any given time, reservists serve alongside their active counterparts on HM-14’s forward deployed detachment in South Korea or HM-15’s detachment in Bahrain, providing critical skills to support airborne mine countermeasures and vertical onboard delivery support. HSC-3’s Southern California Offshore Range (SCORE) Det supports Third Fleet training and readiness requirements by providing range support on San Clemente Island, most often supporting anti-submarine warfare (ASW) training through the launch and recovery of underwater and aerial drone targets. Constructed as a distinct squadron detachment under HSC-3, the SCORE Det also provides support to California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or CALFIRE. As the firefighting program managers for the local Helicopter Sea Combat Wing Pacific squadrons, the SCORE Det gained nationwide attention in July 2020 when they were called upon to lead the aerial firefighting efforts for Bonhomme Richard. During that event, they provided unprecedented round-the-clock firefighting support…and the Navy’s first-ever nighttime airborne firefighting! Lastly, as the newest members to MSW, the VRM Community is a growth industry for the Navy Reserve. VRM30 currently has a growing number of Reservists, many of whom have transferred from the Marine Corps, and who are the most experienced in airframe in the command. Mobilized Reservists have recently returned from the squadron’s inaugural deployment on USS Carl Vinson while more

have just departed on USS Abraham Lincoln. In the coming years, Navy Reserve personnel will also be added to a similar construct at VRM-40 and -50. Despite the high op tempo for these units, the Select Reservists who have been mobilized have been 100% volunteer. Most part-time Sailors are juggling family and civilian career requirements along with their military service. So, their commands collaborate with them to schedule when they can provide more squadron support with longer-term active orders. It allows for significant personnel flexibility while still meeting their readiness goals. In some cases, Sailors can augment their income with extended orders. Full time students, for example, might come on orders during the summer session. Others volunteer for extended service if they are in between jobs. Finally, the Navy Reserve offers an easier transition to civilian life once you start down that path. One of the most common refrains made by those who have left the uniform is that they “miss the people.” Making up less than 1% of the U.S. population, servicemembers are a rare breed in our society. They’ve shared unique experiences in some of the harshest environments and have created a bond that is unlike any “on the other side.” Being able to don a flight suit one weekend a month, knock the rust off your aviation skills, and log some flight time is a great way to scratch that itch and get paid doing it! In summary, the Navy Reserve is a terrific way to leverage the training and experience of Sailors who plan to leave active duty. The net result is a win-win - the Navy retains its outstanding young men and women part-time while they start their new careers, and the Sailors get to keep one foot in the military door, earn supplemental income, and stay in the aircraft. For rotary-wing and tilt-rotor aircrew, you can get more information on those opportunities through the Maritime Support Wing at MSW_Ops@navy.mil. Thanks for all you do, and I will see you in the Fleet!

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Focus - The Human Advantage “What’s a Ground Job?”: Setting Junior Officer Pilots Up for Success Outside of the Cockpit By LT Andrew “Gonzo” Gregory, USN

joined the Navy to fly, not to sit in front of a computer all day.” This is a classic gripe among Naval Aviators adjusting to their first Fleet tour. The fact is, Junior Officers (JOs) in aviation squadrons balance many responsibilities. For JO pilots, this means consistently facing a tradeoff between time spent acting as an aviator, and everything else that is asked of them. While many of us prefer to prioritize the parts of the job related to flying, the benefits of learning how to perform a wide variety of roles within a squadron must be recognized. Rotating pilots through positions in all the departments in a squadron makes them more complete leaders and overall better assets to the Navy. This practice is not unique to Naval Aviation; leadership development and rotational programs are utilized throughout the corporate world, across all sectors, to develop interns and post-graduates into more well-rounded leaders. These corporate practices differ from the Navy however, in that the individuals do not immediately assume leadership positions in those departments. Once they do, it is only after adequate training. On average, a Navy helicopter pilot takes two and a half to three full years to complete the training pipeline that culminates in their arrival to the Fleet. This training is not only time intensive but also expensive, and is entirely devoted to making the individual into a strong aviator. However, as soon as they arrive at their Fleet command, they will spend at least 50% of their time fulfilling non-flying obligations in an entry level position in which they have no experience and little to no training. These positions include, but are not limited to Schedules Officer, Ground Safety Officer, Public Affairs Officer, Communications Security Officer, Legal Officer, and Maintenance Division Officer. Of these, the only position for which the Navy offers formal schooling is Legal Officer, which requires the completion of a standardized two-week course. Given that legal matters have potential for serious ramifications if managed improperly, it is well worth providing specialized training to a future Legal Officer. Given that poor execution within all the other positions could have serious ramifications as well, why have the Navy helicopter community and Naval Aviation in general not deemed these positions also worthy of a dedicated training plan?

Rotor Review #156 Spring '22

Collateral Duty

The only instance in which a JO pilot receives any formal career development training occurs at the end of their FRS curriculum, when they attend a four-day Division Officer Leadership Course (DIVOLC). This course covers in broad strokes some of the essential topics with which division officers must be familiar. Topics of discussion include FITREPs and EVALs, Navy programs designed to assist in Sailors’ career development, and the basics of a maintenance department. But to pack all of the requisite information that a JO pilot might need to succeed into a few PowerPoint presentations is impossible. Already, this course does not prepare a JO pilot for any position outside of a division leadership role. On top of this, a JO pilot in the FRS–one who has spent years with the mindset of a student–understandably struggles to grasp that so much of what they will be assessed on in the near future is independent of their piloting skills. In general, as long as they meet standard expectations in regard to aviation (e.g. achieving their Aircraft Commander qualification within the requisite timeline), the most important part of their FITREP will be their performance in their ground job; how well they operate as planners, managers, and administrators is what makes a JO stand out from their peers. Why then is this aspect of our careers so underemphasized when it comes to training? A lack of job training leads to wasted time for everyone involved. Much of a JO pilot’s time is lost teaching themself how to execute their ground jobs. Their success in the new position often relies on a good turnover from their predecessor and/or the presence of a chief or department head with enough time to properly mentor them. As a result, there is a huge variation in quality in the job turnover process. This can lead to sub-par ground job performance (and undue burden 32

on whomever is picking up the slack) until the officer finally acclimates to the new position. On top of that, partially to ensure that a JO gains experience in as many departments as possible during the course of their tour, a JO pilot will spend on average only about nine months in each position. This process of wasted time thus repeats itself frequently. With a constrained timeline, we need to more effectively train JOs to hit the ground running when they assume these positions. The Navy’s most precious resource is its people; we owe it to them to value their time. The unwillingness of our community to spend time training can be attributed to the general urgency with which we strive to get young pilots to the Fleet, and a hesitancy to induce additional administrative burdens that prolong time-to-train. However, while training does take time in the short term, if it conserves time and resources in the long run by reducing future inefficiency, the savings will be well worth the up-front investment. For instance, the training presented at DIVOLC is eye-opening for students because it highlights for the first time in their careers some of the responsibilities they will assume and knowledge they must gain in the near future. If anything, the DIVOLC Syllabus could be expanded to cover the ground job turnover process, and the specific programs and publications with which a JO should become familiar prior to assuming one of these jobs. That being said, there are ways to prepare a JO better for their ground job without lengthening existing training syllabi.

As a community, we could create standardized products that are available to JO pilots with regard to all the positions that exist at squadrons. The products could exist in a centralized location such as a sharepoint and be divided by each potential future role, since they are generally standard across all squadrons. Such a site could include the “how-tos” for every program that officers might use (i.e. RMI, DTS, ASM, etc.). It could also include all up-to-date publications individuals would require to fully grasp their roles and responsibilities. Finally, it could also provide a standard template to guide the creation of a complete turnover binder, thus improving the standardization of the turnover process itself. A wellmaintained depository of information like this would efficiently improve a JO’s ability to perform their ground job. JO pilots fill far too many important positions in squadrons to receive so little training on how to succeed in these roles. While JOs obviously suffer from this lack of attention on their career development, the entire squadron suffers when its junior leaders have not been sufficiently prepared. An easily accessible sharepoint could provide a simple solution that is easy to implement. It would help JO train themselves when unable to receive a good turnover, it would help JOs train their successor more efficiently, and it would facilitate the generation of a Fleet-wide standardized process that has, to this point, been nonexistent. We can simultaneously improve future JO career development and the future mission effectiveness of every squadron in the Fleet if we act now to improve the professional development of our pilots.

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Industry and Technology Protecting the Tiltrotor Industrial Base By CAPT Chris “chet” Misner, USN (Ret)

hese are my personal views as I ruminate on the recently signed budget and the future of the CMV. Now that the FY-23 budget is a done-deal, we can spend a little time thinking about what each service received for funding. I have seen a few articles making the point that adding Hornets to the Navy's budget was necessary to protect the Strike Fighter Industrial base. Seems reasonable, but what about for the F-35 line over at Lockheed Martin? However, this does bring up a fair point. As we look towards the future of rotary wing aviation across all the The V-22 production facility iCredit: Fred Troilo/Boeing photo. services, we need to be aware of protecting the industrial base. As we look towards the use of tiltrotor aircraft across all the services, we must look to Bell. If in fact Bell is successful with its V-280 Valor to win the FLRAA contract, that means we need to have the production capability right here in Texas to meet that future demand - a lot of demand. The Bell Team in Amarillo, along with their Boeing counterpart in Philadelphia that manufactures the V-22 fuselage, produces the V-22. Bell will be able to leverage decades of experience in designing, building, testing and operating tiltrotors from which the Army will benefit. Not only will the Army benefit, but the services that follow will benefit from the millions of dollars spent on R & D. In the case of the Navy, and possibly the Marine Corps, they will likely be further down the line for a tiltrotor FVL aircraft (manned or UAS). The Navy will need to quickly learn how to operate the CMV, and just as quickly decide if they will need more to expand the CMV's role beyond just a C-2 replacement. The potential for the CMV to take on some additional roles as the Navy marches, or I guess sails towards their own H-60 replacement, or Navy Future Maritime Strike, is there. If we believe we are looking at a potential conflict with a near peer competitor out west, then the Navy must look to Bell Boeing to continue to produce the V-22 to the end of the decade. Keeping the production line going in Amarillo will not be just some Congressional Staffer's pet project. Protecting the industrial base in Amarillo will be as important to the services as it will to the Navy. The industrial base question isn’t only about producing new aircraft. Those production lines will be critical to sustaining all the variants of the Osprey to the 2050s and beyond. The difference between the industrial base argument that got the Hornets the CNO didn't want and the Navy doesn’t need ,and the industrial base question in the case of Texas and “Philly,” is Bell in Texas (and Boeing in Philly) offers the Nation's ONLY tiltrotor industrial capability. This is an argument that needs some attention. The word "only" cannot be taken lightly. In a response to one of my LinkedIn posts, a colleague wrote, “Logistics movement within an increasingly disbursed Indo-Pacom maritime force is an imperative. The tilt rotor method of addressing those logistical challenges has real value, even in a contested logistical environment. If we lose the ability to manufacture tilt rotors at scale, it is incredibly expensive (in time and money) to restore that ability.” This last point is spot-on! If we are talking about protecting an industrial base, that final assembly and nacelle work only happens in Texas. Protecting the Nation's "only" tiltrotor industrial base isn't just about Texas jobs and defense contracts, it is a national security imperative and it must be protected. Editor's Note CAPT Misner is a retired H-60 pilot who commanded HS15, NAS Kingsville, and is currently employed as a Senior Manager at Bell and serves as the Bell-Boeing Team Osprey Co-Lead. These are his personal views.

