HSL-48 Det. 10 Returns Home Mid-Deployment

The HSL-48 Det. 10 "Circus Freaks" spent 72 days at sea aboard the guided-missile frigate USS Hawes (FFG 53) on a counter-illicit trafficking deployment, before the ship returned to Mayport for a Continuous Maintenance Availability (CMAV) period.

Since embarking Hawes at the beginning of April 2009, Det. 10 has flown 188 hours, 115 of which were in support of operational tasking. They have also logged 14.9 logistical hours ferrying both parts and passengers to and from the ship.

Det. 10's maintenance personnel have played a major role in accomplishing the deployment mission so far.

"I am very proud of our maintenance team," said Lt. Kevin "Shak" Shikuma, Det. 10's Maintenance Officer. "Their hard work and quality of maintenance has consistently provided a fully mission capable aircraft that is available for tasking 24 hours-a-day and has resulted in a successful deployment thus far."

In support of its primary mission, counter-illicit trafficking, Hawes also embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 407. Led by Lt. j. g. Noel Johnson, LEDET 407 has been working jointly with the aircrew members of Det. 10.

"I've never seen a more professional, well-trained, and motivated group of guys," said Det. 10's Officer-in-Charge, Lt. Cmdr. Flint Brady, in reference to LEDET 407. "Whether on-duty or off, our two teams complimented each other like peanut butter and jelly."

During the first two weeks of their deployment, Hawes and Det. 10 provided maritime security for the 5th Summit of the Americas held in Trinidad & Tobago, a conference which had President Obama in attendance. The "Circus Freaks" flew several missions in support of the 5th Summit of the Americas, ranging from Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO) to logistics flights.

During the two-plus months of deployment, Hawes made two port visits; to Curacao, Netherland Antilles, and the second in Cartagena, Columbia. These port visits provided a brief respite from shipboard life for all personnel aboard Hawes.

While in Curacao, members of Det. 10 volunteered several hours of their liberty to support a Community Relations project which helped provide basic services to the island's inhabitants. In a combined effort, members from Hawes, LEDET 407, and Det. 10 helped complete landscaping work for residents of the Bergen di Rosario Retirement Home. The volunteers also delivered much needed medical and hygiene supplies, provided by Project Handclasp.

The remainder of the time in Curacao was spent enjoying the local beaches, shopping, and SCUBA diving.

The first half of their six-month deployment has elapsed, consisting of a balanced mix of operational tasking and relaxing port calls. However, the brief stop in Mayport is a welcome change from deployment life for the members of Det. 10.

While in Mayport, Det. 10 will be fully involved in scheduled phase maintenance on Venom 511. Being able to see family and friends while in Mayport will be a great bonus, but the detachment will be hard at work to keep Venom 511 flying safely. With half of the deployment complete, the "Circus Freaks" are looking forward to a smooth second half. Hawes, homeported in Norfolk, Va., is under the operational control of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, U.S. 4th Fleet and tactical control of Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-S) during the deployment to Latin America.