COMING UP THIS YEAR - 25th ANNIVERSARY

Forward deployed in MCAS Iwakuni Japan, the “Providers” of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron Three Zero, Detachment Five are the long-range critical logistics support element to the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group. Detachment Five’s mission includes the transport of high-priority cargo, mail, duty passengers, and Distinguished Visitors between the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and shore bases throughout the Western Pacific and Southeast Asia theaters.

		FAR EAST COD
		NAF ATSUGI, JAPAN
STILL DELIVERING 20 Years in the WESTPAC	SAYONARA ATSUGI	IWAKUNI	25TH ANNIVERSARY VRC-30 DET 5	C-2A GREYHOUND COVID-19
1994-2014	1994 - 2017	2017	2019	2021
				USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76)

YEAR	DATE	AIRCRAFT CARRIER	C-2A BuNo (Modex/Side Number)	OPERATION	C-2A CREW
1994					LCDR James H Hubbard, LT Laslo, LT Light, LT Warren, LT Beckley, LT Mitchell, LTJG Taylor
1995	19 AUG 1995 - 18 NOV 1995	USS INDEPENDENCE (CV-62)	NF	Southern Watch	CDR Shaffer-Vanaria
1996	5 MAR 1996 - 24 MAR 1996	USS INDEPENDENCE (CV-62)	NF	CHINA / TAIWAN
1996	11 OCT 1996 - 11 APR 1997	USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)		Southern Watch
1998	23 JAN 1998 - 5 JUN 1998	USS INDEPENDENCE (CV-62)		Southern Watch	last CV-62 Tour
1999	2 MAR 1999 - 25 AUG 1999	USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)	(431)	Tandem Thrust Southern Watch	LCDR A Alford (CO), LT M Kekeisen (XO), LT J Goldberger, LT D Inman, LT S Lippincott
2000	11 APR 2000 - 5 JUN 2000	USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)		Cobra Gold 2000 TSTA I/II
2000	26 SEP 2000 - 20 NOV 2000	USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)		Foal Eagle ANNUALEX 12G
2001	2 MAR 2001 - 11 JUN 2001	USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)		TSTA III/FEP Tandem Thrust
2001	21 SEP 2001 - 23 DEC 2001	USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)		Enduring Freedom
2002	15 APR 2002 - 5 JUN 2002	USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)
2002	25 OCT 2002 - 13 DEC 2002	USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)		CVW-5 WESTPAC/GULF Keen Sword '03 ANNUALEX 14G
2003	20 JAN 2003 - 6 MAY 2003	USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)		Enduring Freedom Southern Watch Iraqi Freedom
2003	1 NOV 2003 - 12 DEC 2003	USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)		ANNUALEX 15G
2004	18 FEB 2004 - 24 MAY 2004	USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)		WEST PAC TSTA I/II Foal Eagle '04
2004	19 JUL 2004 - 7 SEP 2004	USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)	(27)	CVW-5 WEST PAC Summer Pulse 2004 TSTA III/FEP JASEX 2004	LT Jason Hammond (OIC), LT Arun Armmugaswamy, LT Christopher Brenner, LT Kirstopher Carter, LT Bobby Dempsey, LTJG Charles Daniel
2005	10 FEB 2005 - 28 MAR 2005	USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)		WEST PAC Foal Eagle 2005
2005	23 MAY 2005 - 20 AUG 2005	USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)		Talisman Sabre '05 Orange Crush JASEX '05	LCDR Mark A. Nicholoson, LT Christopher R. Brenner, LT Samuel C. Bryant, LT Kristopher A. Carter, LT Charles J. Daniel, LTJG David R. Lupo, LTJG Jeremy K. Mundy
2005	24 OCT 2005 - 12 DEC 2005	USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)	(30) / (43)	CVW-5 ANNUALEX 17G	LCDR Mark A. Nicholoson, LT Christopher R. Brenner, LT Samuel C. Bryant, LT Kristopher A. Carter, LT Charles J. Daniel, LTJG David R. Lupo, LTJG Jeremy K. Mundy
2006	8 JUN 2006 - 15 SEP 2006	USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)	162148 (NF-31) / 162159 (NF-30)	JASEX 2006  Valiant Shield 2006
2006	17 OCT 2006 - 10 DEC 2006	USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)	162148 (NF-31)	ANNUALEX 18G
2007	23 MAY 2007 - 21 SEP 2007	USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)	162148 (NF-31)	Talisman Sabre 2007 Valiant Shield 2007 Malabar 07-2
2007	21 OCT 2007 - 27 NOV 2007	USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)	162148 (NF-31) / 162152 (NF-32)	CVW-5 ANNUALEX 19G
2008	15 APR 2008 - 12 MAY 2008	USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)	162148 (NF-31)
