Last modified Thu., November 05, 2009 - 04:26 PM
Originally created Thursday, November 5, 2009

'Dusty Dogs' adjust to carrier deployment changes

By Clark Pierce, Editor

Dusty Dog 615 lets loose with an AGM-114 Hellfire missile on a range at NAS Fallon, Nevada. The laser-guided, air-to-surface missile entered service in 1985 as an anti-armor and precision attack weapon used against bunkers, structures, tanks and other moving vehicles. Photos courtesy of HS-7

"HS-7 has completed all work-ups for our next deployment on board USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) - but since we received word that the Truman will leave Norfolk later than planned for its 2010 deployment - we're scheduling 'sustainment' detachments to keep a sharp edge on our readiness levels," said HS-7 Executive Officer Cmdr. Larry McCullen.

"We also fly back to the Truman at the end of November to do some at-sea carrier qualifications, as well as exercises with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3," he added.

In September, the Navy announced an extension in the 2010 deployment of the Truman Strike Group to just under eight months. The decision resulted from a delay in the overhaul of 48-year-old USS Enterprise (CVN 65) at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va.

Three HS-7 "Dusty Dogs" fly over Crested Butte, Colorado (elevation 8,924 ft.) on their way from NAS Jacksonville to NAS Fallon, Nevada in 2009.

The Navy also extended the current deployment of USS Nimitz (CVN 68), based in San Diego.

"Adjusting these carrier deployment schedules was the best solution of available options," said Adm. J. C. Harvey Jr., commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command in a news release. "We recognize this decision has operational and personnel impacts, such as training cycle changes and family dynamics."

McCullen said the "Dusty Dogs" worked hard to achieve a very successful deployment readiness cycle, including: the Helicopter Advanced Readiness Program; Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center at NAS Fallon, Nev.; Composite Training Unit Exercise; and the Joint Task Force Exercise.

As the sun disappears below the horizon at NAS Fallon, an HS-7 plane captain checks the tail rotor of an SH-60F scheduled for an air wing night exercise.

"Skipper Mordhorst and I are blessed with a highly professional wardroom and an extremely strong chiefs mess. With that kind of leadership HS-7 passed its annual NATOPS inspection with flying colors, including the fleet's highest exam average. Our people also achieved zero discrepancies our search-and-rescue evaluation. Nine HS-7 Sailors were awarded enlisted aviation warfare specialist badges in 2009.

"To maintain readiness levels, we regularly send detachments to the Navy's Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) range headquartered on Andros Island in the Bahamas to train in anti-submarine warfare. We also qualify a number of our operators in combat search-and-rescue and naval special warfare support missions at AUTEC," explained McCullen.

HS-7 plans to send other detachments to Harry S. Truman and NAS Fallon.

AM3 Ronald Page works on Dusty 610 in Hangar 116 at NAS Jax Oct. 23. The SH-60F is flown by HS-7 Commanding Officer Cmdr. Sean Mordhorst. Page explained that it is undergoing a 224-day maintenance check that involves tearing down and inspecting every major component of the Seahawk. Photo by Clark Pierce

"We're also planning a final sustainment exercise that we unofficially call 'COMP3EX' which invites higher level staff to give us their most challenging battle scenarios. Then, in February, we plan to have most of our people on leave prior to our deployment sometime in March," said McCullen.

As the Dusty Dogs maintain their readiness for their next deployment, HS-7 Commanding Officer Cmdr. Sean Mordhorst is also leading the squadron's transition to the MH-60S helicopter. "We recently broke ground on our hangar in Norfolk and expect to move in by spring of 2011 with the first of our new Sierra models. At that time, we'll be redesignated as HSC-7," said Mordhorst.

Dusty 610, piloted by HS-7 Commanding Officer Cmdr. Sean Mordhorst, navigates across the Painted Desert -- an area of badlands located in Northern Arizona.