A CVM-22B Osprey, from the "Sunhawks" of VRM-50, takes off from the flight deck of USS Nimitz (CVN 68). U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 3rd Class Joseph Calabrese.

Rotor Review #156 Spring '22

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Features Rotary Wing Success at COMPTUEX By LCDR John “Dom” Bamonte

he work-up cycle for a carrier strike group is a long and arduous road, one that takes nearly a year to complete. Units start in the basic phase where they conduct Helicopter Advanced Readiness Program (HARP) and unit level training (ULT); deployment preparation ultimately culminates in the Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX or CTX). For the rotary-wing community, helicopter squadrons regularly participate in this exercise while underway as part of the carrier air wing (CVW) or as an air detachment embarked on cruisers, destroyers, amphibious landing and littoral combat ships. In the last two years, the Pacific Fleet has executed five CTXs, certifying three carrier strike groups (CSG) and two amphibious ready groups (ARG). Through these events, we have collected many lessons learned and best practices to be employed in the areas of operations, maintenance, and training to ensure future HSM and HSC squadrons arrive well prepared to conduct integrated operations. Carrier Strike Group 15 (CSG-15), the Pacific command charged with planning and executing CTX, provides a formal recommendation for deployment certification of the respective CSG/ARG at the conclusion of this culminating exercise. Rotor Review #156 Spring '22

CSG-15 is allotted 30 training days to challenge the training audience by administering a robust scenario that exposes them to missions they may conduct in both the 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operation (AO). Given this short duration to cover a plethora of missions and tasking, the month is incredibly busy. It is necessary that rotary wing squadrons show up ready to perform on day one. To accomplish this, squadron Operations Departments need to organize their underway processes before embarking. Everything from mission planning, conducting shipborne flight operations, writing the daily flight schedule, and basic communication requires a team effort across multiple squadron departments. Layer on top a complex exercise scenario containing multiple countries with their own air, land, and sea forces. Squadron leadership must empower pilots, aircrewmen, and maintainers at the lowest level. Relying on a single department head or the squadron Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) to lead all training and conduct all mission planning related to the exercise is not sustainable. Establishing multiple mission planning leads and extending that role to senior Lieutenants and aircrewmen will create greater depth on the bench and thin out the effects of fatigue across a greater number of people.

Carrier Strike Group FIFTEEN while underway on USS Abraham Lincoln executing CSG-3's COMPTUEX.

Photo: USS Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs

Another component to facilitating the organization of squadron processes is to organize the exercise [CTX] information flow. Throughout the month there will be numerous messages and orders (ex. FRAGORD, PLANORD) delivered to the CSG/ARG on message traffic. Locating and keeping track of this information is vital. A proven technique is to establish a squadron “read-board” in the ready room for relevant exercise bulletins and orders as they become available. This will ensure squadron personnel stay informed and have access to planning documents. A key enabler to the organization of information is to ensure mission planning resources are organized and accessible via functional Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS) laptops. All JMPS assets that will be underway need to be tested and functioning prior to embarking and at least one asset should also serve as the common access point for offline mission planning related publication access. It is important to realize that the exercise information flow does not go in one direction. While a lot of information and orders will come down from higher headquarters, generating feedback and lessons learned and pushing that information up and sideways throughout the squadron and air wing is just

as important. For example, it is beneficial to have a system for distributing general feedback to squadron personnel on a recurring basis. This can be done using a “lessons learned” log/notebook located at a common access point or by conducting frequent squadron “hot washes” for relevant personnel. Squadrons that have performed well at CTX have a method for distributing word to aircrew and maintainers about updates to the exercise, changes in flight operations, or sharing mistakes that were made. The pace of CTX is rapid, and without a system of pre-established processes, squadrons may find themselves struggling to stay afloat as the exercise progresses. Similar to managing the information flow, managing interpersonal communication throughout the exercise is another area where squadrons have met strife during the last two years. While communicating clearly within your own unit while aboard a ship should be a simple task, it can become painfully complicated due to busy shipboard schedules and the dispersed nature of workspaces. Additionally, squadron leadership will often need to maintain communication with deployed detachments. Success here circles back to established squadron processes. For example, as early as 37

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Features possible, administration departments should create accessible digital lists that contain every squadron member’s email, rack location, and J-dial. Additionally, leveraging the Squadron Duty Officer as a focal point for passing word is a savvy tactic. Finally, to coordinate with offship detachments, holding regular meeting times via MAKO chat will create a consistent schedule where word about the Air Plan and aircraft availability can be passed. A final suggestion is to build communications contingency plans. In the tactical environment of CSGs and ARGs, normal means of communication are not always guaranteed. Having pre-established back-up methods and plans for how to communicate schedules, tasking, and general correspondence will make transitioning to alternate methods smoother. While CTX does arrive at the very end of a MH-60R launches from USS Makin Island to aid in the escort of the long work-up cycle, the exercise does not hold ARG through the Straits of Hormuz Photo: Petty Officer 3rd Class Ethan back in terms of pushing each unit to maximize Morrow, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. 5th Fleet mission capability. It is incredibly important for squadrons to carefully manage their aircraft maintenance schedules and flight hour allocation well in advance of this exercise to ensure their aircraft are mission capable and without significant degradations. Understandably, there will be aircraft with some system degradations. Careful aircraft grooming prior to exercise start, combined with deliberate phase maintenance planning will help to avoid major shortfalls in aircraft availability. CTX is really the last period for squadron maintenance leadership to develop relationships with ship and air wing staff before deployment. CTX may be the last opportunity to highlight an issue or concern before it is buried by other operational priorities that arise. These issues can be anything from insufficient workspace needs for maintenance personnel, a lack of critical mission system parts, or ordnance requirements that have yet to be requisitioned. CTX is an appropriate venue to highlight these outstanding needs, and involving the appropriate CSG-15 staff to help mediate these problems can help the issue progress towards a solution.

COMPTUEX will push squadrons to exercise the full array of their skillsets and missions. Photo: Seaman Tyler Wheaton, USS Carl Vinson

Rotor Review #156 Spring '22

While CTX serves as an assessment of the carrier or amphibious strike group, the two other major functions of the exercise are to allow for integrated phase mentorship and training by CSG-15 staff. The 30 days of training afford rotary squadrons a great opportunity to fine tune their mission planning and execution processes for nearly every mission type that they may be tasked to support. To capitalize on this opportunity, squadron training representatives should develop an exercise training plan that balances aircrew qualification attainment with deployment readiness while promoting the study of theater specific literature. Identifying which aircrew training ACTC grade sheets are attainable prior to exercise start will result in a higher success rate. CTX is focused on training CSGs and ARGs; ULT is not a priority. However, CSG-15 staff can provide

guidance to squadron representatives during the planning conferences that precede the exercise on what is and is not achievable in this regard. By developing a thorough training plan, qualification accomplishment will subsequently aid in pre-deployment readiness requirements and will prevent a final “readiness crunch” post exercise. Much of the mission tasking in CTX is only revealed 72-96 hours in advance; therefore, flexibility in accomplishing readiness requirements or unit level training is limited. Lastly, much of the mission tasking ordered during CTX references actual theater OPTASKs and current concepts of operations (CONOPS). The exercise period is an opportunistic time to conduct theater specific OPTASK and CONOPS training as well as enemy order of battle reviews. This will not only prepare the squadron for exercise tasking but will also leave them better prepared for deployment. Commander of the INDO-PACIFIC Command, Admiral Aquilino, said, “COMPTUEX is the hardest thing a CSG [or ARG] will complete during the work-up cycle.” The exercise is designed to push CSGs and ARGs to ensure they are ready and capable to support any tasking while in theater. While a month-long exercise may seem like a long period for training, the pace and tempo of tasking does not provide squadrons with significant downtime. Units must arrive prepared to operate at a “jogging” pace. HSM and HSC squadrons will be successful if they put forth dedicated effort to planning and executing their operational processes before embarking their respective ships. Additionally, identifying their training goals and interfacing with respective CSG-15 staff will ensure their readiness and qualification objectives are met to the max extent practical. Lastly, it is key that maintenance leadership manages aircraft hours and maintenance schedules to support a full month of flying. At the conclusion of CTX, while squadrons may be exhausted, they will be both certified and confident in the employment of their aircraft and their ability to execute their warfare commanders’ orders.

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Feature Clear Direction for the Jack of All Trades: Confidently Defining a Role for the Expeditionary MH-60 Sierra Community in Future Conflicts By LTJG Jackson Cotney, USN

s the MH-60S carrier squadrons transition their footprint within the carrier strike group (CSG), now is a good time for their counterpart, the expeditionary squadrons, to reassess and refocus on the critical skills and roles that make them valuable to the amphibious assault force and its future engagements. For a long while, the Sierra community has prided itself on its wide array of mission sets, serving as the Swiss Army knife of the sea-going air wing. We have become local experts on everything from ship-to-ship vertical replenishment, strike group defense and security, and search and rescue at sea, to ship-to-shore logistics and special operations support. With other worthy squadrons and groups that perform each one of these missions in a more directed focus, the Sierra seems to provide redundant capabilities. The Romeo pilots hunt submarines, and the Air Force rotary pilots are the world’s best at combat search and rescue. The Army is great at the DUSTOFF medical mission and the carrier Sierra squadrons are integral to the strike group with logistics runs and plane guard, but what exactly is the expectation of the expeditionary Sierra community? Expeditionary squadrons have a clear training cycle and general idea of the order of a peacetime deployment afloat, but no solid position for a great power conflict. The wide skill set of many missions makes the Sierra pilot an adaptable and well-rounded aviator with a broad swath of experiences and skills, but leaves no specific area to hang our hat on.