2008	28 MAY 2008 - 2 SEP 2008	USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)	162148 (NF-31) / (26)	CVW-5 Homeport Change RIMPAC 2008	LCDR Mark A. Nicholoson, LT Caleb Rorex, LT Charles Daniel, LT Robert J. Deneau, LT Georgy G. Jenic, LT Jeremy K. Mundy, LT David R. Lupo
2008		USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73)	162169 (NF-27)
2009	10 JUN 2009 - 3 SEP 2009	USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73)		Talisman Sabre '09
2009	6 OCT 2009 - 23 NOV 2009	USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73)	162169 (NF-27)	ANNUALEX '09	LCDR Chad White (OIC), LCDR Greg Jonic, LT William Callahan, LT Cody Dowd, LT James Hawke, LT Caleb Rorex
2010	14 JUN 2010 - 1 NOV 2010	USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73)	(20)	USWEX Invincible Spirit Valiant Shield 2010	LCDR Gregory Jonic (OIC), LT James Hawke, LT Adam Heil, LT Matthew Ostrye, LT Ronnie Stahl Jr.
2011	12 JUN 2011 - 25 AUG 2011	USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73)		Talisman Sabre '11	June 10, 2009 - September 3, 2009
2011	19 SEP 2012 - 22 NOV 2011	USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73)	(22)  / (30)	ANNUALEX '11	LCDR Gregory Jonic (OIC), LCDR Adam Heil, LT William Callaham, LT Brett Cameron, LT James Hawke, LT Matthew Ostry, LT Ronnie Stahl  Jr.
2012	26 MAY 2012 - 26 JUL 2012	USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73)
2012	20 AUG 2012 - 20 NOV 2012	USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73)	(32)	Valiant Shield 2012 ANNUALEX 24G/Keen Sword	LT Matt "SPLISH" Ostrye, AWF2 Tyson Hockstaff
2013	26 JUN 2013 - 23 AUG 2013	USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73)		Talisman Sabre 2013
2013	13 SEP 2013 - 5 DEC 2013	USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73)	162175 (33) (27) (32)	Damayan ANNUALEX 25G	LCDR Kristopher Carter (OIC), LCDR William Chard, LT William Caldwell, LT Brett Camerson, LT Gordon "CHARLIE BROWN" Mohl, LT Glen Premo
2014	24 MAY 2014 - 8 AUG 2014	USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73)		Malabar 2014
2014	2 SEP 2014 - 25 NOV 2014	USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73)	(27) (35)	Valiant Shield 2014 ANNUALEX 26G/Keen Sword 2015	LCDR Kristopher Carter (OIC), LT Joseph Reardon, LCDR Christopher Leffakis, LT Glen Premo, LT Gordon "CHARLIE BROWN" Mohl, LT Marty "PEACOCK" Sheehan (32), LT William Caldwell
2015	15 OCT 2015 - 3 DEC 2015	USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76)	162173 (24) / (32) / 162175 (NF-33) (35)	ANNUALEX 27G	LCDR Steve "SPARKY" Parente (35), LT Gordon "CHARLIE BROWN" Mohl, LT Marty "PEACOCK" Sheehan (32), LT Joel "STILTZ" Chase (24), LT Joe "WOODY" Reardon, LT Steve "DEET BAG" Combs
2016	4 JUN 2016 - 26 JUL 2016	USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76)
2016	3 SEP 2016 - 21 NOV 2016	USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76)	(24) / (32)	Valiant Shield 2016 Invincible Spirit ANNUALEX 28G/Keen Sword	LCDR Steve "SPARKY" Parente, LT Gordon "CHARLIE BROWN" Mohl, LT Amanda "PUDDLES" Serfass, LT Joel "STILTZ" Chase
2017	16 MAY 2017 - 9 AUG 2017	USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76)		Talisman Sabre 2017
2017	8 DEP 2017 - 4 DEC 2017	USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76)	162175 (33)	ANNUALEX 29G	LCDR Steve "SPARKY" Parente, LCDR Andrew Dumm, LT Amanda "PUDDLES" Serfass, LT Steve Combs, LT Mitch Stephens, LT Dan Sanchez
2018	29 MAY 2018 - 24 JUL 2018	USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76)		Malabar 2018
2018	14 AUG 2018 - 5 DEC 2018	USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76)	162154 (30) 162165 (31) 162152 (32) returned	Valiant Shield 2018 ANNUALEX 30G/Keen Sword	LCDR Andrew Dumm (OIC), LT Dan Sanchez; LT Kevin "BENDER" Cordell; AWF1 Craig Dondey
2019	22 MAY 2019 - 24 AUG 2019	USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76)		Talisman Sabre 2019
2019	14 SEP 2019 - 2 NOV 2019	USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76)
2020	8 JUN 2020 - 14 NOV 2020	USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76)		Valiant Shield 2020 Keen Sword 21	LCDR Glen Premo
2021		USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76)			LCDR Glen Premo

