NARRAGANSETT BAY— The “Jaguars” of Navy Reserve Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 60 Detachment (DET) 2 conducted Initial Ship Aviation Team Training (ISATT) aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98) from Aug. 26 to Aug. 30.
 
“ISATT is the first week of training events to ensure that we operate safely around the ship and execute our mission effectively before we go on to more advanced training,” said Lt. Cmdr. Scott Curtin, an MH-60R Sea Hawk pilot assigned to HSM-60. “There’s lots of flying, combined training with the ship, and simulated ship and air coordinated emergency events to make sure that the ship and the aircraft can operate together as a team.”
 
HSM-60 and Forrest Sherman conducted simulated vertical replenishment and helicopter in-flight refueling, and responded to simulated emergencies, including fires on the flight deck and in the hangar bay, and a loss of helicopter in-flight communications. The five-day training event was designed for the benefit of everyone involved.
 
“The integration is important because everything that we are doing is not only for us as pilots, but also training for the ship to be prepared to operate and support additional missions while continuing to effectively execute their other missions,” said Lt. Cmdr. Rich Grant, another MH-60R Sea Hawk pilot assigned to HSM-60.
 
ISATT is an essential readiness requirement for both the squadron and the ship.
 
“Mission preparedness is the key focus of ISATT,” said Curtin. “Both the ship and the air team are getting ready to deploy. This is all about raising readiness for the integrated team.”
 
Boatswains Mate 1st Class Chad Bedillion, a leading petty officer assigned to Forrest Sherman’s Deck Department, said the training event helped his Sailors sharpen their skills on the flight deck.
 
“We get comfortable with the squadron’s procedures, and they get comfortable with our procedures, so training with the newer Sailors helps us to continue to build off of what we learn now and after ISATT,” Bedillion said.
 
The Sailors involved worked together to ensure mission safety through continued, regular maintenance of helicopters and flight deck support equipment.
 
“We’re always working together as a team to make sure the ship and the aircraft are ready to go, but the timeline of ISATT is short; therefore, troubleshooting unforeseen maintenance issues can be a challenge,” said Curtin. “Our Sailors are constantly working to ensure that we are safely and effectively managing the risk in order to execute the mission.”
 
HSM-60 is a Navy Reserve Squadron assigned to the Maritime Support Wing of Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve. Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve mans, trains and equips the Naval Air Force Reserve in order to provide enduring operational support and strategic depth to Naval forces that win in combat.