"An overload of tasks and diverse knowledge across different mission sets quickly creates conversation of real world applicability in future engagements. " An overload of tasks and diverse knowledge across different mission sets quickly creates conversation of real world applicability in future engagements. The training syllabus blindly follows a multitude of avenues in which the helicopter is capable without great introspection on the bigger picture. This leads the community to an identity crisis: what will our tasks actually be when America’s enemies come knocking? Sure, we CAN do any of the numerous missions that we currently advertise with average proficiency, but will we actually get the chance when the task arises? Or will those tasks continue to be directed to more specialized units? We can better prepare ourselves for the realities of the future organization and potential conflict by clearly defining where WE think we should be placed and having the confidence and training experience in those specified areas. Instead of wondering which competency we will need to achieve next, we

Rotor Review #156 Spring '22

can advertise ourselves for the problems we are uniquely adept at tackling. This comes with a mindset geared toward finding a solution, and not just identifying a problem, through the assertiveness, clear communication, and confidence that we already expect from fleet aviators. The expeditionary Sierra community must adapt to fill gaps that are important tasking areas for national security as well as within the capability and training of the pilots and machinery. The skill sets that battle commanders and ground force element leaders should be able to quickly direct to the expeditionary Sierra squadrons are combat logistics, long-range maritime personnel recovery (PR), and Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO)/Helicopter Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (HVBSS). These competencies are historically relevant to Naval Rotary Wing Aviation, and will become critical components of future engagements at sea. Combat Logistics The phrase “no one flies without supply” is not only frequently sung by SUPPOs across the sea wall, but should also be an area that the expeditionary squadron will champion in future wars. The primary threats in the South China Sea will be countered by combatants spread few and far between, and these elements will need constant stores of the beans, bullets, and band-aids required to wage war. The Sierra VERTREP experience and payload capabilities, as well as its ability to operate from mobile supply platforms, should make it the first choice for combat commanders to count on to keep troops adequately stocked. No other service, community, or platform focuses on the consistent supply chain problem in the maritime environment or presents as capable a platform to bring stores from ships across the archipelagos and island groupings from which we could be operating. When no runways are available and small teams of combat troops are spread across a broad swath of territory, ground commanders will need to be able to count on a steady stream of resources from mobile platforms. Long-Range Maritime Personnel Recovery With integrated air defenses growing in both size and capability, and future conflicts including enemies with aircraft just as capable as the US fleet of fighters, we have to accept that the military will suffer casualties greater than ever before. Because of the Sierra community's operations across a large number and types of ships and expanded global footprint, expeditionary squadrons should be prepared to be the closest resource, even covering huge distances, to the downed aviators. This presents a unique challenge that is vastly different

from the plane guard and local SAR capabilities the carrier squadrons provide. Any forward deployed Sierra squadron should have the training, capability, and maintenance support to go ‘double bubble.’ with as much fuel as the MH-60S can take. They then need to be able to engage in long distance overwater navigation to hasty forward arming and refueling points (FARP) on the way to the objective. Changing environments dictate that the mission travels for as far as our fighter community can reach, much greater distances than the Sierra has been utilized for before. This requires experience and skill in not only mission planning but also in threat avoidance. At sea, we can become the world experts in beating or avoiding over-the-horizon radars and long range SAMs and offer this widespread capability to reduce the amount of time a downed pilot spends in extremis. This skill set cannot simply be a combined version of multiple avenues in which we already train but must be seen as its own unique area in itself.

assess threats and direct interventions. The expeditionary Sierra squadrons already deploy on the LCS, alone and unafraid, into coastal regions around the world. Clearly defining the MIO and HVBSS skills as a primary service gives the expeditionary squadron another firm place to hang our hat. These specific capabilities are the requirements in which we must demonstrate mastery to be able to bring the expeditionary helo community into the next century, provide the best defense for the nation, and provide a foothold to compete for resources and funding against other DoD assets. How do we get there? It will not require a shakeup in command structure or a wildly different syllabus. It also will not require costly new training phases or pressure to increase budgets for fancy new gear. The community will continue to do what it already does - practice multiple mission sets and consistently remain flexible by keeping up qualifications across the spectrum of knowledge. The most important change that squadrons will have to make immediately is to initiate the conversation addressing how each training event actually fits into these three areas. Once the importance of these core mission sets is emphasized, the crossover from the already developed and well executed workup profile lends itself to expansion into combat logistics, long range maritime PR, and MIO/HVBSS operations.

Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO)/Helicopter Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (HVBSS) LCS detachments combined with law enforcement efforts in South America have already proven a successful mission set to stake claim in the battlespace. Going forward, it will be more important than ever to inspect and interdict shipments of people and weapons with nefarious purposes. Large actors on the world stage have already and will continue to engage in the gray area of funding and supplying bad actors in proxy wars that support their own interests. Whether it be enforcing sanctions, or investigating involvement in trafficking or shipments of drugs and weapons into the US, our country has a vested interest in inspecting and detecting applicable shipments on the high seas. Helo commanders will need to be able to make quick judgements on the nature of the swath of vessels encountered and develop instincts concerning what kinds of things ‘just look off’ in shipping lanes to be able to

Normal squadron practices will not have to be overhauled. Overland full mission profile SOF insertions build skills like threat study and avoidance, fuel planning and FARP operations, and combined logistics elements that play well into combat logistics and long range maritime PR. Combining and adding to these events with days spent out in the field introduce and enforce operating in radar environments where we may need to ‘lay low’ and perform quick maintenance in the field, rarely practiced in standard half-day flights from 41

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San Diego or Norfolk. Utilizing publications and incorporating knowledge from other communities and services, like collaboration with the surface warfare officers, Air Force FARP specialists, and law enforcement entities will drive proficiency with the challenges of these defined roles and aid in practicing interoperability. Classes on shipping regulations and customs blend well into the training already being conducted with SOF personnel to offer a broader knowledge base covering exactly what we are ‘roping our guys into.’ Learning more about supply chain management and, even, folding practices of industry giants like Amazon into our information toolbox can offer solutions to logistical complications that WILL be encountered in denied environments. Standard training profiles already lend themselves to making our community better at a more defined solution, so there is no need or pressure to ‘reinvent the wheel.’ The community is already doing great work and is well prepared to enact its expertise when needed. The current identity crisis only seems to pertain to if and when these skills will be asked for, especially when competing for tasks against other services and communities with a more narrow focus. To ensure longevity and relevance, expeditionary Sierras could use more shaping towards realistic expectations and what is needed in the next big conflict. Taking the extra time to spell out not only the “what” but also the “why” behind each specific training evolution and how it relates to the specific grouping above gets everyone on the same page in thinking about tactical relevance. It also will fill in gaps in the battlespace that could hinder combat operations or put more troops at risk unnecessarily. These well-defined mission sets must become second nature to both the pilots who relate each lesson learned to its applicability on the battlefield and to upper leadership who count on the expeditionary community to efficiently fulfill these roles. By naming specific areas of prowess and plugging unique capabilities in as critical components of a total combined effort, Knighthawk squadrons will continue to serve the nation and interests of the free world.

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Wayne Papalski, assigned to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island's (NASWI) Search and Rescue unit (SAR), demonstrates the hoist on an MH-60S Knighthawk for Jeff Brown, Deputy Commander of the Skagit County Sheriff's Office Special Rescue Team. U.S. Navy photo

by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John Hetherington.

An MH-60S Knighthawk, attached to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 2, pours a Bambi Bucket onboard Naval Station Norfolk. HSC-2 tested and trained their squadron and aircrew on the use of the Bambi Bucket to support aerial firefighting missions. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Dakota Nack.

Rotor Review #156 Spring '22

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Features Resolute Hunter 22-1: Broadening Distributed Operations By LCDR David “Fishstix” Vasquez, USN and LCDR Andrew “BIO” Miller, USN

etachments from HSM-73 and HSM-35 recently participated in the fifth iteration of RESOLUTE HUNTER (RH) 22-1 at NAS Fallon, NV and NAS North Island, CA. Hosted by the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC), the four week exercise was the largest series yet, welcoming Coalition aircraft for the first time from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and again hosting Royal Air Force (RAF) personnel. Previous RAAF and RAF participation was precluded due to COVID-19. Additionally, Joint partners from the USAF, USMC, USSF, USCG, along with units from the Nevada Air and Army National Guards, joined the diverse collection of aircraft, crews, and intelligence personnel. Spanning across three academic days and 11 execution days, the purpose of the exercise was two-fold: provide an end-to-end Joint and Coalition Live Fly Exercise designed to enhance Battle Management / Command and Control / Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (BM/C2/ISR) tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP), and provide a capstone evaluation for the Maritime ISR Weapons School (MISRWS) students. This robust exercise was designed to stress the importance of the left side of the kill chain: find, fix, and track (F2T). “We need a paradigm shift. The Navy needs to focus on the left side of the kill chain because the next conflict will be ISR-led and enabled,” according to CDR Pete “Two Times” Salvaggio, MISRWS Department Head. “We cannot get to target and engage if we’re not brilliant at the basics in a contested battlespace.” Like its predecessors, the first half of RH 22-1 was executed on the Fallon Range Training Complex (FRTC) utilizing overland vulnerability (VUL) windows. However, in a series of firsts, overwater live fly VULs were introduced leveraging BM/C2/ISR synergy with the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (ABECSG) against a Great Power Competition level threat.

the MH-60R’s Multi-spectral Targeting System (MTS) and Electronic Support Measures (ESM) on the FRTC. MTS and ESM provided valuable geo and electronic intelligence to the Maritime ISR Package Commander (MISR-PC), allowing deconstruction and analysis of the operating environment and enabling the supported Commander’s decision making process. As the overland campaign progressed, NAWDC strike fighter and electronic attack aircraft integrated into the exercise to complete the kill chain, combining the efforts of students from both the Growler Tactics Instructor Course and MISR. Following a tactical pause, the campaign transitioned to the maritime domain at the San Clemente Island Range Complex (SCIRC) off the coast of San Diego. Big-wing ISR platforms operating from NAS Fallon and MH-60R’s from NAS North Island integrated into ABECSG’s Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) for a series of four VULs. The MH-60R’s APS-153 surface search radar was a key enabler in the joint dynamic targeting cycle and provided essential targeting data for Carrier Air Wing NINE’s (CVW9) War at Sea strikes. Both squadrons provided pilots and aircrew; however, the majority of the sorties were flown by students from the Seahawk Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course. Integrating inorganic ISR assets into the ABECSG proved both rewarding and challenging as participating units originated from different locations along the western United States, thus demonstrating distributed operations in the maritime environment. For both overland and overwater scenarios, HSM-73 and HSM-35 achieved a 100% sortie completion rate. RH 22-1 once again highlighted the importance of the left side of the kill chain for future high-end distributed operations and conflicts. It modeled the doctrinal INDOPACOM command structure where the Maritime Component Commander was the supported Commander with the Air Component Commander in the supporting role. Future iterations will continue to expand with more assets and partners and continue to evolve as the premier ISR exercise into the 21st century.

HSM-73 and HSM-35’s MH-60Rs brought essential capabilities to a diverse constellation of BM/C2/ISR assets. Overland Phase 0 and Phase 1 operations included Intelligence Preparation of the Operating Environment (IPOE) and Focused Collection Operations (FCO) utilizing Rotor Review #156 Spring '22

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Features A Yankee in King Arthur’s Test Pilot School By LT Ben “3D” Putbrese, HX-21

t was August 2020, and I was preparing to make the move from my JO fleet tour at HSM-51 in Atsugi, Japan to my oncoming shore tour at VX-1 in Patuxent River, MD. My household goods had already been picked up, and soon I would be “LFF Complete” and on my way home after nearly three years in the Land of the Rising Sun– when I was suddenly summoned to an urgent meeting with the CO! I walked into CDR Jason Russo’s office, where he was flanked by the XO, both staring at me with incredible seriousness. Those who have met CDR Russo know that he can be an imposing figure even when delivering the best of news, and already on my way to his office I had started mentally replaying my last few flight hours to figure out when and how I had gotten myself into trouble. After an agonizing few seconds waiting for the CO to deliver the blow, he finally said “Congratulations 3D. You’ve been selected for Test Pilot School...” We all started to smile, and before I had even finished processing the outstanding news, the CO added “…in England!”