162175 C-2A(R) VRC-30 DET 5 Password 33		162175 C-2A(R) VRC-30 DET 5 Password 33		November 22, 2017

Fleet Logistics Support Squadron Three Zero Detachment Five (VRC-30 Det 5) traces its ancestry back to Air Transport Squadron Five (VR-5), which was commissioned on 24 June 1943 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Sand Point, Seattle, Washington. This squadron flew Douglas R4D Skytrain, Douglas R5D Skymaster, Beechcraft SNB Expeditor, and Noorduyn JA-1 Norseman aircraft in regular air service from Seattle to Oakland, San Francisco, the Aleutian Islands, and Fairbanks and Point Barrow on the Alaskan mainland.

In 1950, a VR-5 detachment was established at NAS North Island in San Diego, California. VR-5 was decommissioned on 15 July 1957 and replaced by Fleet Tactical Support Squadron Twenty One (VR-21). VR-21 was headquartered at NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii, and detachments were established at North Island, NAS Alameda, California, and Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan. VR-21 operated the Navy’s first dedicated Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) aircraft, the Grumman TBM-3R Avenger, and the newer Grumman C-1A Trader, in regular COD service to Pacific Fleet aircraft carriers. VR-21 also operated Convair C-131 Samaritan aircraft, among others, in support of west coast and Pacific Fleet shore transport missions.

On 1 October 1966, VR-21’s California and Japan detachments were reorganized as Fleet Tactical Support Squadron Thirty (VR-30) in Alameda and Fleet Tactical Support Squadron Fifty (VRC-50) in Atsugi. This reorganization coincided with the fleet introduction of a new COD aircraft, Grumman’s C-2A Greyhound. The Greyhound offered VR and VRC squadrons a drastically improved logistics capability over the C-1A Trader, enabling more than 8,500 pounds of cargo or up to 26 passengers to be carried to or from the ship at faster speeds, higher altitudes, and longer ranges than its predecessors. The ceremonial introduction of the Greyhound into fleet service took place on 4 October 1966 at Alameda, when bureau number 152786 was received by VR-30.

This aircraft and two others were promptly deployed aboard USS Enterprise (CVN-65) in November 1966 and transferred to VRC-50 at their detachment site in NAS Cubi Point, Subic Bay, Philippines. Due to the relatively small number of new C-2A aircraft (only 17 were originally built), the Greyhounds were primarily dedicated to forward-deployed operations in the Western Pacific (by VRC-50) and the Mediterranean (by Fleet Tactical Support Squadron Twenty Four, or VR-24). VR-30 continued to meet Pacific Fleet shore and COD transport requirements using the Samaritan and the Trader.

The next few years were extremely busy for the “Foo Dogs” of VRC-50, who saw two homeport changes and the addition of two new airframes between 1966 and 1972. After establishing a permanent detachment at Cubi Point in 1968, the squadron moved its headquarters from Japan to North Island in 1971. After establishing another permanent detachment site in Danang, Vietnam in December of 1971, the squadron changed its homeport again, this time moving headquarters to Cubi Point in July 1972.

The Foo Dogs received the North American CT-39E Sabreliner in July 1967 and the Lockheed C-130F Hercules in June 1969, and employed both in the role of Western Pacific shore logistics and executive transport, while continuing to fly Traders and Greyhounds in performance of the COD mission. Meanwhile, the “Providers” of VR-30 continued to support west coast fleet operations and carrier deployments to the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. From 1968 to 1973, VR-30 COD detachments operated aboard various carriers in support of recovery operations for Apollo missions X, XI, XII, and XVI. Both VR-30 and VRC-50 supported aircraft carriers operating at Yankee Station during the Vietnam War, operating C-1A and C-2A aircraft from Danang and Cubi Point.

In 1971, VR-30 received the Saberliner, followed by its first McDonnell Douglas C-9B Skytrain II aircraft in May 1973, thereby greatly increasing the shore transport capabilities of the Providers. In 1976 VRC-50 was redesignated as Fleet Logistics Support Squadron Five Zero. On 1 October 1978, shortly after relocating from Alameda to its present-day home at NAS North Island, VR-30 was redesignated Fleet Logistics Support Squadron Three Zero (VRC-30).

