When people think of Naval Aviation’s role in Operation Iraqi Freedom, they most likely think of the “shocking” and “awesome” air strikes that so effectively eviscerated Saddam’s military capabilities and leadership. They also may think of the continuing support of vigilant P-3s as they tracked areas of potential unrest, or perhaps the lethal precision F/A-18 strikes that helped provide protective cover for soldiers and Marines on the ground in various hotbeds of unrest around Iraq.
In this article, I will highlight the accomplishments of a much lesser-known role played by two unique Navy helicopter squadrons, Helicopter Combat Support Special Squadrons Four and Five (HCS-4 and HCS-5), in fighting the War on Terror on a daily basis in Iraq. Deploying to support Navy SEALS and combat-search-and rescue efforts, they filled a significant Joint capability gap in Iraq, and they remain in theater today at the combatant commander’s request.
Since the early days of Iraqi Freedom, one or the other of these two squadrons has been in the thick of the action continuously, operating from land bases in Kuwait and Iraq to perform a number of little-known but critical roles in support of special warfare operations. Operating in desert and urban environments, the squadrons have remained the only Naval Aviation assets based ashore in Iraq since HCS-5 arrived there in March 2003. During the period of major hostilities, HCS-5 flew more than 180 combat sorties in support of Joint special operations in the Central Command area of responsibility.
An interesting tasking begun during this period was a “psy ops” mission in which HCS-5 aircrews dropped more than 1.5 million leaflets over six Iraqi cities to expedite the capitulation of enemy forces. Some of the friendly greetings our troops enjoyed in the early days of the conflict were due in part to this communication effort.
In May 2003, after the declaration of the end of major hostilities, HCS-5’s capability to support special operations forces was unique and in demand. At Special Operations Command’s request, the squadron established a forward operating base in central Iraq to support the Navy special warfare units working to neutralize pockets of resistance in the area. For their maintenance and operations spaces, and even their living quarters, the squadron quickly rehabilitated a battle-damaged Iraqi hardened aircraft shelter. Although it later moved its operations and living quarters to an Air Force expeditionary camp established nearby, the squadron continued to use the shelter as their maintenance facility. From this forward base, HCS-5 performed a number of different missions in support of Joint special operations, including armed escort of convoys or VIP movement and armed reconnaissance missions in search of weapons caches, including weapons of mass destruction. It also flew photo reconnaissance using the HH-60H forward-looking infrared capability, inserted, extracted and resupplied special warfare troops, flew combat SAR and other unique missions beyond the classification of this article. The squadron did whatever was needed, wherever and whenever needed by the Central Command Joint Special Operations Command.
Because of HCS-5’s initial success in operating from their newly established forward operating base, it was soon joined by an Air Force special operations squadron with which HCS-5 had operated out of Kuwait. This Joint special operation air detachment remains in operation today to support Central Command’s continuing efforts to establish and maintain stability throughout central Iraq.
In March 2004, HCS-5 turned over leadership of the Joint detachment to HCS-4, mobilized from its home base at NAS Norfolk. HCS-5 then returned to NAS North Island after a year in Kuwait and Iraq, during which it flew more than 900 combat sorties and 1,700 flight hours, more than 55 percent of which were at night. It supported U.S. and Coalition special operations forces, and survived numerous missile, mortar and rocket attacks with no losses or serious injuries.
These two squadrons are unique in their makeup as well as their missions — they are made up entirely of Navy Reserve personnel. When HCS-5 received the call on 13 March 2003, its Selected Reserve members were working in various civilian occupations at home. Ten days later, they were on the ground in Kuwait — and three days after that, they flew their first combat sortie. Within days after returning home, the HCS-5 aircrews and support personnel had demobilized and returned to their civilian jobs even before their HCS-4 counterparts had settled into their new routines in Iraq.
Whether some or all of them will be mobilized again remains to be seen. But what is eminently clear is that whenever they are called to serve, they will respond with honor and dedication to duty, just as so many Navy professionals, active and Reserve, have responded during this War on Terror.
Thanks to the willingness of our people to make the kinds of sacrifices necessary to persevere against this constantly changing terror threat, and to the flexibility and creativity they continually demonstrate in the face of these new terror tactics, we will be able to stay ahead of the enemy, ready to deliver the capabilities required to counter new terrorist threats, whenever and wherever we may be called upon to do so.