LT Putbrese flying the Airbus H125 (Squirrel), the primary single-engine trainer at ETPS

England? For test pilot school?? I remember being required to rank my preferences for school location on my TPS application letter (1. Pax River; 2. ETPS, UK; and 3. EPNER, France), but I definitely hadn’t contemplated selection for anything but Pax. Suddenly everything in my life had shifted dramatically, and I immediately began altering all my plans, including arrangements to have my household goods and classic 1995 Suzuki Jimny re-routed from Japan to England. Four ORDMODs later and I was quarantining in an 800-year-old hotel in the medieval cathedral city of Salisbury, UK, and doing everything I could to be physically and mentally ready to start the No. 59 Rotary Wing Course at the Empire Test Pilots’ School, MoD Boscombe Down. The Empire Test Pilots’ School was founded in 1943 and was the first of its kind–following concern over the number of fatalities during the development of aircraft for service in the second World War and out of a desire for standardization of flight test procedures across services and aerial platforms. The school’s mission was to “provide suitably trained pilots for testing duties in aeronautical research and development establishments within the service and the industry,” 1 and the first course graduated 13 students in 1944 at the military airfield at Boscombe Down in southwest England. Notably, the first ETPS class included one American pilot who was previously a volunteer in a British fighter squadron, and of those who attended the No. 1 course, five eventually died while testing aircraft. In 1949 the school was presented with its Armorial Bearings (school crest) and began using the motto of “Learn to Test, Test to Learn.” Recognizing the increasing importance of helicopters in military flight, ETPS added a formal Rotary Wing course in 1963, followed by a formal Flight Test Engineers’ (FTE) course in 1974. To this day, ETPS is considered one of the “Big 4” of global test pilot schools, alongside USNTPS at Pax River, USAFTPS at Edwards AFB, and EPNER in France. The four schools maintain a very close relationship, setting the worldwide standard in military and civilian flight test and regularly exchanging students, instructors, and professional knowledge to further LT Putbrese transitions to forward flight in an ETPS H125 Squirrel advance the flight test profession.1 Rotor Review #156 Spring '22

Beginning the Course I had arrived in the UK on 01 December 2020, and while COVID protocols dictated a two-week quarantine, the country itself was set to end its second nationwide lockdown on 02 December. Naturally the build-up to Christmas that year was marked by an air of joyous return to normalcy, but the mood didn’t last much beyond Boxing Day. A third nationwide lockdown was announced following a surge in cases and deaths, to begin shortly after New Year’s, and this lockdown was set to be one of the strictest of the pandemic. While the administration and staff at ETPS had hoped for a return to in-person instruction in 2021–this was not to be, and online course delivery would again be the standard for the start of the course. The No. 59 Rotary Wing Course formally began The MD500 Little Bird on 06 January 2021 with a very socially distanced check-in briefing and course introduction, followed by a headfirst dive into online academics for much of the first month. Classes were held from 0800 into the late afternoon, covering topics such as air data and atmospheric science, performance theory, flight control mechanical characteristics, cockpit design and assessment, and stability and control theory. The instructors and students valiantly battled intermittent internet connections, curious toddlers, postmen knocking at the door, and all the other distractions of the home learning environment. As the students painfully earned a minor in Greek due to the many aerodynamic variables used to describe aircraft stability and control characteristics, we prepared ourselves for flights and check rides in Boscombe Down’s primary rotary wing trainers: the Airbus H125 (or Squirrel) and the Agusta-Westland A109E (soon to be replaced by the newer A109S). With the academic foundation established, and with the days lengthening as we entered the spring and summer, we began to transition to the schedule that would dominate our lives for much of the remainder of the year: classes in the morning followed by flights in the afternoon. I found that in addition to learning the ins and outs of test flying, I had to adjust to the subtle differences in my host nation’s aviation culture. There were variations in radio terminology and cockpit phraseology, to the point that sometimes an instructor and I could be saying the same thing without realizing it. There were also the funny little markers of British military aviation: the white leather flight gloves, tea before each brief, an air of gentility when speaking with ATC, and the dry but light-hearted banter from instructors following a poorly executed maneuver. There was a tremendous emphasis on raw piloting abilities, like nothing I had seen since the earliest days of flight training, I was often humbled by the most basic of maneuvers (it left me wishing that I had spent more time flying the MH60R without the autopilot!).

The ETPS No. 59 Rotary Wing Course poses with an NH90 flown at Utti Air Base, Finland 47

The Course in Full Tilt To fully describe the yearlong course would require a book or documentary, of which there are several by graduates far more talented than myself. What I can definitely say,is that on nearly every flight there would be at least one test point where I pushed myself or the aircraft just a little bit farther than I

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ever had before. I became more and more comfortable flying each aircraft at the edge of its operating envelope and limits, and I learned that at every point during every maneuver there was data to be gathered. I became close friends with my classmates, who hailed from all over the world and represented a vast wealth of operational knowledge across a range of Rotary Wing platforms. While certainly not exhaustive, the following is a sample of the unique experiences the course provided: •

Sideways and backwards hovering flight in formation with a ground test vehicle, in order to assess low speed flight limits.

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Collection of engine and aircraft performance data across a range of operating conditions, for validation of flight manual performance charts.

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Assessment of aircraft handling qualities against the Aeronautical Design Standard-33E, a program originally developed for RAH-66 Comanche trials which is now a worldwide standard.

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Evaluation of One Engine Inoperative (OEI) recovery techniques.

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Extensive training in autorotation and engine-off landings, to include full engine-off autos to landing, engine air restarts, collective delays (i.e., incorporation of pilot reaction time), variations in autorotative flare heights and airspeeds, and H-V diagram development.

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Simulated ship-air landing envelope expansion and overall assessment of simulator fidelity.

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Evaluation of advanced aircraft systems such as Heads Up Displays (HUD) and electro-optical imaging equipment.

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Flight in a variable stability Learjet, followed by assessment of aircraft control deficiencies in a variable stability helicopter.

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Vortex ring state inducement and recovery.

Another key aspect of the course was the conduct of aircraft Qualitative Evaluations (QE). These were short, limited assessments of individual aircraft within an assigned military role, with the objective being to gather as much data as possible in 1.5 hours (or less) of flight time, and to walk away from the sortie with a solid understanding of the aircraft’s performance, handling qualities, and deficiencies. For the QEs, the schoolhouse would provide us with rotorcraft flight manuals, the aircraft provider would give us a safety and technical briefing, and then we were dispatched individually for flight, with as much understanding of the aircraft as we could retain prior to climbing into the cockpit. Through the conduct of these flights, I was able to evaluate 8 different rotorcraft for the first time, bringing my total aircraft flown over the duration of the course to 13 types (11 rotary wing and 2 fixed wing). While it was certainly a jam-packed year with several late nights, I was also able to fully take advantage of life overseas, especially after the rescinding of many of the UK and EU COVID protocols. I lived in a flat in a modified 1785 manor home in the heart of Salisbury, with lovely neighbors who often provided me with home-cooked Sunday roast and gave me a “proper” education in English culture. There were over 20 pubs in the Salisbury city center, 2 or 3 of which I frequented often enough to achieve first-name relations with the bar staff. As part of completion of the course itself, we visited the Netherlands Aerospace Research Centre in Amsterdam, where we evaluated the latest in augmented reality and were able to design our own HUD graphical aids for landings in DVE conditions. By far the best class trip (as judged by students and staff alike) was the visit to Utti Air Base in Finland, where we had the opportunity to fly the NH90 and MD500 as well as experience the heights of Finnish culture in their squadron sauna, which had been constructed out of an old refurbished Mil Mi-8 aircraft fuselage. All contributed to a truly once-in-a-lifetime year abroad that I will The Armorial Bearings of ETPS, never forget. displayed on a graduate patch Capstone Exercise in France My final assignment of the course was the ETPS Capstone Exercise, where students were divided into teams of 2-3 and tasked with a comprehensive evaluation of an unknown aircraft for potential service in a military role. For myself and my classmate LT Gareth Forbes, an Australian engineer, we were given the incredible opportunity to travel to Valence, France and work with the French test pilots and FTEs of GAMSTAT (the French Army aircraft test organization). We needed to evaluate the AS532 Cougar within the role as a global battlefield support and special operations helicopter. Gareth and I produced a Rotor Review #156 Spring '22

detailed aircraft test plan and arrived in France with our flight bags packed full of test cards and test equipment, determined to strip the aircraft of every bit of data we possibly could in the 6 allotted flight hours. Upon arrival at the hangar we immediately got to work, spending many hours over the first two days on cockpit assessment alone. We measured the forces required to displace each control, plotted the visible flight environment from the pilot’s resting eye position, and scoured the cockpit for any and all deficiencies. The real work got started once we were airborne, as we pushed, prodded, spun, jerked, jumped, landed, dove, climbed, LT Putbrese stands with the ETPS and GAMSTAT test team in front of the rolled, accelerated, and stopped the Cougar AS532 Cougar in Valence, France in every which way we could to precisely determine its handling qualities, performance, and suitability in the desired role. We had the opportunity to fly into the snowcapped mountains just outside the Valence Airport for Nap of the Earth (NOE) flight, clear area and confined area landings in white-out conditions, and finally a one-wheel landing on a snowy mountain peak. The safety pilot, safety engineer, and all personnel at GAMSTAT were outstanding hosts and were incredibly accommodating of all the strange things we wanted to do to their aircraft. We returned to Boscombe Down with an immense amount of data and a deadline of less than a week to write and submit our report. Gareth and I hunkered down, crunched and plotted all of the data, set down in writing our assessments and conclusions, and then posted the final product for our instructors to scrutinize and score. With our final assignment of the course complete, there was nothing left for the class to do but celebrate, reminisce, and make preparations to move once again. ETPS held its course graduation ceremony at the McKenna Dinner on 16 December 2021, and by the 23rd I was on a flight back to the States for Christmas at home. An Unforgettable Experience The year at ETPS was truly a once-in-alifetime experience that I will remember with pride and gratitude for the rest of my life. I learned more about helicopter aerodynamics and design than I could have ever thought possible, and I made lifelong connections with both classmates and instructors. I was immersed in a new aviation and national culture, and I hope I left my classmates with a positive impression of the United States as well– introducing them to such things as 4th of July BBQs, Pit Viper sunglasses, and embroidered Friday flight suits. I encourage all who are interested in a deeper understanding of the fundamentals of aerodynamic theory and helicopter design to apply to become test pilots. While I can’t promise you the absolutely stellar year abroad that I had, what I can promise is an incredibly fulfilling career and inclusion in the small, tight-knit community of flight test professionals. References: 1. Johnson, Brian. (1986). Test Pilot. Harper Collins.