In 1980, VRC-30 received its first UC-12 Huron and was designated the Fleet Replacement Squadron for the Navy’s UC-12 community. Another aircraft variant was welcomed into VRC-50 in the early 1980s, the Lockheed US-3B Viking, which was operated as a Foo Dog COD aircraft for more than a decade. VRC-30 welcomed the newly reprocured C-2A in 1985, and finally retired the venerable C-1A the following year, after 28 years of service. The Providers flew their last two Traders, bureau numbers 136786 and 146024, to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, and inducted them into the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center for permanent preservation on 5 June 1986.

In 1992, following the eruption of Mount Pinatubo just north of Cubi Point and as part of the general withdrawal of United States Armed Forces from the Philippines, VRC-50 relocated to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. In the summer of 1994, VRC-50’s aircraft began to be transferred to other units in preparation for the disestablishment of the squadron. VRC-30 absorbed many former Foo Dog personnel and aircraft, and used three Greyhounds and approximately forty personnel to man and equip a brand new permanent detachment at Atsugi, Japan.

Fleet Logistics Support Squadron Three Zero Detachment Five was officially established on 7 August 1994 under the charge of CDR Linda C. Shaffer-Vanaria; the detachment was placed under the operational control of Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) in support of the Independence Carrier Battle Group. Between 18 August and 18 September 1994, Detachment Five received C-2A aircraft bureau numbers 162141, 162147, and 162150 from VRC-50.

On 30 September 1994, VRC-50 was decommissioned at Guam. On 1 December 1994, LCDR James A. Hubbard relieved CDR Shaffer-Vanaria during a “change of charge” ceremony at Atsugi and became the first permanently assigned Detachment FIVE Officer in Charge. In 1998, USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) replaced USS Independence (CV-62) as the flagship of Task Force Seventy (CTF-70). VRC-30 Det 5 continued to support CTF-70 with COD service to USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), including October 2001 deployment to the Northern Arabian Sea in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and January 2003 deployment to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In the summer of 2008, Detachment Five “cross-decked” with the rest of CVW-5 onto the new flagship of CTF-70, USS George Washington (CVN-73).

Today VRC-30 Detachment Five remains the world’s only permanently forward-deployed COD detachment. With their parent squadron headquartered in San Diego, the Providers of Detachment Five operate from their home station in Atsugi, Japan, whence they regularly deploy their two C-2A Greyhounds to shore bases throughout the Western Pacific, South Asian, Indian Ocean, and Middle Eastern theaters, providing incomparably reliable transport of high-priority cargo, U.S. Mail, duty passengers, and distinguished visitors to and from USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) in support of the entirety of Battle Force Seventh Fleet.

VRC-30 DET 5 during operation IRAQI FREEDOM 2003. 

HUSTLERS	HUSTLER	HUSTLERS	DET ONE	HUSTLERS
HUSTLERS	HUSTLERS		HUSTLERS 2020	HUSTLERS 2020
PASSWORD 20 TAIL
HUSTLERS 2020

In 2015, VRC-30 Detachment ONE successfully completed an unparalleled nine and a half month deployment that provided the USS CARL VINSON (CVN-70)/CVW-17/CSG-1 team with combat logistics support throughout the FIFTH and SEVENTH Fleets Area of Responsibilities and supported FS CHARLES DE GAULLE (R91) for three months of joint carrier operations across the North Arabian Gulf. Missions were planned and executed into and out of Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, UAE, Sri Lanka, India, the Maldives, Malaysia, Brunei, Australia, and Guam. Throughout 2015, Detachment ONE successfully moved 5,581 passengers, 754 DVs, 116,100 pounds of mail, and 858,030 pounds of cargo, while executing 22 life-saving medical evacuations. The "Hustlers" of Detachment ONE were awarded the 2015 CVW-17 Golden Wrench Award for Maintenance Excellence for achieving a 96 percent sortie completion rate while operating at a high operational tempo. In theater, Detachment ONE received well above average marks during their mid-cruise Material Condition Inspection (MCI) to include several accolades for maintenance personnel. Over the course of the deployment, the detachment executed an unprecedented swap of six pilots without interrupting or impeding operations. Detachment ONE closed the deployment with yet another successful MCI where each aircraft had a 50 percent reduction in maintenance discrepancies from the previous inspection, demonstrating Detachment ONE's commitment to maintaining professionalism. While returning to San Diego, Detachment ONE personnel operated forward logistics sites out of Royal Australian Air Force Base Pearce, Perth, Western Australia, and Hickam Air Force Base, Honolulu, Hawaii. (Source: COMACCLOGWING VRC-30 WebSite)

I LIKE THE HUSTLERS...

