Here is the skinny:
HSC-84 was commissioned out of HCS-4 in a direct transition. HCS-5 was axed mid-OIF due to a helicopter plan that was developed in 1997/1998 that the Navy refused to change after 9-11. HCS-5 was in Baghdad 6 days after it fell, SP out of Kuwait during the invasion period. Operated ISO SOF through a JSOAD/JSOAC...working with NSW, ODA, and other coalition SOF. They swapped back and forth until '05, and HCS-4 took it for the last swap. HCS-5 was decommissioned altogether. The only reason HCS-4 was able to stay alive was because a SOTF SEAL o-5 and the HCS-4 OIC met with the Vice-CNO (Chief of Naval Operations) in theater and he had the decommissioning stopped. HCS-4 renamed HSC-84 in order to keep the new Navy Helo naming convention.
Eventually, the Navy realized that they screwed up after Olsen sent a memo to the CNO in '09. That is when they brought HSC-85 onboard and the arraignment went from constant back-door deals between SOCOM and Pentagon to signed agreements between SOCOM and the Navy, although technically still outside official USSOCOM umbrella. They are guaranteed to SOCOM for deployment OCONUS and CONUS. There were a few prior HCS-4/5 guys in HSC-85, but they had (and still have probably) work to do. Since the realignment, HSC-84 has worked extensively with HSC-85 in order to bring them up to capability. They train with SOF units across SOCOM, including the SOAR. If you are part of a qualified crew, you are either training around the country or deployed 8 months out of the year at least.
Are they the SOAR? No. But it has more to do with Naval leadership than it does the personnel at the unit. There are administrative, manning, and equipment requirements that the Navy is not meeting...partly because NSW needs to yell louder. There are those within NSW that are working to bring them into full integration....but it is all about money. The unit is doing the best they can with what they have and trying to retain real-world experienced talent. Given the 'free' asset, SOCOM hasn't pushed the issue of bringing them fully under the umbrella, which would result in all the additions expected. As far as unit experience...HSC-84 was supporting 3-5 DAs a week for several years, from '05 to the end of OIF. . I don't remember the figures exactly, but they have about 1500 DAs between their HCS-4 and HSC-84 days, the best I recollect. That includes TSTs and a few VIs.
Say what you will. From when I was there as a crew chief/gunner, I can tell you that they are not a standard HSC unit, although we admit out limitations posed by the antiquated bird and manning debacle. The training instituted at the unit level is difficult and the standards demanded are high because the guys in charge know the risks because we/they have done the mission. This is so much so that we/they do destroy careers by kicking guys out of the unit who don't meet the standard. Training is always done live, with SOF troops. Most of the HSC units 'simulate' things. Gunners fire over 30,000 rounds prior to qualification, compared to 600-1200 at fleet units. Each crew member will fly many full-mission-profile training flights prior to becoming deployable as a co-pilot or gunner. It is amazing to watch guys with 2000 flight hours from other units get their head-spun during training because they can't mentally keep up with the evolving mission...as you guys know, it can get dynamic.
They still have experienced talent, although they are battling everyday to keep them s the Navy needs to fix the manning. That being said, guys stay there as long as possible and cycle back in voluntarily when they come up for orders. The COs have tried to fix these issues...but it once again all comes down to how much money the Navy is willing to throw at it and if SOCOM is willing to accept the expenditure on their end too.
As far as the SOAR goes Crewguy...I/we have never tried to take anything away from you guys. We wish we had new birds, a blank check, and an upper echelon that understood the slightest bit our mission. As it sits...combat experience and supporting SOF isn't overwhelmingly important to most of the Admirals. All they care about is Fighters..boats...and submarines. You are lucky to have a chain of command outside the unit that supports your mission instead of undermining you and your customers at every turn.