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Squadron Updates Live AGM-114 Launched in the Arabian Gulf

By LT Harrison Davis, LT Peter Fulton, and LT Megan Howard

n June 2nd, 2021, the Desert Hawks of HSC-26.1, forward deployed in Manama, Bahrain, participated in a multinational AOMSW (Air Operations in Maritime Surface Warfare) exercise in the Arabian Gulf. This exercise was designed to increase interoperability between partner forces and to demonstrate our robust military capabilities to regional adversaries. U.S. Navy rotary aircraft, fixed wing aircraft, and surface vessels worked in close concert with Gulf Cooperation Council forces in a series of live fire exercises, including crew-served weapons from Cyclone-Class Coastal Patrol ships, and ordnance employment from Strike aircraft. The exercise concluded with a Photo-Ex of all participants.

Famous 11 fueling aboard the Cruiser

The Desert Hawks, a unit traditionally focused on combat logistics, were tasked with employing a live AMG-114 Hellfire missile in the Arabian Gulf as part of the exercise. HSC-26.1 came to appreciate the unique difficulties of planning an exercise of such a large scale in a disputed AOR. The challenges of ensuring uniform cryptographic load amongst all partner forces, acquiring and loading an AGM-114 Hellfire missile after launching from an international airport, and communicating the limitations and nuances of rotary wing aviation to surface commanders were apparent over the weeks of planning and provided vital lessons to the detachment and 5th Fleet Task Force Commanders. One of HSC-26.1’s primary roles in the exercise was to employ an AGM-114 Hellfire missile against a floating target, a “Killer Tomato”. The first leg of the flight required two MH-60S aircraft to lillypad to a Cruiser to load the missile; the evolution required the Desert Hawks to provide their own maintenance team to load the Hellfire missile. With the Hellfire loaded, a full tank of gas, and a hot, humid, summer day in the Arabian Gulf, the crew utilized procedures honed over hundreds of flights to safely maneuver the aircraft in an extremely power-limited shipboard environment. Both aircraft safely launched and awaited clearance from the SCAR (Strike Coordination and Reconnaissance) asset, a MH-60R from the mighty Swamp Foxes of HSM-74. Range clearance proved to be a difficult task due to the abundance of small vessels and friendly surface assets participating in the exercise. After the SCAR cleared the Famous 12 and crew aboard the Cruiser with AGM-114 loaded. range, the Desert Hawks successfully launched a Hellfire missile downrange targeting the “Killer Tomato” with a “Splash” passed to the SCAR. The Desert Hawks made history as the first Armed Helicopter to employ a Hellfire missile in the detachment’s 13-year history. Overall, the exercise was a powerful demonstration of the U.S. Navy’s capabilities to employ ordnance in a disputed environment and expanded the Desert Hawks role in Air Operations in Maritime Surface Warfare. The event also shed light on minor coordination issues that will help to enhance future interoperability, including ordnance procurement, communication, airspace coordination, fuel management, and range clearance. The breakdown in communication, combined with the surface asset’s slow response to instructions from the SCAR, put both Desert Hawk aircraft near the edge of their fuel required. Moving forward, airborne assets must convey clear and concise information to surface assets regarding time-on-station limitations and the urgency associated with such limitations. With these lessons learned, the Desert Hawks look forward to another opportunity to showcase the HSC Community’s powerful capabilities to our partners and adversaries alike. Rotor Review #156 Spring '22

An Update from HSM-72 By LT Richard “Tricky” Cavins

he Proud Warriors of HSM-72 are deployed as part of Carrier Air Wing 1(CVW-1) in support of Carrier Strike Group 8’s (CSG-8) 2021-2022 Cooperative Deployment onboard USS Harry S Truman (CVN 75), USS San Jacinto (CG 56), USS Bainbridge (DDG 96), and USS Gravely (DDG 107), demonstrating resolve and strengthening alliances. During the first three months of deployment, the Proud Warriors flawlessly executed 760 sorties encompassing 2,085 flight hours in support of operational tasking and various exercises. In December, HSM-72 commenced deployment with Combat Element (CEL) 3, conducting shore-based operations from National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Wallops Island Facility in Wallops Island, VA and supporting U.S. Fleet Forces Fleet Battle Problem 21-3. Integrating with the United States Marine Corps 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, CEL 3 tested cross-branch interoperability in order to execute a common mission. Upon completion, CSG-8 crossed the Atlantic Ocean into the U.S. 6th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR). Operating with four CELs, HSM-72 maintained a 24-hour Recognized Maritime Picture in support of Combatant Commander tasking while simultaneously promoting freedom of navigation in the global maritime environment. During the first three months of deployment in the U.S. 6th Fleet AOR, HSM-72 operated with seven allied countries to conduct Anti-Submarine Warfare and Anti-Surface Warfare. Under North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Command, HSM-72 participated in Operation NEPTUNE STRIKE 2022. During the various evolutions with allied countries, HSM72 demonstrated the ability of the MH-60R to operate as a Command and Control platform across Joint and International Operations as an integral organic asset to the Carrier Strike Group. The heart of HSM-72 continues to be the maintenance team, who afforded the Squadron the ability to execute the 2,085 mishap-free flight hours during deployment, resulting in a 98 percent sortie completion rate in support of operational tasking. Their hard work was recognized by the presentation of the CVW 1 2021 Golden Wrench Award, as the single unit within the Air Wing that exhibits exceptional maintenance performance throughout the year. On the horizon, HSM-72 looks forward to the many challenges presented in a dynamic operational environment as they continue to demonstrate the ability and flexibility to support and execute Commander’s intent while fostering NATO partnerships.

AWR2 Hunter Gajda visually clears an MH-60R assigned to the Proud Warriors for landing on the flight deck of USS Harry S Truman (CVN 75). HSM-72 is currently deployed with Carrier Strike Group 8 (CSG-8) in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility.

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Squadron Updates Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron 40 Stands Up

By Raymond Rivard

n Thursday, the 14th of March, 2022 Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron Four Zero was established in a ceremony at NAS North Island. The Mighty Bisons of VRM-40 will operate the CMV-22B Osprey from NAS Norfolk. VRM-40 Plankowners A Plankowner is an individual who is a member of the crew of a United States Navy ship or squadron when that unit is established. These individuals are referred to as "Plankowners" because, historically, a founding crew member could petition the Naval Historical Center for a piece of the deck, or plank, when the ship was decommissioned. Sailors who are Plankowners at their current command often have the word "PLANKOWNER" embroidered on the back of their uniform ball cap to denote this highly regarded designation.

CDRBoyce LCDR Bien-Aime LCDR Higgins LCDR Witkowski ENS Reynolds CMDCM Coleman A VCM Leonard AFCM White AECS Jones ADC M. Anderson ADC R. Anderson ATC Cumbo NCC Soapes ITC Vasquez

VRM- 40 Plankowners ADI Cairnes AMEi Castillo AMI Corona AWFI Dalton PRI Dorrough AMI Haddock A Tl Illasroman LS I Inocencio AEI Kellogg AMI Liedtke AMI Mones PSI Page AZ1 Vialva AM2 Abreu

AE2 Brown AD2 Ganster AD2 Green YN2 Herrera AT2 Hiort AZ2 Hite PR2 Jordan A02 Maikell LS2 0wens PR2 Parker AT2 Tucker YN2 Williams AD2 Woodson AWF3 A. Nagi WF3 Kunsman

Sailors assigned to Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 30 direct a CMV-22B Osprey on the flight deck of USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Aaron T. Smith.

Rotor Review #156 Spring '22

Marine Corps and Navy Aviation Fly Together for Manned-Unmanned Teaming By Maj. Jorge Hernandez, USMC Communication Directorate Originally published on DVIDS, March 10, 2022.

arines from Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron One (VMX-1) and sailors from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23 (HSC-23) teamed up to conduct tactics development in integrating manned and unmanned rotary-wing aircraft at Naval Air Facility El Centro, California on March 10, 2022. During the exercise, VMX-1’s UH-1Y Venom and AH-1Z Viper helicopters conducted attacks while Marines and sailors operating in the ground control station assisted with the target detection and strike coordination utilizing a MQ8C Fire Scout. “This opportunity promotes greater familiarization and concept development of the manned-unmanned teaming that builds confidence and efficiency throughout the Blue-Green Team,” said VMX-1 Commanding Officer Col. Byron Sullivan. “Our partnership plays an integral part of the Commandant and [Chief of Naval Operation]’s vision to embrace the future of warfare and turn it into our advantage on the battlefield.” The services continue to develop manned-unmanned tactics to better align with the 2018 National Defense Strategy and the Commandant’s Planning Guidance. As the exercise in El Centro progressed, the Navy-Marine Corps team became more proficient in

An AH-1Z Viper (top) with Marine Operational and Test Evaluation Squadron 1 (VMX-1), and an MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23 (HSC-23), conduct Strike Coordination and Reconnaissance Training near El Centro, California, March 10, 2022. The purpose of this exercise was to provide familiarization and concept development of manned-unmanned teaming. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jade Venegas, USMC.

planning, communicating, and coordinating effective fires from manned and unmanned rotary-wing aircraft. The proliferation of unmanned rotary wing platforms on U.S. Navy ships makes integration with Marine rotary wing and the MQ-8C a likelihood in the littoral environment. “Adversaries are going to be placed on the horns of a dilemma as we strengthen our naval expeditionary force in leveraging unmanned systems to complement our rotary wing,” said VMX-1 Science and Technology lead Maj. Ben Henry. The mission of VMX-1 is to conduct operational test and evaluation of Marine Corps aviation platforms and systems.

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Janae Jarnagin, crew chief, Marine Operational and Test Evaluation Squadron 1 (VMX-1), observes Strike Coordination and Reconnaissance Training from a UH-1Y Venom, near El Centro, California, March 10, 2022. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jade Venegas, USMC.

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Off Duty Get Started Telling Your Stories By CAPT George Galdorisi, USN (Ret.)

You’ve Completed Your Opus – Now What?

ou have embraced what you learned in our previous writing columns, you’ve completed your novel, ideally between seventy thousand and ninety thousand words – the “industry standard” for today’s market. You are ready for the world to read your work. Not so fast. There is more to do. Call it tough love, but now the real work begins.

As you find your way back in front of your computer monitor, think of yourself as a contractor building your own house. You’ve framed the structure, put in the drywall, and now you have to make the house livable. There should be joy and a sense of accomplishment in what you are doing, not a sense of dread.

Yes, I know, you are thinking: “It was a lot of work to pen these eighty thousand words. I’m exhausted. I just want to launch this into the world and start spending my royalties.” As President Bill Clinton famously said, “I feel your pain.” You can launch it into the world now. But is it ready?

Begin by editing your novel as if it were written by someone else. This is crucial as it takes you outside of your own ego and lets you be as objective as possible. Even if you have told a great story, you now must work – and work hard – to make sure that it is something an agent or editor will embrace.

I’ll bet you are exhausted. Writing a first draft of a novel is a tiring experience. So reward yourself. Put your novel aside. Go get a workout. Or take a vacation. Just chill for a while.

