Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve (CNAFR) assisted the “Titans” of Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 30, Detachment (DET) 1, to became the first-ever CMV-22B “Osprey” squadron to deploy with a carrier strike group (CSG) Aug. 2., when the detachment deployed from San Diego as part of the Carl Vinson CSG.
 
This deployment marks a major milestone in the Navy’s phased replacement of the C-2A “Greyhound” with the CMV-22B “Osprey” as its Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) platform.
 
To assist in the effort, CNAFR recruited prior active-duty U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 “Osprey” pilots into the Navy Reserve, specifically to help train and mentor VRM-30’s active-duty pilots. These Reserve pilots also provided ground instruction and aviation logistics support.
 
“Our SELRES [Selected Reserve] pilots have been outstanding instructor pilots, and they’ve excelled in their ground jobs as well,” said Cmdr. Sean Tingley, VRM-30 Reserve Detachment officer-in-charge. “I don’t know where we’d be as a community without their ground instruction and just their overall augment to officer manning within the VRM community.”
 
One of these SELRES pilots, Lt. Cmdr. Dan Frary, is deployed with VRM-30 DET 1 aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).
 
“I feel very fortunate to be with VRM-30 and for the opportunity with DET 1,” said Frary. “When I was nearing the end of my active-duty tour in the Marine Corps, I knew I wanted to continue to serve.”
 
In addition to providing expertise in the form of experienced Osprey pilots, CNAFR is also assisting VRM-30’s deployment by providing support from Navy Reserve squadrons of the Fleet Logistics Support Wing (FLSW). C-40 “Clipper” aircraft assigned to the “Conquistadors” of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VR) 57 and the “Islanders” of VR-6 transported much of the detachment’s personnel and gear from San Diego to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. The “Windjammers” of VR-51 and the “Globemasters” of VR-56 also provided logistics support from Hawaii to Kadena Air Base, Japan.
 
CNAFR’s vital role in this deployment of a new naval aviation platform is an example of the critical support Reserve and Full Time Support (FTS) Sailors provide to the Navy. According to Frary, the benefits of this relationship go the other way as well, providing Reserve Sailors with new challenges and opportunities.
 
“The biggest thing for me in choosing to join the Navy Reserve was learning about VRM-30’s mission, and the opportunity to do something new with the V-22, as well as getting to know naval aviators,” Frary said.