JOIN the FireWolf Association, Est. 2022

“We are all FireWolves.”

The FireWolf organization was informally “stood up” when HSC-84, the Red Wolves, were disestablished in March of 2016; it’s primary purpose to try and preserve the sole remaining HCS squadron (HSC-85).  And now, it looks as if “85” is to also likely to be disestablished in the summer of 2023.  From this point on, the primary mission of the FireWolf Association will be to support what members remain of the U.S. Navy Special Operations and CSAR Aviation Communities.  The new FireWolf mission is to:

1.     Focus on providing a network by which all Navy specwar/CSAR aviation personnel and their families can maintain a connection to all of those who have served in this capacity, both past and present.

2.     Keeping the story and memory of Navy specwar/CSAR aviation alive while serving as both digital repository and clearinghouse for historical information about this mission and the people who dutifully contributed to its execution in support of U.S. special operations/CSAR tasking.

To fulfill this mission, the FireWolf Association has 4 immediate goals.

1.     Provide a website and Facebook page where members can connect and our shared history can be celebrated.

2.     Raise monies to promote the inclusion of HCS/HSC aircraft 202/302 (BuNo 163787) in the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, FL. and work with the museum to create a small, but significant specops aviation display for the Seawolf UH-1, Black Pony OV-10, and HCS/HSC HH-60.

3.     Support a Navy specops air/CSAR celebration at 202/302’s induction (when it occurs) within the next 2 – 4 years by using FireWolf funds to host celebratory events and gatherings at this ceremony.

4.     Support with funds from the organization all Navy specops/CSAR aviation gatherings and reunions to the extent that funds are available in some small way.

Now – we are making the call for the first FireWolves to become plankowners by officially joining the FireWolf Association.  100% of all membership fees will go to supporting the aforementioned 4 immediate goals, and no monies will be used to remunerate any of the managing members in any way.  All managing members must also pay to join the FireWolf Association the same as any other member.  The only funds that will be allocated to labor are those that support our media chief at a monthly stipend of $125.

Membership in the FireWolf organization is open to all former Navy Specops/CSAR squadron members and their families, all NSW personnel, and those few invited candidates who have demonstrated clear and overt support to the FireWolf Association for the purpose of fulfilling its mission.

 Annual memberships into the FireWolf Association are available at a cost of $50 (unless you can’t afford it) and a 3-year membership can be purchased for $85.  Additionally, a plankowner’s coin will be included with each membership (limit 1 coin per member).

The FireWolf is the emblem of the FireWolf Association. 

·       It looks to the west because, at the time of its creation, the sole remaining Navy Special Operations Air/(dedicated) CSAR Support squadron was based in California.

·       The FireWolf has the body of a Red Wolf (HAL-4/HCS-4/HSC-84) and the Wings of a Firehawk (HCS-5/HSC-85).

·       The FireWolf is in front of a dark gray background to reflect the ethos that we do not seek recognition for our actions.

·       The shield of the FireWolf has the colors and pattern of the Vietnam Service Medal to honor the birthplace of NavSOF Special Ops Aviation and the squadrons whose missions were executed in country.

·       The ribbons that fly from the trident honor the CSAR/NavSpecOps squadron missions to the Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom combat actions.

·       The FireWolf carries a trident to recognize the reason for our creation; the support of Naval Special Warfare.

·       The FireWolf shield displays the Ace of Spades to reflect our membership in the special operations community.

An Open Invitation to Become a Firewolf and Keep Naval Special Warfare Aviation Alive

HAL, VAL, HCS, and HSC-84/85 sailors,

Greetings. My name is Sean Butcher, and on behalf of the members of the Firewolf Association I would like to personally invite you to become part of this organization whose sole purpose is to:

1) Keep alive the kernel of Navy special ops aviation that remains in the Firehawks of HSC-85,

2) Serve as the central clearinghouse for information on current and past sailors from the HAL, VAL, HCS, and 84/85 squadrons

3) Organize and sustain the NavSOFAir network and help to support reunions among this small but august group.