Here are some tactics, techniques, and procedures that I always use when I am editing my own writing and I offer them to you as “inside baseball” to help you polish your story: • Agents and editors are the “gatekeepers” who you must enlist as your allies to get your story to the world. First and foremost, they have a love of the English language. This is my way of saying that if you have forgotten much of what you learned in school K-16, it might be time to refresh your memory. This means polished prose that follows the standards of our language. Make this your top editing priority: Are you giving English language the TLC it deserves? • While you must do more than just “spell check” your work, you would be well-served to exploit Microsoft Word for all it is worth. Use it to spell check, grammar check, and find better words via the thesaurus (not to find big, fancy words, but just to eliminate “echoes,” that is, the same word multiple times on the same page).

Rotor Review #156 Spring '22

• Readers tire of pages and pages of scene (people talking) and summary (descriptions of what is happening). Check your opus for balance and feather in scene and summary so you bounce back and forth between the two frequently.

• In a similar fashion, don’t overdo it with trying to use colloquial language: The southerner with the drawl, the New Yorker with sharp language, the vamp who sounds like Mae West. You get the idea.

• Beginning writers often have the same length paragraphs throughout the book. Readers find this annoying. Mix it up thoughtfully, short, long, mid-length in a good flow.

• Lastly, sex. If it needs to be in your book, go ahead. But if all you are doing is inserting a gratuitous sex-scene to excite readers, you’re not doing yourself any favors.

• Think about how people really speak. Too many beginning writers have a scene where two people are talking using long, beautifully constructed sentences. They never interrupt each other, they never have their thoughts trail off, they just deliver speeches to each other. That’s not realistic and it will make your novel “unreal.”

Perhaps enough for now. If your curiosity has kicked in and you don’t want to wait for the next issue of Rotor Review, try this link to my website: https://www.georgegaldorisi. com/. Other than writing thrillers, I like nothing more than connecting with readers. You can follow me on Facebook and Twitter, and learn more about my books, blogs and other writing on my website. For those of you trying to up your game regarding any kind of writing, check out my “Writing Tips,” which offer useful advice for all writers, from established authors to future best-selling writers.

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Helo History Honoring a Naval Aviation Legend

By LT Tyler “Waterboy” Hunt, USN and LT Rosalyn “TOTS” Lopez, USN

f you were to visit the squadron spaces at HSM-40 and make your way through the second floor passageway, you would find yourself amidst a mini-museum of sorts; we have termed this our “Historic Hallway.” HSM-40’s Historic Hallway spans over 100 years of aviation history, from the first helicopter prototypes and flight in the early 1900s to the incorporation and use of Naval helicopters in every major U.S. military conflict up to the present. It also provides a glimpse into how the Navy has changed from the establishment of its first helicopter squadron, Helicopter Utility Squadron One (HU-1), through the years. From HS, HAL, HM, HSL, and now, HSC and HSM, our latest and proudest addition to this display is dedicated to the late CAPT Richard S. “Robbie” Roberts, USN (Ret.). CAPT Roberts was not only a legend among Naval Aviators, but also a pioneer among helicopter pilots. He earned his Wings of Gold in 1939 and was already flying fixed wing pre-war patrols in the Philippines when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. On the third day of the Second World War, Roberts’s plane didn’t get more than 50 feet off the runway before being shot down by a Japanese fighter. Miraculously, he managed to keep the aircraft under control before landing the seaplane onto the surface of the ocean. Robbie and his crew managed to repair the damage to the plane, get it back in flight, and return to base. Though this may be a small glimpse into his contributions in the Pacific Theater, he continued to demonstrate the same level of ingenuity, patriotism, and skill in every other major naval battle in the war. After the war, the Navy transitioned from seaplanes to helicopters and Robbie became an accomplished helicopter pilot while these aircraft were still in their experimental phase. He went on to command the first heavy lift helicopter squadron (HUP-1) and was instrumental in pioneering tactics and doctrine that are still in use to this day. He retired from the Navy on December 1, 1963 after more than 25 years of honorable service. His personal military decorations include the Bronze Star with Combat V, three Air Medals, and the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V, among others. In March of 2021, the Naval Helicopter Association recognized Robbie as the oldest living Naval helicopter pilot at 107 years old. His flight logs reflect 4,853 hours in 51 different aircraft. The Ready Room and pilots of HSM-40 developed a close connection with Robbie, not only because of his legendary sea stories and contributions to naval helicopter aviation, but also because in April of 2021, HSM-40 flew into Orlando, FL to present CAPT Roberts with the Naval Helicopter Association Lifetime Achievement Award. Robbie peacefully passed away later that year on 13 August. With the support of HSM-74, HSM-40 staff performed a ‘missing man’ formation during his funeral services in Bushnell, FL. The items that comprise his display were donated to the HSM-40 Ready Room by his family shortly thereafter and include a photo of his 1939 Naval Aviator winging ceremony, his logbook, his flight jacket, and various awards and medals he received over his career. In honor of Robbie, HSM-40 had a custom Airwolf dress flight suit made and incorporated. It can sometimes be easy to get lost in the daily life of a squadron and to lose sight of the sacrifice and service of those who have paved our way. It was both an honor and a privilege to take a pause and work on a project such as this. The pilots of HSM40 are proud to be able to honor Robbie’s legacy for future generations of helicopter aviators to come. CAPT Roberts shows his Lifetime Member Coin

Rotor Review #156 Spring '22

View the video and images of CAPT Roberts' career at https://www. navalhelicopterassociation.org/

CAPT Roberts Shadow Box By CAPT Brian Miller, USN

APT Roberts, our previous “Oldest Helix”, was recently given a place of honor in the front office here at NAWCTSD Orlando. I thought a few folks might enjoy a look at his shadow box. Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division Commanding Officer, Capt. Daniel Covelli receives a shadow box honoring the service of World War II veteran, Capt. Richard "Robbie" Roberts from Andy Mohler who presented it to NAWCTSD. Roberts was the Navy's oldest Naval aviator when he died at the age of 107 in August 2021. In addition to the shadow box which will be on display in the NAWCTSD Front Office, Roberts' name is painted on the NSA Orlando F/ADisplay aircraft as a tribute to his service. U.S. Navy photo by Joshua Free.

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Helo History Naval Helicopter Association Historical Society, Inc. (NHAHS) Oldest Helix Award - 91 Years Young! CAPT Paul L. “Scratch” Hryskanich, USN (Ret.) By CAPT Bill Personius, USN (Ret)

APT Paul L. “Scratch” Hryskanich, USN (Ret.) was born in Elmira, NY on 09 July 1930. He is a first generation American of Ukrainian immigrants. After high school, he attended Cornell University for a year, at which point he realized the Navy would pay his college costs. He applied for admission to USC, looking forward to the mild California weather, and was accepted to the University of South Carolina, graduating in 1954. After completing flight training at NAS Hutchinson, KS in 1955, Scratch was one of the first nuggets to be allowed to go directly to helicopters, receiving his Unrestricted Naval Aviator Designation (N 2771) on 03 February 1955. He joined HS-7 and flew H-19s aboard CVSs, hovering at 15 feet with 90 feet of hydrophone cable out, listening for submarines; he claims to never have heard one except USS Nautilus, which could be heard at five miles. One of his claims to fame from those days was being personally chewed out by RADM John Thach, inventor of the Thach Weave from WWII days. The reason for the interview with RADM Thach is a closely held secret. After HS-7, Scratch was assigned to Ellison Field as an instructor pilot and then to the US Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA where he completed a MS in Electrical Engineering and flew the station’s H-25 in bad weather when others were reluctant to try. Reassigned to the VP RAG, he discovered his depth perception had worsened and he was permanently grounded. Reassigned as a ground pounder at Patrol Wing Eleven, he became the Wing’s SLJO, including responsibility for a summer dance for USNA Midshipmen where he lost only one Mid and a captain’s daughter. Scratch then moved to primarily SOSUS station duties. Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) provides deep-water long-range detection capabilities. His next assignment was at the US Naval Facility at Bermuda where he was the XO and then the CO. He spent three years as CO, often acting as the US Representative at local British events and thoroughly enjoying overseas life. He was then unfortunate enough to be assigned to the Pentagon, where he was responsible for oversight of 22 Naval Facilities in both the Atlantic and Pacific, and was heavily involved in the search for the missing submarine Scorpion. He then went to duty in the Pacific at Ford Island and was able to regain his tan after the Pentagon. Scratch then became Chief Staff Officer at SOSUS Atlantic in Norfolk, followed by a five-year command tour at SOSUS Dam Neck from which he retired. Aside from his many Navy awards, Scratch received the highly coveted award from the Virginian Pilot Newspaper for having the messiest garage in Tidewater, VA… receiving a $25 gift certificate for a car wash in the process. After retirement from the Navy, Scratch never had a full-time job, focusing instead on worldwide travel with his wife Ginger. He did work part-time as a tax preparer. He constantly marveled at the innovative and ingenious schemes some clients dreamed up to avoid paying income taxes. None of them ever worked. Scratch and Ginger, his wife of 65 years, live in Virginia Beach on Lynnhaven Inlet. Here is the link for the Audio Interview with CAPT Jim O’Brien https://www.nhahistoricalsociety.org/capt-paul-l-scratch-hryskanich-usn-ret-biography/ Rotor Review #156 Spring '22

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Radio Check The theme for Rotor Review 156, and for NHA Symposium 2022, is “The Human Advantage.” Our greatest advantage in Rotary Wing Aviation is the “Weapons System with a Heart,” namely our people and our families who support them. Military careers can be unbelievably rewarding and fulfilling for service members and families alike. At the same time, this line of work presents us with a litany of challenges that test the strength of our relationships. Through the stress of deployments, Permanent Changes of Station (PCS), occupational risk, and irregular working hours, what makes a family cohesive? What are the characteristics of a strong and successful military family? What advice do you have for the young family who is just beginning its journey in Naval Aviation?

From CAPT Mike "Midds" Middleton, USN (Ret.)

Nothing shows the Heart of a Navy Family like a Tiger Cruise!

rom day one of a long deployment, every sailor starts thinking of the reunion of the family 6-9 months in the future. As you get close to the fly off, the possibility of a tiger cruise brings a mini-reunion one week earlier. I was blessed to host my boys on back to back XO/CO cruises that allowed them a great bunk room with their dad. Without mom onboard to oversee “the boys”, the mini refrigerator was stocked with 5 days of cokes and candy bars! A great 2 days in paradise were planned on Oahu with a luau, snorkeling, and a car tour around the island! Big stuff for a 10 year old (and a dad). Onboard the BIG “E”, CVTV had a line up of 5, Star Wars movies complete with popcorn, and the Marines had automatic rifles to fire from the round down! But the highlight, in my view, was the opportunity to see Dad participate in the “Airshow” from the flight deck of the Enterprise. The Seaking went airborne and displayed a dazzling display of smoke launches, MAD, sonobuoy, sonar and swimmer deployments, ending with Old Glory streaming from the rescue hoist, close aboard the flight deck. From my perspective in the cockpit, it was the “highlight of the show”. Upon the debrief of my youngest son on the show, all I heard was, “Those Tomcats were awesome!” Tom Cruise I wasn’t! The cruise was a career highlight for me and my boys. But to see all the dads and kids of the Indian Squadron together onboard after a long cruise, showed the love that is found in all Navy families that was truly heartfelt! Our Helo Community is mission centric, but what makes it special, are the people and the families that made up its core! It’s not a job it is truly an adventure. An adventure with great Navy people and great Navy families that are honored and loved.

