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The Next Chapter: A Call to Innovate and Integrate By LT Casey “Casper” O’Brien, USN
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n August 2021, the world observed the final drawback of coalition forces from Afghanistan. A generational war came to an end and the concern of near-peer adversaries intensified. In unison, Navy and Marine Corps leadership formulated and released their guidance in the form of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) NAVPLAN 2021 and the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) Planning Guidance. These documents echoed multiple topics: the near-peer fight, integrated training, and adapting the warfighting force to win. “While America’s need for sea control and power projection hasn’t changed, how we compete and what we fight with has.”1 The message was clear: the way we have been fighting over the last 20 years is not how we will fight in the next 20 years. The CNO has called on us to “…align our exercises, experiments, and education to better understand requirements to defeat the adversary.”2 The time has come to reexamine how we integrate and innovate in order to overcome our nation’s future strategic challenges. The Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) and Helicopter Maritime Strike (HSM) Communities’ readiness and qualifications are primarily derived from Air Combat Training Continuum (ACTC) graded events; none of which require integration with entities external to an individual’s own squadron, community, or military branch. The exceptions to this absence of requirement are present in Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 85’s (HSC-85) Dedicated Special Operations Support (DSS) syllabi and HSC’s Seahawk Weapons and Tactics Program (SWTP) syllabi. The SWTP requires two ACTC events involving procedural controls from a qualified Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC). Typically, the only external integration opportunities HSC/ HSM Aircrew receive come during deployment workups, to include Air Wing Fallon (AWF) and Helicopter Advanced Readiness Program (HARP) events. In short, this training plan does not meet Commander’s Intent and is not maximizing integration. Integration is a top priority, per CNO; “Joining with the Marine Corps and Coast Guard, we will deliver Integrated All-domain Naval Power to prevail in day-to-day competition, in crisis, and in conflict.”3 Under the current Operational Tempo (OPTEMPO) and HSC/HSM training Rotor Review #155 Winter '22
construct, squadron training departments may find it difficult to meet readiness requirements. With that in mind, requiring integration in ACTC events would put an additional strain on operational squadrons. Without instituting an additional requirement, the onus is now on squadron commanders and training departments to exercise initiative, and leverage opportunities to integrate with forces outside of the HSC/ HSM community. In doing so, the community will be manned by qualified Aircrew who are highly proficient in joint operations fulfilling Commander’s Intent. “We should train the way we expect and intend to fight.”4 There are several opportunities to conduct joint training that pair with HSC/HSM ACTC requirements. To “improve warfighter readiness in support of a Marine Expeditionary Force in a maritime campaign” 3rd Marine Air Wing (3MAW) annually conducts Large Force Exercises (LFE) called WINTER FURY and SUMMER FURY.5 These exercises provide an opportunity to integrate and train to Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Surface Warfare (SUW), Personnel Recovery (PR) and advanced operations utilizing joint Digital Interoperability (DI). SOUTHERN STRIKE (SSTK) is a joint LFE hosted by the Mississippi Air National Guard (ANG) at Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC). Events conducted at SSTK include Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR), Close Air Support (CAS), Combat Logistics, PR, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).5 Quarterly, Helicopter Sea Combat Weapons School Pacific (HSCWSP) conducts PHOENIX ASSAULT consisting of joint Helicopter Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (HVBSS) training routinely integrating Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Air Force assets. Also quarterly, Helicopter Sea Combat Weapons School Atlantic (HSCWSL) conducts SAVAGE ICE, executing training with Naval Special Warfare (NSW) and Army assets in multiple mission sets including HVBSS, SUW and Special Operations Forces (SOF) support. INTEGRATED TRAINING EXERCISE (ITX) is periodically held at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC) in Twentynine Palms, CA, and prepares the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) for deployment through joint training in mission sets such as CAS, Combat Logistics, and SOF support. Most notably, the Air Force’s flag-series exercises focus on multiple mission sets including PR, SOF support, SUW, and CAS. Integration is imperative for our long-term success. 46
