The Next Chapter: A Call to Innovate and Integrate

By LT Casey “Casper” O’Brien, USN

In 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 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.

“We must divest of legacy capabilities that do not meet our future requirements, regardless of their past operational efficacy.” The CNO and CMC have instructed all Naval and Marine Corps forces to adapt and innovate our processes to meet the requirements of the current realities. “The way we have always done it” no longer meets the bill; the time is now to re-write how we accomplish our missions. As we continue to hone our capabilities in Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO), we must assess the feasibility of our time-proven foundational processes. Future mission accomplishment on all levels of execution will rely on these process improvements. A call to focus on a “one team, one fight” mentality requires us to assess how other services conduct operations, to include maintenance actions. The varying operational Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23 (HSC-23) and Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 (HMLA-267) conduct joint urban environments and requirements have forced operations training at Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Hooper us to develop different procedures despite Heliport in downtown Los Angeles. U.S. Navy Photo operating similar Type, Model, Series (TMS) aircraft. Learning how to operate with other maintenance departments within Naval Aviation and other branches is becoming increasingly important when considering the next generational fight. Innovation must be everyone’s priority. To maintain our current strategy of deterrence through forward presence, the OPTEMPO for the foreseeable future will not slow down. Under this OPTEMPO, the limited time available makes it difficult to participate in integrated training and develop improved maintenance processes. Finances required to participate in joint training exercises could present a roadblock as well. Despite current OPTEMPO and the financial requirement there are feasible ways forward. Squadron Helicopters from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 22 (HSC-22), Helicopter Sea Combat maintenance departments Squadron 28 (HSC-28) and 159th Aviation Regiment conduct joint Non-Combatant have successfully Evacuation Operations (NEO) training with SEAL Team 2 (ST-2) during Naval Special experimented with Warfare (NSW) TRIDENT EXERCISE. U.S. Navy Photo. executing maintenance actions with other HSC/ HSM squadrons.

For example, in the fall of 2021, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 (HSC-25), the Guam-based Forward Deployed Naval Forces (FDNF) HSC squadron, successfully expended one AGM-114N in a multi-domain remote lasing training evolution with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 21 Detachment 5 (HSC-21.5) embarked on the USS Tulsa (LCS 16). The HSC21.5 maintenance team uploaded the AGM-114N onto the HSC-25 aircraft and the mixed HSC-25/21 section expended the ordnance on time and simultaneously with a simulated Naval Strike Missile (NSM) launched from LCS-16. Execution of these evolutions is becoming increasingly vital to mission accomplishment. Our next step is to take advantage of learning opportunities on how to complete maintenance actions with the maintenance departments of other branches. These opportunities are available during the periodic joint training exercises previously mentioned (i.e., SUMMER FURY and WINTER FURY)

Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23 (HSC-23) and Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 (HMLA-267) conduct joint urban operations training at Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Hooper Heliport in downtown Los Angeles. U.S. Navy Photo

opportunities on how to complete maintenance actions with the maintenance departments of other branches. These opportunities are available during the periodic joint training exercises previously mentioned (i.e., SUMMER FURY and WINTER FURY).

The most economical way to accomplish integrated training can be through linked simulators, ensuring we exercise the full capability of our training systems. HSC/HSM squadrons routinely conduct Unit Level Training (ULT) detachments; substituting one or multiple ULT detachments with a joint exercise is one method to meet Commander’s Intent of maximizing integrated training. Another viable option is to extend an invitation to external entities to participate in squadron ULT detachments. Through planning conferences, training departments and external entities can seamlessly align Desired Learning Objectives (DLO) and execute desired events. Most importantly, if there are barriers to meeting Commander’s Intent, we must continually communicate these barriers up our chain of command and advocate for additional resources. More importantly if there are barriers to meeting Commander’s Intent, we must continually communicate these barriers up our chain of command and advocate for additional resources.

Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23 (HSC-23), Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 (HMLA-267), 26th Weapons Squadron (26th WPS) and Special Boat Team 12 (SBT-12) conduct joint special operations support training at San Clemente Island Range Complex (SCIRC).

U.S. Navy Photo.

HSC-25 and HSC-21 Det. 5 launch an AGM-114 HELLFIRE missile during an exercise. HSC-25 aircraft landed aboard USS Tulsa (LCS 16) for an underway missile on load supported by HSC-21 Det. 5 maintenance personnel.

Photo Credit: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zachary Grooman

Integration and innovation must be the foundation of our mindset and strategic action plans.

Historically, HSC and HSM have trained and operated in a vacuum-this must change. Current realities require a mindset shift; rather than meeting minimum readiness requirements we must make ACTC events relevant and meet Commander’s Intent. Now is the time to reinvent how we train and operate; integration and innovation must occur in every phase of execution in order for us to win the next fight.

Footnotes

1.Gilday, Michael M. CNO Navplan 2021. Jan. 2021, Jan. 2021 https://media.defense.gov/2021/Jan/11/2002562551/-1/-1/1/CNO%20NAVPLAN%202021%20-%20FINAL.PDF. Page 4. 2. Gilday, Michael M. CNO Navplan 2021. Jan. 2021, Jan. 2021 https://media.defense.gov/2021/Jan/11/2002562551/-1/-1/1/CNO%20NAVPLAN%202021%20-%20FINAL.PDF. Page 8. 3. Gilday, Michael M. CNO Navplan 2021. Jan. 2021, Jan. 2021 https://media.defense.gov/2021/Jan/11/2002562551/-1/-1/1/CNO%20NAVPLAN%202021%20-%20FINAL.PDF. Page 15. 4. Berger, David H. Commandant's Planning Guidance - United States Marine Corps. 17 July 2019, https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/Commandant's%20Planning%20Guidance_2019. pdf?ver=2019-07-17-090732-937. Pg 17. 5. Berger, David H. Commandant's Planning Guidance - United States Marine Corps. 17 July 2019 https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/Commandant's%20Planning%20Guidance_2019. pdf?ver=2019-07-17-090732-937. Pg 2.