“This joint training enhances interoperability amongst the Services and increases our capacity to project combat power from sea,” said Cmdr. Weideman, air officer, USS America. “By working together, we improve our collective readiness and ability to respond to any contingency.”
Over two days, pilots and crew from both services flew CH-47F Chinook, AH-64 Apache, and MV-22B Osprey aircraft, carrying out more than 200 deck landings. The operations advanced overwater proficiency and provided deck landing qualifications essential for maritime missions.
“This training is extremely valuable for the 25th Infantry Division and the 25th CAB,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael James, senior standardisation instructor pilot for 3-25 AVN Regiment. “It allows us to be proficient in deck landing operations which increases our lethality and operability with our Navy and Marine partners. Overall, it increases the U.S. Military’s combat power!”
The exercise involved MV-22B Ospreys from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268, as well as CH-47F Chinook helicopters from the 3rd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, and AH-64 Apaches from the 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment of the 25th CAB. This participation underlined the services’ shared commitment to joint operational capabilities.
“My training goal for the 25th CAB was to increase our proficiency and build more competent air crews in an overwater environment,” said James. “Our crews need to be able to operate from ship to shore. During this training, we were able to learn more about LHA operations, their flight deck patterns and the ship’s capabilities.”
The 25th CAB conducts Deck Landing Operations several times each year depending on Navy availability to sustain its operational readiness. Maintaining shipboard proficiency ensures the brigade remains prepared to fight across a wide range of conditions.
USS America is deployed in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations, part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Indo-Pacific and provides training to support the Navy’s full range of missions while working with allies and partners to uphold security and freedom of navigation in the region.
