'Wildcards' Will Fly In Air Ambulance, SAR Roles

The US Navy's Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 Detachment 1 "Wildcards" deployed October 28 from Naval Air Station North Island to the Persian Gulf, in support of the global war on terrorism.

HSC-23, the Navy’s newest helicopter squadron, deployed along with its sister squadron, the "Blackjacks" of HSC-21, to make up the 2123rd Naval Air Ambulance Detachment.

"It’s taken a lot of hard work, and coordination between HSC-21 and HSC-23," said Cmdr. Robert Weissenfels, HSC-23 commanding officer.

HSC-23 also supports search and rescue (SAR), logistical support, naval special warfare (NSW) and vertical replenishments (VERTREP) at sea.

"We are highly motivated and excited to carry on the tradition that the Navy has already set forth," said Aviation Antisubmarine Warfare Operator 1st Class (NAC) Brooks Vanderland, a member of HSC-23.

This is the third air ambulance detachment deployment since the Navy took on this mission less than a year ago. However, it will be the first to be exclusively supported by the MH-60S Knighthawk.

"I am really thrilled to be a part of this. Our mission is really important," said Chief Hospital Corpsman Jason Owen. "I have six corpsmen that have been working hard, and I am really proud of them."

The pilots, medics, maintainers, and crewmen of Det. 1 have trained for this mission for more than six months.

After training work-ups in the desert and joint operations with the Army at Fort Irwin, the Wildcards are confident and ready for the challenge to support the global war on terrorism, said Weissenfels.

The Wildcards of HSC-23 were established during a ceremony here September 29 and consist of approximately 50 officers and 200 enlisted personnel. The squadron is made up of six expeditionary detachments that deploy aboard amphibious assault ships and fast-combat support ships.

(Aero-News salutes Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Daisy Abonza, Fleet Public Affairs Center, Pacific)

FMI: www.navy.mil