NOT YOUR TYPICAL
T
here we were: an armed MH-65D helicopter, two cutters, four small boats, one Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA), and some bad guys. In the right seat was a brand new Mission Qualified (MQ) pilot, ARTICLE BY LCDR Christian in the rear was a brand new Precision MarksmanRigney, USCG Aviation (PM-A), both on their first deployment, and I, the MC (Mission Commander), was in the left seat on my sixth and final AUF-CD (Aviation Use of Force-Counter Drug) deployment. We were one week into a nine-week deployment when we got intelligence that was very promising. The cutter briefed us that there was going to be a mother-ship offloading dope to two go-fasts that would be within our striking distance. We were pre-positioned just over the horizon off the north coast of Honduras when we got the call to launch. It was 0230 and illumination was near 50%, seas were calm, and the skies were clear – in other words, perfect HITRON (Helicopter Interdiction Tactical squadRON [the Coast Guard’s only aviation counter-narcotic unit]) go-fasthunting weather. We got airborne and immediately established communications with the Customs and Border Protection MPA circling overhead providing real-time updates to the cutter detailing what the bad guys were doing. Our tasking was to stay covert until the offload was complete and the go-fasts departed the mother ship. Airborne, we were about 15 nautical miles away when the MPA made the call we were listening for: “Off-load complete, two go-fasts underway heading southbound.” They then gave us a vector eastbound towards the fast-movers and we made our move to intercept. The MPA was able to track both the go-fasts and us, a warm reassurance from above. While en route, our job became much easier because our legal go-ahead to engage in AUF-CD tactics was granted by the cutter, meaning all we had to do was locate and disable the vessel. As we flew towards go-fast number one, I called for “Mission Checklist Part Two for Reconnaissance.” Photos courtesy of U.S. Coast Guard.
Rotor Review # 123 Winter ‘14
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