Marine Corps Base Hawaii

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII -- Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light 37 successfully surpassed 100,000 SH-60B flight hours Monday, March 26, 2013; a remarkable milestone for the Navy’s only helicopter squadron based in Hawaii. Through tremendous discipline and dedication to safety, HSL-37 arrived at this significant milestone after 21 years flying the SH-60B helicopter.

Established July 3, 1975, HSL-37 is the Navy’s oldest operational Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System squadron. Known as the “Easyriders”, the personnel of HSL-37 have been supporting the Sikorsky SH-60B “Seahawk” since Feb. 6, 1992, when the squadron transitioned from the SH-2F Seasprite helicopter. Since establishment, the HSL-37 “Easyriders” have safely deployed more than 100 LAMPS detachments in support of their mission; to provide combat-ready detachments for deployment on board U.S. Pacific Fleet air-capable ships.

The benchmark flight was flown by the squadron’s previous commanding officer, Cmdr. Scott Thoroman, who relinquished his command April 18 to Cmdr. Daniel Nowicki. Thoroman made the flight accompanied by Lt. j.g. Shane Brenner as the co-pilot and Petty Officer 3rd Class John O’Hara as their naval aircrewman. Thoroman said he holds the highest regards for his sailors, noting that HSL-37’s execution of over 100,000 flight hours in the SH-60B Seahawk helicopter is a noteworthy milestone and one in which all of the squadron mates, past and present, should feel proud.

“Every sailor assigned to HSL-37 since February 1992 has had a part in this achievement,” Thoroman said. “Since that first
flight, thousands of sailors have called themselves  ‘Easyriders’ and provided the support, maintenance excellence, and tactical operation of the Navy’s premier maritime strike helicopter in the support of numerous deployments across the globe in support of national tasking.”