Sailors man the rails aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) as it pulls into Naval Station Mayport. Enterprise stopped briefly to embark almost 1,500 friends and family for a tiger cruise.

Rotor Review #156 Spring '22

From LCDR Marty Jarosz, USN Retired HC-6, HC-3, HC-5

y wife and I were married in December of 1974. I had just finished VT-2 and was on my way to HT-8 when we became a crew. We were young, in love and made a commitment that whatever happened in our lives we would always have each other’s back. She was my co-pilot and I was hers. She probably knew emergency procedures better than I did, when she was making sure that I knew them for real. Our crew expanded when our first daughter was born a week before receiving my wings in November of 1975. We deployed together. I got underway and she navigated the seas on the Homefront. I left her pregnant with our second child for my first Med deployment with HC-6. Back then, all we had were letters to communicate, but communicate we did. We solved problems, argued, loved, discussed and made decisions by mail. We trusted each other to make decisions when the mail didn’t cooperate and we never questioned those decisions because they were made in good faith with information available at the time and they needed to be made. The decisions may not have been right all the time, but they were made with the understanding that we were in this together. Communication is so much easier today, but that doesn’t make it any less important. My wife and I became involved with squadron life and taught our children to appreciate the importance of what we were doing and what their friend’s dad’s and mom’s were doing to support American values around the world. We made each move an adventure, and over a twenty year career we had many adventures. We never let the kids dwell on what they were leaving when we moved but what they were gaining or had to look forward to at a new duty station. I think if you asked our kids today if they would change anything in their lives growing up, I think they would all say that they wished they could have had one more Navy adventure. We got mad and frustrated with each other at times. Adjustment to life after deployment, was especially taxing. We had both been independent steamers for seven plus months so the transition back to being together was at times a challenge. We always, however, remembered that early commitment, that we would always be there for each other. We ascribed to the adage, “Always kiss me goodnight!” and if I could impart one piece of wisdom to young couples just starting out it would be that to never go to sleep angry. Sometimes it took us all night to work things through. Sometimes we were individually disappointed at the outcome, but we always tried to lose the anger and anxiety and that was a key ingredient to our success. I lost my dear copilot a few years ago but I know that she is still there for me and our three children. She still has my back.

NEXT RADIO CHECK QUESTION Mentorship is a critical factor impacting the personal and professional growth of the members of our organization. The Navy has developed a variety of programs and tools to encourage formal mentorship (i.e. Naval Personnel Command's Mentor Certification Program and My Navy HR's "Reverse Mentoring Guide") amongst service members. Before the advent of these formal measures, however, leaders provided mentorship informally. Informal mentorship is, and will continue to be, an extremely important part of our culture. In your life and career, how have mentors positively impacted you and your family? What are the hallmarks of a good mentor-mentee relationship? What are the characteristics of a great mentor? As always, if you feel inclined to share personal experiences and individual shout-outs, both are welcome! Our editorial staff is looking forward to hearing from you! You can send your responses to rotorreview@navalhelicopterassn.org or your Rotor Review Community Editor.

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Change of Command Commander Maritime Support Wing

HSM-41 Seahawks

CAPT Edward Hoak, USN relieved CAPT Quinton Packard, USN March 2, 2022

CDR Eli “Whiz” Owre, USN relieved CAPT Ken “TED” Colman, USN April 7, 2022

CAPT Santico "Tico" Valenzuela, USN relieved CAPT Steven M. Thomas, USN April 7, 2022

HSM-46 Grandmasters

HSC-12 Golden Falcons

CDR James “Bogo” Powers, USN relieved CDR Brandon “Jenks” Jenkins, USN March 25, 2022 Rotor Review #156 Spring '22

HSC-2 Fleet Angels

CDR Jonathan D. Dorsey, USN relieved CDR Justin R. Ott, USN March 3, 2022 62

TRAWING 5

VT-2 Doerbirds

CAPT Jade Lepke, USN relieved Col. Jeffrey Pavelko, USMC March 18, 2022

CDR Joshua D. Seamount, USN relieved CDR Edward Ahlstrand, USN March 4, 2022

HT-8 Eightballers

CDR Annie Otten, USN relieved CDR Patrick O'Neill, USN February 17, 2022

HSMWSLANT Talons

HX-21 Blackjack

CDR Michael Henderson, USN relieves CDR Kyle P. Lambert, USN May 9, 2022

Lt. Col. Matthew “Rusty” Baumann, USMC relieved CDR Daniel Short, USN May 5, 2022 63

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Engaging Rotors Congratulations to the next generation of Naval aviation warfighters who received their Wings of Gold at NAS Whiting Field. These aviators will move to the fleet to learn their designated platforms. Special thanks to the Naval Helicopter Association for donating their first set of gold wings. Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) Training Air Wing 5. See you in the skies!

Congratulations to the New Naval Aviators March 25, 2022

Congratulations to the New Naval Aviators March 11, 2022

Rotor Review #156 Spring '22

Congratulations to the New Naval Aviators February 25, 2022

Congratulations to the New Naval Aviators February 11, 2022

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Engaging Rotors Congratulations to the New Naval Aviators January 28, 2022

In the words of guest speaker AWSC Bartlett at the HSC-3 FRAC Graduation Ceremony on March 21: “I like to compare flying in helicopters with an experienced crew like a world-famous roller coaster, maintained and operated by professionals. The excitement of getting airborne and seeing your surroundings completely differently is unmatched."

Congratulations to the New Aircrew January 31, 2022 HSM-41 FRAC Class 2105 Graduation

February 22, 2022 HSM-41 FRAC Class 2106 Graduation

AWR3 Hayden Block AWR3 Anthony Kawaguchi AWR3 Erik Ott AWR3 Donovan Psaris AWR3 Edwin Zimmerman

AWR3 Devane AWR3 Edgar AWR3 Fortin AWR3 Hainline AWR3 Vios

Rotor Review #156 Spring '22

Congratulations to the New Aircrew March 21 2022

Congratulations to AWS3 Samuel Jimenez, who has been selected for orders to HSC-8, AWS3 Justin Modero, who will be going to HSC-25, and AWS3 Jack Williams, who is headed to HSC-21.

Congratulations to the New Aircrew February 25, 2022

Congratulations to the seven Naval Aircrew candidates completed the Fleet Replacement Aircrew training pipeline, earning their Wings of Gold at HSC-3 on February 25, 2022. Welcome to the Fleet, AWS3 Vicente Andrade, AWS3 Mariel Calderon, AWS3 Nicolas Flores, AWS3 Andrew Leblanc, AWS3 Dyllon Ryan, AWS3 Miguel Satis Arias, and AWS3 Skylaer Szczepanski. 67

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Signal Charlie CAPT Dick Catone, USN (Ret.) following a memorial service for a fellow helicopter pilot, is credited with the following statement: “I guess we are all in starboard delta waiting for Signal Charlie.” Starboard Delta is the holding pattern for the airborne Search and Rescue helicopters on the starboard (right) side of the aircraft carrier. They fly at a low altitude so as not to interfere with the fixed-wing aircraft recovery pattern, and only land when the last fixed-wing aircraft is safe on board. When tower calls the helicopter to pass “Charlie” to a landing spot, the crew knows the fixed-wing recovery is complete, all is well, and it is time to come back. Hence, the statement appears appropriate that someday we will receive our own “Signal Charlie” and will be called home for a final landing. Signal Charlie has been created to inform our membership and honor the passing of fellow unrestricted aviators. It is only as good as the information we receive. If you have an obituary or other information that you would like to provide concerning the passing of a shipmate, co-worker, or friend of the community, please contact the NHA National Office at signalcharlie@navalhelicopterassn.org and we will get the word out.

CAPT William C. McCamy, USN CAPT William C. McCamy, USN (Ret.), passed away January 28, 2022 in Orange Park, FL, at the age of 76. He was born in Wichita Falls, TX, to William C. and Kathleen (McDunn) McCamy, both of whom preceded him in death. William entered Aviation Officer Candidate School on March 5, 1968 at NAS Pensacola, FL, and was designated a naval aviator on June 10,1969. ILTJG McCamy was Navy Helicopter Designator Number R-10564. In November 1969, he reported to Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron 3 in the Republic of Vietnam as a gunship pilot. Returning to the United States, he operated off the decks of the USS Wasp, USS Intrepid and USS Independence in various Antisubmarine Squadrons. In July 1976 , he accepted orders to the United Kingdom to participate in the Personnel Exchange Program and joined 703 Squadron in Portland, Dorset, England to transition to the WASP Helicopter. He was assigned to 829 Squadron and assumed duties as the Flight Commander of HMS Leander. While on exchange, he was awarded the Huntsman Trophy and the Herbert Lott Award as Best Student Aviator for 1976. Returning to the United States, he entered the Naval War College and completed the course of study of the Command and Staff Curriculum. He graduated as the Outstanding Student and received the Navy League's Sims Award in June 1980. He was selected for Command of Helicopter Squadron 17 at NAS Jacksonville, FL, in April 1984. Completing his Command Tour, he reported to the USS America as navigator in February 1986 and in June 1988 reported as Executive Officer of USS Iwo Jima. In June 1990, he reported as Commanding Officer Naval Air Station/Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. While in Command, Guantanamo Bay, received the first ever Meritorious Unit Award for managing the collection, housing, feeding, medical aid and repatriation of 37,000 Haitian migrants. After a tour in Washington, D.C., he returned to NAS Jacksonville as Chief of Staff, Commander Naval Base Jacksonville. He retired from the United States Navy on July 1, 1997. His personal decorations include two distinguished Flying Crosses, 29 Strike/Flight Air Medals, two Navy Commendation Medals with Combat V and numerous action and campaign ribbons. After retirement, he worked in the civilian sector as a consultant in Jacksonville. He was a member of Meninak for 20 years and served as President for one of those years. He remained on boards of numerous non-profits in Jacksonville after leaving the work force in 2005 and was most proud of being involved with the North Florida Council of Boy Scouts of America. He was an active member at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, Orange Park and a board member of the Catholic Foundation. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Carol; son, William; daughter, Kelly (John Stone); six grandchildren; brother, Thomas McCamy (Suzanne); sisters, Sandra Stinton and Barbara Lequeux (Blayne), and nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to the American Cancer Society or to a charity of your choice. A funeral mass was held on Friday, February 11, 2022 at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 1649 Kingsley Avenue, Orange Park, FL 32073. CAPT William C. McCamy will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Rotor Review #156 Spring '22

CAPT Donald Gilbert Gregory, USN (Ret.)