The "Hustlers" of Detachment ONE were awarded the 2015 CVW-17 Golden Wrench Award for Maintenance Excellence for achieving a 96 percent sortie completion rate while operating at a high operational tempo.

AWF 2nd Class Muirhead lubricates the tailhook of a Grumman C-2A Greyhound, assigned to the Hustlers of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron VRC-30 DET 1, in the hangar bay of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). (U.S. Navy photo ID4338093 by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Michael Colemanberry)

VRC-30 DET 3	VRC-30 DET 3	VRC-30 DET 3	VRC-30 DET 3	VRC-30 DET 3
			DAY/NIGHT TRASH HAULER USS CONSTELLATION (CV-64)	July 2009 - January 2010 the MIKE WHISKEY World Tour
VRC-30 DET 3	VRC-30 DET 3			VRC-30 DEPLOYMENTS
2020	2021 (CVN-71)

 

Detachment THREE relentlessly excelled throughout their COMPTUEX, SUSTEX, and WESTPAC/OEF/MED deployment with Carrier Air Wing ELEVEN onboard USS NIMITZ (CVN 68) from APR-DEC 2013. The detachment served through two deployment extensions and flew over 1,023 hours. They safely transported an impressive 1,591 Distinguished Visitors, 4,425 passengers, 831,268 pounds of cargo, 75,405 pounds of mail, and 19 MEDEVACS. While deployed, Detachment THREE spent five months in the Fifth Fleet AOR in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and conducted Red Sea Operations. Detachment THREE operated from forwarding Logistics Sites in Hawaii, Japan, Singapore, Bahrain, and Italy and provided support from South Korea, Qatar, Oman, United Arab Emirates, and Greece. 

Grumman C-2A(R) Greyhound BuNo 162147 with the USS CARL VINSON. Boerries Burkhardt Collection.

Grumman C-2A(R) Greyhound BuNo 162173 of the VRC-30 DET 3 at NAS North Island on a rainy day. Boerries Burkhardt photo March 2020

VRC-30 DET 2	ROUGNECKS DET 2	South America Deployment 2015

Grumman C-2A(R) Greyhound BuNo 162163 of the VRC-30 DET 2, which was assigned to the USS CONSTELLATION (CV-64) during its deployment in 2001.

Grumman C-2A(R) Greyhound BuNo 162162 from the VRC-30 DET 2 during landing on NAS North Island in November 2002. Boerries Burkhardt Collection.

Grumman C-2A(R) Greyhound BuNo 162176 with the VRC-30 DET 2 on the final cruise of the USS CONSTELLATION (CV-64) 2002 to 2003

		LCDR Jeffrey M. "CREATURE" Alves (OIC), LT Stacey E. Justesen (AOIC), LT Dedan Langston, LT Mitchel "MOOSE" Johnston, LT Lauren Lanier, LT Leo Asman, LTJG Thurman Antinora
		LT Ricco Harris, AM1(AW) David Sequira, AE1(AW) Dave Clark, AE1 Kathis Carmack, AD1(AW) Reynaldo Camarillo, AO1(AW/NAC) Edward Tamburro, AD1 John Summers, AM1 Pedro Law, AW1(AW) Phillip Stevens Jr., AK2 Frolian Revilla, AM2(AW/PJ) Bryant Johnson, AME2 Rory Driskell, PR2 Thiwa Thipkhosihkun, AE2 Edward Resse, AME2 Kevin Knaus, AM3 Chris Johnston, AM3 Johnatan Miller, Az3 Shanisha Dillard, AT3 Garrett Eachus, AE3 Shwan Dickens, AD1 Phili Le, AM3 Brock Feeheley, AT3 Ronnie Rose, AD3 Michael Wilson, AM3 Daniel Veshinski, ADAN Paul Spriggs, AKAN Danilo Landas, AMAN Akinyemi Laleye, AN Arnold Martinez, ADAN Samanta Brogger, AMAN Frank Sosa, AMAN Thomas Vandeklundert, ADAN Ivan Paulino, AN Christoper Robinson

VRC-30 DET with USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72) 

LCDR Christopher "BONK" Brenner (OIC), LT Bryan Delong, LT Andrew Hrynkiw, LT Matthew Kohlmann, LT Karl Popejoy, LT Mark Tomlinson