Talofa Lava, Samoa from Det X By LT Jackson "Prison Mike" Cotney, USN
H
elicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 Detachment 10 recently deployed aboard USS Jackson (LCS 6) participating in "Pacific Partnership 2023," an ongoing show of support and commitment to island nations across the South Pacific. On September 15, 2023, HSC-23 Det 10 was at a reception onboard the LCS in Apia, Samoa held by the American Chargé d’Affaires, Ms. Noriko Horiuchi, and U.S. Embassy New Zealand. Also at the reception was the acting Prime Minister of Samoa, Tuala Losefo Ponifasio, and his staff of national ministers. Initially showing an interest in the pilots’ callsigns, the acting Prime Minister made several remarks about the MH-60S and his desire to fly, but there were no plans at the time for any U.S. flight operations in the country due to uncertainty in the scheme of maneuver for the ship. The acting Prime Minister then invited the aviation detachment to his own residence for entertainment where he continued his interest in U.S. Naval Aviation and the capabilities they could offer to partner nations. Only two days later, the members of Det 10 had completed all the approval and planning processes to fly the acting head of state around his island in a demonstration of humanitarian aid and disaster relief. This flight was a highlight of U.S. relations within this area and demonstrated the importance of quick planning cells and the benefit of face-to-face interactions with America’s allies.
The crew executed a pier-side take off from the flight deck and flew around the capital of Samoa and surrounding areas where they demonstrated the ship-to-shore sequence of events in a disaster scenario and showcased the logistics transport and search and rescue capabilities of the MH-60S. Passengers on this flight included the aforementioned Noriko Horiuchi and Tuala Losefo Ponifasio, the Samoan Minister of Works Transport and Infrastructure, Olo Fiti Vaai, Minister of Samoan Natural Resources and Environment, Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster, the Minister of Samoan Police, Faualo Harry Schuster, and Political and Economic Specialist to U.S. Embassy in Samoa, Ms. Funefe’ai Dikaiosune Atoa Tamaalii.
High visibility transport evolutions like flying the acting head of state as well as high risk flight evolutions like pier-side operations usually take months, and include in depth levels of planning, security, and operational risk management, but thanks to combined efforts from multiple fronts, the United States was able to strengthen bonds with partners in a vital area of interest. A show of the capabilities and limits of small ships and their aviation detachments serves as proof of concept for many different advertised mission sets. This effort involved rapid planning and creative support from multiple levels of government and military including the U.S. State Department, U.S. Navy 7th Fleet, U.S. Embassy Det 10 flew around the capital of Samoa and surrounding areas where they New Zealand, The Office of the Prime demonstrated the ship-to-shore sequence of events in a disaster scenario and Minister of Samoa, the Aviation showcased the logistics transport and search and rescue capabilities of the MH- Administration of Samoa, Samoan 60S. Police and Disaster Management
Rotor Review #162 Fall '23
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