DATE: June 27, 2005 8:45:42 AM PDT
(June 27, 2005) Armed and Ready: Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron
Armed and Ready: Helictoper Interdiction Tactical Squadron
Story and photos by Petty Officer 3rd Class Brian Leshak
Pacific Area Public Affairs
It's 2 a.m. in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Most of the crewmembers aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Mellon are asleep under the dim red lights glowing in their berthing area. Suddenly an ear piercing alarm sounds, waking the entire crew. Everyone scrambles to get dressed and prepares to man his or her station. The ship's 1MC system blares, "set flight quarters condition one," informing the crew that the cutter's information center received intelligence or has spotted a potential drug smuggling vessel.
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Once briefed, the HITRON crew makes their way to the flight deck where an MH-68 Stingray helicopter sits. The cutter's helicopter tie-down crew is also standing by, ready to unleash the helicopter when ready for take off.
The HITRON crew takes off in the helicopter, in search of the drug smuggling vessel that has the whole crew awake so early in the morning. The cutter's crew is on standby ready to re-man their station on a moments notice waiting for the HITRONs crew's return.
The HITRON crew scours the ocean in search of the drug smuggling vessel. After searching more than two hours the HITRON turns around and heads back to the cutter. The crew maneuvers the helo at an angle, hovering above the flight deck with their night vision goggles on. They get clearance from the cutter to land, and they bring the helo down, landing it flawlessly on the deck.
It was a drill. The crew is complimented on their good work and counseled on procedures they could improve. Then it's back to their rack for a few more hours of sleep.
The Coast Guard created the HITRON mission in 1998 in an effort to stop the high drug trafficking to the United States via sea. There are eight HITRON teams based in Jacksonville, Fla., and deploy to any Coast Guard cutter that can hold a helicopter.
Lt. Josue Maldonado, the mission commander of a Stingray, deploys to many different cutters in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea in support of Operation New Frontier (OPNF). OPNF is a tactic organized in 1998 to counter the "go-fast" drug smugglers.
The HITRON mission is a 24-hour operation that requires a lot of night flying. Maldonado was a pilot with the Army prior to joining the Coast Guard. He said the Coast Guard was interested in him because of his night flying experience.
"I pretty much had all the skills I needed from flying Blackhawks in the Army for 11 years," said Maldonado. " I just needed some service unique training."
Qualified helicopter pilots receive special tactical training and then attend a three-week direct commissioned officer course at the Coast Guard Academy. After that, they must complete 40 hours of supervised flight time in the Stingray to become "first pilot qualified."
HITRON pilots experience high levels of physical and mental stress while flying. Maldonado said no matter how prepared he is for the impact of the .50 calibers he always flinches when it fires.
"It's very difficult at night time with the guns firing," Maldonado said. "I have to keep my right eye on the gauges in the helicopter and my left eye on the target, all while keeping the helo steady with the percussions of the guns and the smoke from the blasts."
After the crew completes the mission, they must return to the Coast Guard cutter they originally departed from for another difficult task: landing on a 50-foot by 50-foot pitching and rolling flight deck.
"Landing on the flight deck at night with our night vision goggles is the most difficult thing I do as a pilot," said Maldonado.
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| Petty Officer Rick Stuteville cleans his .50 caliper precison shot rifle hours prior to getting underway with the HH-68 Helicopter Interdiction Tatical Squadron. |
Petty Officer 1st Class Rick Stuteville is a gunner's mate with the HITRON deployed with the Mellon. He has been a part of the HITRON team since 2000.
"I love going out on drug interdiction operations," Stuteville said. "My adrenaline runs through the roof when we're chasing a go-fast vessel, but when it's time to shoot I calm down and relax."
Stuteville said their primary mission is counter-narcotics but they also provide security for national high-risk events, such as the G-8 Summit, and Democratic and Republican national conventions.
"When the orange flag goes up we get deployed all over the place," said Stuteville. "We've been everywhere from Florida to Alaska to the South Pacific, back to New York."
Since 2002, the HITRON class of helicopters has been a part of more than 100 drug seizures. As of January 1, 2005 HITRONs have already interdicted more than 32.2 tons of cocaine valued at more than $2.2 billion.
Maldonado said they know the battle of interdicting drugs is an uphill battle, but he feels they're making a difference.
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