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Talofa Lava, Samoa from Det X
Talofa Lava, Samoa from HSC-23 Det X
By LT Jackson "Prison Mike" Cotney, USN
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 de 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.
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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 New Zealand, The Office of the Prime Minister of Samoa, the Aviation Administration of Samoa, Samoan Police and Disaster Management Ministers, U.S. Defense Attaché Office, Wellington, New Zealand, and USS Jackson Commanding Officer and Crew. This flight served to demonstrate the resolve of the United States to preemptively actuate processes to aid our island partners and friends in cases of humanitarian crisis.
The countries impacted by Pacific Partnership are in a hotbed of international politics and are crucial to an ongoing open and free Pacific. The importance of our collaboration now with world leaders in these countries is best summed up by an anecdote relayed by the acting Prime Minister of Samoa. When he was 13 years old, a French Frigate pulled into the Apia harbor and executed community relation events with schoolboys across the island.
He vividly remembered playing rugby with the sailors and trying out some of his newly acquired French language skills. His interactions in grade 7 have positively impacted his view of the French Navy since then. Fast forward almost 50 years, after a lengthy stint as a talking chief in his village and being elected to office in a position on the international stage, he made several decisions about French investment and military operations in and around Samoa based on his favorable impression of a French Frigate port of call many years ago. “I remember them being a wonderful culture and wonderful boys and have thought highly of them ever since," he described. Pacific Partnership gave U.S. servicemen the ability to execute community events and this demonstration flight to the current and future leaders of Samoa in the same way. The crew of USS Jackson and HSC23 Det 10 no doubt left a lasting and important impact on our partners and friends in the South Pacific that will resonate for years to come.
