An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : Media : News : News Article View
NEWS | Sept. 29, 2014

Navy Pilots Join Marine Corps Exercise

By Cpl. David Walters

Service members with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25, Helicopter Sea Combat Wing Pacific, U.S. Navy conducted joint training with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 during Exercise Forager Fury III on Sept. 26.

An estimated 1300 personnel are participating in FF III, a Marine Corps led exercise involving a full spectrum of fixed wing and rotary aircraft operations. It has a heavy emphasis on tactical aviation and aviation ground support to further develop expeditionary combat capabilities in the Marianas Island Range Complex. The exercise began Sept. 24, 2014, and is scheduled to last until Oct. 6.

HSC-25 is an MH-60S Seahawk rotary aircraft squadron, and their role in FF III is to support MWSS-171 while conducting close air support and weapons systems training.

“Forager Fury for us is a perfect opportunity to help out the Marines while getting essential training for our pilots, aircrew and maintainers,” said Lt. Adam Laakso, operations officer for the squadron during FF III.

One mission conducted by the squadron included inserting joint terminal attack controllers onto a nearby, uninhabited island in order to practice target engagements, according to Lt. Devon Cartwright, Seahawk commander with HSC-25.

“The JTACs supported us by passing nine lines, which is an authorization to engage a target, according to Cartwright. “We engaged targets with simulated Hellfire missiles, as well as our crew served weapons.”

Cartwright said they rarely work with forward observers, so this provides them a unique training opportunity.

“If we were to really go into an area where we needed to employ these weapons, this type of practice is invaluable to see how we would do it in the real world,” said Cartwright.

Cartwright explained their squadron’s aircraft as a “workhorse” that allows them to do a multitude of missions, including special operations support, search-and-rescue operations, as well as material transport.

According to Cartwright, the squadron completed the training they wanted to achieve during their time on Tinian.

“The exercise was a success,” said Cartwright. “The JTACs were doing some training of their own, so it was a good way to work out the kinks in the system so they know how to work with rotary-wing assets, such as ourselves, and also for us to work with the Marines and see how they conduct their things.”

CONNECT WITH USINDOPACOM
Facebook

Like Us
X
363,201
Follow Us

ENGAGE & CONNECT MORE WITH PACOM

                                                 

IN THE USINDOPACOM NEWS
Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Meeting With President Wesley Simina of the Federated States of Micronesia
Graphic intended for use as a placeholder for Statements and Press Releases without accompanying imagery.
March 22, 2024 - Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout...

AUKUS Trilateral Statement
Graphic intended for use as a placeholder for Statements and Press Releases without accompanying imagery.
March 22, 2024 - The Honourable Richard Marles MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Australia; the Right Honourable Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Defence, United Kingdom; and Lloyd J. Austin III, Secretary of Defense,...

U.S., India launch Exercise Tiger TRIUMPH 2024
Courtesy Photo
March 21, 2024 - Indian and U.S. combined armed forces began Exercise Tiger TRIUMPH 2024 with the arrival of amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25), March 18 and an opening ceremony March 19.This is the third time U.S. and...

USACE: Ensuring Safety Every Step of the Way
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Japan Engineer District (USACE JED) is the premier Department of Defense (DoD) military construction (MILCON) agent in the Pacific, providing facilities-related design and construction work in Japan for all military services and agencies. With over 60 years of experience in designing and constructing facilities in Japan, JED possesses the experience in Japanese standards and specifications, regulations, construction practices, maintenance requirements, and culture needed to ensure facilities are built with the utmost safety and professionalism. Photo by Charles Maib.
March 21, 2024 - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Japan Engineer District (USACE JED) is the premier Department of Defense (DoD) military construction (MILCON) agent in the Pacific, providing facilities-related design and construction work...

THAAD Battery in Guam Successfully Completes Table VIII Evaluation
A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense launcher used by E-3 Air Defense Artillery THAAD Battery as part of their Table VIII certification in Dededo, Guam, March 13, 2024. The THAAD battery, equipped with a state-of-the-art missile defense system, is tasked with defending Guam against ballistic missile threats. (U.S. Army Photo by Maj. Trevor Wild)
March 21, 2024 - In a testament to readiness and operational excellence, Task Force Talon's E-3 ADA THAAD Battery conducted a Table VIII evaluation for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system stationed in Guam, March 11-15,...