In the coming weeks, we will be providing more information in regard to joining the Firewolf Association (https://www.firewolf-association.org). For now, I would like you to join our Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit communities at the below addresses. At these sites, you can find out more about current goings-on in the community, our efforts to save HSC-85, updates to the induction of Aircraft 202 into the National Naval Aviation Museum (https://www.navalaviationmuseum.org), the associated reunion, and other happenings within the community.
Here are the names of the social media groups that have been built to serve Firewolves.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/firewolfassociation
Twitter: www.twitter.com/onefirewolf
Reddit: www.reddit.com/user/onefirewolf

Whether you are a Seawolf, a Black Pony, a Redwolf, or a Firehawk - we are all Firewolves as well, and as such, you are entitled to this invitation. Again, congratulations on being a shipmate from these squadrons. I look forward to hearing from you.

Very Respectfully,

Sean Butcher
Redwolf, 1999-2010

EXORD to save HSC-85 and Navy Reserve Aviation

Warriors and friends, 

We have begun in earnest the 2022 campaign season on Capitol Hill regarding saving HSC-85 and stemming the painful cuts to Navy reserve aviation.  It’s time to ask for your help again. 

What we are asking from you: 

1. Please engage with key congressman on the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), especially those on the Intelligence & Special Operations sub-committee.  

The spreadsheet provided also identifies members on the Seapower & Projection sub-committee as well. Seapower is responsible for Navy programs. 

Secondary is to also reach out to Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and its Emerging Threats & Capabilities (ETC) sub-committee as well. ETC is responsible for Special Operations programs. 

2. It would not hurt to send a letter to your local congressman and senators as well.  The first attachment is a template of an electronic letter you can complete and modify as you wish and send via any congressman’s website on house.gov or Senator from senate.gov.  

Most members of congress have a contact me tab on their website and might ask you for zip code/ address to determine if you are a constituent.  When engaging with the DC office, just let them know that you are reaching out to congressman/ congresswoman due to his/her position on the HASC or HASC Intelligence & Special Operations sub-committee.  Questions regarding their contact tab should be addressed to the Washington office. 

3. Electronic letters are better; the congressional offices track each one they receive so they know quickly what issues are trending and need to be brought to the attention of the congressman. Sending a hard copy is good too, but please focus first on an electronic copy.  

4. The second attachment is a spreadsheet of all members of the following: 

- HASC (this list also identifies members of the Intelligence & Special Operations and Sea Power & Projection sub-committees) 

- SASC (this list also identifies members of the ETC and Sea power sub-committees) 

- SOF caucus (members of the house that support SOF)  

For your SA, the folks we are concentrating on are: 

Members of HASC Intelligence & Special Operations sub-committee: 

Trent Kelly (MS-1st)                                         Don Bacon (NE-2nd) 

Liz Cheney (WY)                                              Mike Waltz (FL-6th) 

Scott Franklin (FL-15th)                                  Austin Scott (GA-8th) 

Jim Cooper (TN-5th)                                       Ruben Gallego (AZ-7th) 

Bill Keating (MA-9th)                                      Filemon Vela (TX-34th) 

Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11th)                                   Jimmy Panetta (CA-20th) 

Stephanie Murphy (FL-7th) 

Other HASC members: 

Elaine Luria (VA-2nd) - On Seapower & Projection sub-committee (former Surface Warfare Officer) 

Congressman Robert Wittman (VA-1st) – On Seapower sub-committee 

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21st)  

In addition, the following members have been identified as a focus group as well: 

Dan Crenshaw (TX-2nd)- Former SEAL 

Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52nd)- concerned about HSC-85 

Congressman Juan Vargas (CA-51st)- district is in San Diego area 

Congresswoman Sarah Jacobs (CA-53rd)- district is in San Diego area 

We are also reaching out to Senators Mark Kelly (AZ), (former Navy pilot and astronaut) and Joni Ernst (IA), Chairman and ranking member respectively of SASC ETC sub-committee. 

HSC-85 

Today, the Firehawks of HSC-85 are recuperating from the Navy's attempt to decommission the squadron, against the request from Combatant Commanders to retain the unit. During that mismanaged process, the Navy began dispersing squadron personnel and assets. Now, with a renewed motivation that is predicated by oversight from Congress, HSC-85 is rebuilding to operational capability. 

