On 30 March 2007, Special Warfare Boat Operators (SB) from Special Boat Team 20 (SBT-20) reached a milestone last week when they successfully completed the 100th and 101st insertion of the Maritime Craft Aerial Deployment System (MCADS) off the coast of North Carolina.
Serving as a true force multiplier, the MCADS capability enables Naval Special Warfare Sailors to rapidly deploy anywhere in the world in a maritime environment.
The system deploys an 1l-meter RIB rigged with four large parachutes from the back of a C-130 or C-17 at approximately 3500 feet. Approximately four Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC) immediately follow the boat out of the plane and parachute to the immediate proximity of where the boat lands. Within 20 minutes the SWCCs will have the boat unpacked and rigged to get underway to deliver an element of SOF operators to any potential target of interest, or to conduct their own mission. SBT-20 Command Master Chief Richard Evans pointed out that this capability didn't just miraculously evolve.
"This capability is a direct result of countless hours of hard work and commitment from several Sailors in the command's Air Operations department over the past decade. In particular, the Air Department Head, Chief Steve Perry, the MCADS Program Manager for SBT-20, Shane Hollar, and all the members of the Air Department, have been the backbone for the success of the program for the past several years," Evans said.
Although the MCADS capability hasn't been operationally required yet, ensuring the proficiency of the SBs and reliability of the equipment is essential for regional combatant commanders to know it's ready when needed.
A1l of the equipment and SWCCs were flawless in both MCADS drops for this exercise. Following the MCADS drops, Marines from near-by units practiced their water insertion techniques from a Marine CH-46. The SBT-20 boats immediately recovered the Marines and continued on with scheduledjoint exercises in the area.
As U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) celebrates their 20th anniversary this year, this capability is a great example of how the various service component special operations force elements continue to evolve in their interoperability.
SBT-20's Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Kent Paro, cites this as a great example of the qualities essential to Naval Special Warfare Sailors being successful. "The experience of conducting an evolution as dynamic as an MCADS drop and having the mental agility to put that behind you, refocus, link-up with sister-service operators and conduct a SOF mission is invaluable. Time and again it's the professionalism, focused dedication, and intellect that enable our NSW Sailors to succeed every day on the battlefield and while conduiting operations around the world," said Paro.
(Article and photographs compliments of LT Dave Luckett, Naval Special Warfare East Public Affairs)
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