APT Gregory passed away on January 25, 2022. Don was born in 1931 near Rhineland, Missouri to Lowell E. and Georgia May Gregory. He attended Bethany High School, and Northwest Missouri State College. Rather than be drafted, he joined the Navy as an Aviation Cadet in late 1951. Earning his commission and Naval Aviator wings in September 1953, he was trained as a fighter pilot flying the F6 Hellcat and T-33s in Kingsville Texas. He was assigned to fly F2H-2 Banshees with VF-101 in Jacksonville, FL. This included an around-the-world cruise on the USS Midway with Air Group I. He transferred to the Naval Reserves, serving in VF-886 while attending University of Kansas from 1956-1958. After getting married, he returned to active duty, serving 3 ½ years as an Advanced Tactics and Gunnery Flight Instructor flying F9F Cougars in VT-25 at Beeville Texas, followed by deployments as a plankowner on the USS Constellation (CV 64). Don returned to Pensacola for helicopter training in 1963, subsequently serving with HS-9 aboard USS Essex (CVS-9). He was selected to attend the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA, where he completed his BA degree in 1968. This was followed by assignment as XO, and later Commanding Officer of the HC-7 Seadevils based in Atsugi, Japan, providing combat search and rescue and fleet support to Vietnam operations and ships throughout the western Pacific. He then was assigned to the Naval War College in 1970 as a student and a staff member, completing his Masters Degree in International Relations from George Washington University in 1973. He served for five years in Washington, D.C. working in aviation research and development, including initial work on what later became the V-22 Osprey. His final assignment was to Pensacola, FL, on the staff of the Chief of Naval Education and Training (N3 Division), from where he retired from the Navy in 1979. His awards during his military career include the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Presidential Unit Citation. Don often expressed appreciation for how fortunate he was to have had careers in which he always looked forward to going to work each day, and for the excitement of each new assignment. He loved to fly and had logged almost 8,000 hours of flight time in both military and civilian aircraft. Don was married to Louise Sturm for over 64 years. Together, they raised 3 sons, Lowell Christopher, Nathan Sterling, and Gilbert Keith. They have four grandchildren, Don, Allison, Stephanie, and George. Don leaves four sisters, Dorothy, Doris, Dolores, and Donna, and many nieces and nephews. His sons Gilbert and Nathan preceded him, losing their battles with illness far to soon. Don lived a full life and had many hobbies and friends, and a variety of interests. He was an automobile enthusiast, owning many antique and performance cars over the years. He was also a private pilot, holding single engine, multiengine, instrument, and instructor ratings, and was rated as an Air Transport Pilot in helicopters. He owned boats and recreation vehicles and was still riding his motorcycle at the age of 88. He travelled extensively, visiting all 50 states and many foreign countries. He loved to read and was especially fond of country music. He served as a volunteer with the National Park Service and the American Red Cross and served as a mentor with the Escambia County School System. He was past President of the local AACA (Antique Auto Club), WBCCI (Airstreamers club), and was a life member of the Retired Officers Association, Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, and Association of Naval Aviation. He was also a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association and the N.R.A. He loved to play golf (but never mastered the game), and his bridge playing was of the “conversational” variety. He always said it was a great ride, and he’d love to do it all over again. Working on cars with Nat, traveling and hiking with Gil, and flying with Chris may have been highlights of his family life. However, he said that his “greatest fortune was to find a dark haired girl to love (Louise) who stood by him through all his travels and elusive dreams”.

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APT Edward Allen Pencek, USN (Ret.) age 85 of Fairfax Station, VA, beloved husband, brother, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 20, 2022. He was born on December 20, 1936 in Wilkes-Barre, PA to the late Edward and Caroline Pencek. CAPT Pencek became a Naval Aviator on Feb 12,1962 at HT-8, NAS Ellyson Field, Pensacola, Florida. CAPT Pencek was Navy Helicopter Designator Number R-5917. The youngest boy in a family with three older sisters, Edward was raised in Melrose Park near Philadelphia and graduated from Davis & Elkins College with a BS in Psychology and was a member of Signa Phi Epsilon Fraternity. He joined the Navy in 1960 and as a naval aviator, he specialized in flying Sikorsky SH-3 helicopters conducting combat search and rescue missions. Among numerous medals received for his service, Edward was awarded the Air Medal, recognized for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flights during Vietnam. During his 24 years in the Navy, Edward was stationed throughout the US in Coronado CA, New Orleans LA, Lakehurst NJ, Willow Grove PA, and throughout the world including the Mediterranean and South Pacific before settling permanently in Northern Virginia. Upon his retirement from the Navy in 1984, Edward began his second career as co-owner of the Burke Racquet & Swim Club in Burke, VA. He served as General Manager from 1990 to 2000. His great humor and style endeared him to strangers and friends alike, with a close-knit circle of friends from high school and college. Edward was everyone’s favorite brother, uncle, friend, and in-law. In addition to his parents, Edward was preceded in death by his sisters Trudy, Wilma, Joan and the “love of his life,” wife, Linda Jean Pencek. Edward and Linda were married for 41 years. He is survived by his two sons, Christopher and Andrew, daughter-in-law Cathleen, grandchildren Connor and Ava. Funeral services and interment will take place at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia at a later date. Fair Winds and Following Seas CAPT Pencek!

CAPT Martin L. Chamberlain, USN (Ret.)

TJG Martin L. Chamberlain, USNR was designated as a Naval Aviator on December 19, 1968 at HT-8, NAS Ellyson Field, Pensacola, Florida. LTJG Chamberlain was Navy Helicopter Designation Number R-10274. He passed away on Friday, March 11, 2022 in Fredericksburg, VA. CAPT Chamberlain is a former HAL-3 Seawolf, and a Commanding Officer of HC-11 March 1984 and HC-3, September 1987. Martin was a Captain in the United States Navy and a Seawolf Helicopter Pilot. Later, he worked as a consultant for the Office of Naval Research. Survivors include his wife, Darlene Chamberlain; children Mark Chamberlain, Andrea Leggiardro; Tracy Gill, Joseph Amberger, and Tammy Amberger; grandchildren Brooke Leggiardro, Aubrey Leggiardro, Kaitlyn Atkins, Abbie Gill, Kylie Amberger, Hope Amberger, Jacey Amberger, Brooke Voyles, and Mersates Sims; great-grandchild Brantley Atkins; and sister Linda Hendrixson. He was preceded in death by his parents, Leonard and Jean Chamberlain. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Paul’s Mission Catholic Church in Hague, VA. Fair Winds and Following Seas CAPT Chamberlain!

Rotor Review #156 Spring '22

CAPT Duane James Hofhine, USNR (Ret.)

APT Duane J. Hofhine, USNR, (Ret.) passed away Sunday January 23, 2022 at the age of 91. Duane was born on April 30, 1930 in Midvale, UT. The son of Horace James and Ella (nee Ellis) Hofhine. Duane worked various jobs to earning money for flying lesions at Curley Wilson’s Flying School starting in 1944. By 1947, Duane had earned his private pilot’s license with his mom being his first solo passenger. He enlisted in the Navy in November, 1947 and was sent to the Naval Training Center, San Diego, CA for recruit training. Air Controlman Hofhine worked in the tower of the naval Auxiliary Air Station, Charlestown, RI for five months before qualifying for Navy’s flight program. In April, 1949, Cadet Hofhine reported to the Naval Air Training Command Pensacola, FL. for flight training at the naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, TX, He was commissioned a Navy Ensign and won his wings as a naval aviator in July 1950. Responding to the call for volunteers for special assignment, Ensign Hofhine attended nine weeks of special training in electronics at North Island, then was sent to the Naval Air station, Patuxent River, MD for additional electronic training and to qualify in the P4M1Q “Martin Mercator”. In October 1951 at Sangley Point Naval Air Station in the Philippines, he served with the squadron that was later to be designated Airborn Electronic Measuring Squadron One. This duty involved flights throughout most of the Western Pacific area included 141 combat missions in support of the Korean War. For his performance during this period, he was awarded the Air Medal. Duane began teaching flying in March 1954 when he became a flight instructor at Naval Auxiliary Air station, Whiting Field, FL. His next assignment kept him in the instruction business when he joined the Instructors Basic Training Unit in 1955, subsequently the multi-engine instrument training group in 1956 at Pensacola Naval Air Station. In March 1957, Duane found himself back in the role of a student. At the Naval Air Station, Ellison Field, FL he began helicopter pilot training. Upon completion of helicopter training he was assigned to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Four home based at Naval Air Station, Ream Field, CA. While with this squadron he participated in the many antisubmarine exercises in the Pacific area including Western Pacific cruise aboard the USS Princeton in 1958. Two years later Lieutenant Commander Hofhine became the communications officer at the Naval Air Station North Island, CA. He was selected for designation as a TAR Officer in July 1961 however was not assigned to a reserve activity until October of 1963. At that time, he was assigned as assistant flight training officer for the Air Antisubmarine Training Program in S2F Tracker Aircraft at the Naval Air Station Glenview, IL. In July 1966, he received orders to the staff of the Chief of Naval Air Reserving Training at Glenview, IL as program director of the entire Naval Air Reserve air antisubmarine program. In May 1967, Commander Hofhine was ordered to the Washington Naval Air Reserve Training Unit at Joint Base Andrews near Washington, DC. There he became the flight training officer and later assumed the responsibilities as the training officer. Captain Hofhine was ordered to Naval and Marine Corp Reserve Training Center in Milwaukee, WI in November 1971, where he was commanding officer. He retired from active duty in January, 1973. During Duane’s Naval service he was awarded the following commendations. National Defense Service Medal with 1 Bronze Star; Air Medal; China Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with 3 bronze stars; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Reserve medal with hourglass; United Nations Service Medal; Korean Presidential Unit Citation, HS-04. Duane was married November 30, 1963 to the love of his life LTJG Jo Ann Lower (USN) and together they had 3 sons, Duane J II, Eric and David. Duane was a dedicated husband and father actively supporting his children’s education and was an active supporter of Navy ROTC at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Duane and his wife Jo Ann enjoyed traveling and spent nearly 20 years traveling throughout the United States in their truck camper The family would like to thank the staff of the Memory Care Unit and Lincoln Village in Port Washington and Sharon Richardson Hospice for their amazing support and care of Duane during his time there. Tributes are appreciated to the organization of your choice. Words of Remembrance followed by Military Honors were held on Saturday, February 5, 2022 at Eernisse Funeral Home 1167 Washington Ave., in Cedarburg, WI.

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Rotor Review #156 Spring '22

YO U R M E M B E R S H I P H E L P S YO U R M E M B E R S H I P H E L P S

BU L DBU OIN UIS L D ON

EXCELLENCE! EXCELLENCE!

JOIN US Now is an excit ing t im e t o become a NHA M em b er !

Now is an exciting time to become a NHA Member!

Naval Helicopter Association P.O BOX 180578 CORONADO, CA 92178-0578

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Aircraft Flown:___________________________________________________________ Mailing Address: ___________________________________________________________________ City: ________________________________________________ State_____ Zip Code____________ Unit / Squadron ____________________ Current Assignment____________ Ship / Station_________ Warfare Community (i.e. HSC / HSM / HM / VMM / CG) _____________________________________ Primary Phone Number: ______________________________________ Secondary Phone Number (optional) : ____________________________ Email Address:______________________________________________________________________ Levels of Membership: 1 year - $40.00

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