Recent History

HSC-85 was re-tasked to a dedicated SOF support role in 2011. The re-tasking was in response to a 2009 memo from the Commander, USSOCOM, requesting a second dedicated SOF support squadron - one complimentary to HSC-84. 

After two years of training in the SOF mission, HSC-85 was deployed in direct-support to Special Operations Command Pacific (SOCPAC) and constituted 100% of SOCPAC dedicated rotary wing capacity to the Theater Special Operations Command (TSOC). Prior to receiving orders to decommission by 2016, HSC-85 was the sole dedicated lift for SOCPAC crisis response. In fall 2015, HSC-85 returned to the US in order to begin the process of shutting down, a process that was eventually halted after the passage of the FY-16 DoD budget that ordered the Navy to retain the squadron. 

Before being pulled back from decommissioning, a budgetary decision driven by the Budget Control Act (sequester), the squadron's capability was largely dismantled in preparation for shutdown. The squadron is now being re-staffed with previously qualified personnel and is scheduled to be operationally capable in October 2016. 

HSC-84 

Though the squadron received considerable support from the House Armed Services Committee, HSC-84 was decommissioned in March of 2016. There is no replacement squadron. Some personnel were transferred to HSC-85 begin the rehabilitation of the squadron. 

Recent history 

HSC-84 was most recently deployed to Central Command (CENTCOM) Area of Operations & integrated into the Theater Special Operations Command Crisis Response Element. The squadrons served as the primary Special Operations Forces crisis response helicopter lift in CENTCOM for Direct Action, Maritime Interdiction, Helicopter Visit Board Search and Seizure (HVBSS), Gas-Oil Platform assault, Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), Special Reconnaissance, Hostage Rescue and non-combat evacuations. 

During HSC-84’s over 12 years and a half years of continuous deployment, the squadron earned three Distinguished Flying Crosses, 15 Bronze Stars, over 120 Single Action Air Medals with Valor as well as more than 1,000 Strike/Flight Air Medals.

Since the drawdown of Operations Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and New Dawn (OND), the squadron has supported numerous operations and also provided crisis response force tactical lift capability for the President’s 2013 Middle East tour. 

Community History 

The first iteration of Navy dedicated helicopter SOF support came during Vietnam when the Seawolves of Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron Three – HA(L)-3 – was established to support Riverine and SEAL forces. The unit gained legendary status for their heroism under fire while providing insertion/extraction and Close Air Support across the Mekong Delta and even into Cambodia. The Navy disestablished this capability at the close of the conflict.

Realizing the need for this specialized capability, the Navy re-established it with the creation of the HA(L)-4 Redwolves and HA(L)-5 Bluehawks in 1976 and 1977, respectively. 

In 1989 the squadrons received the HH-60H Seahawk helicopter and were renamed Helicopter Combat Support Special Squadrons Four and Five (HCS-4 & HCS-5 / Redwolves & Firehawks). Their crews forward deployed for Operation Desert Storm in ’91 and Uphold/Restore Democracy in ’94.

After the 9-11 attacks, the squadrons were poised to respond again. HCS-4 deployed to support OEF Special Operations contingencies and HCS-5 deployed to Kuwait for Phase 1 of OIF. After the squadrons swapped OIF responsibilities several times, HCS-5 was disestablished in 2006. HCS-4  was renamed HSC-84 and continued in their dedicated SOF support role in OIF through the end of OND in 2011. In total, the community contributed to over 3,000 SOF support missions, including approximately 1,600 Direct Action assaults in pursuit of High Value Targets, Former Regime Elements and a the vast array of insurgent groups including AQI/ISI, known today as ISIL.

In 2009, Commander SOCOM authored a memo commending this small community on their achievements and requested this capability be institutionalized. The Navy responded, signing an agreement to formalize support & re-tasked HSC-85 as a second dedicated SOF support squadron. After nearly two years of training, HSC-85 reached deployable status. 

Due to sequester, HSC-84 was decommissioned in March 2016. With support from the House Armed Services Committee, HSC-85 was retained, but only after the Navy had severely diminished the unit's personnel and equipment in preparation for a pending decommissioning that was eventually halted by the NDAA.