Helicopter Training Squadron 18 (HT-18) is a United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

 helicopter training squadron based at Naval Air Station Whiting Field

Naval Air Station Whiting Field

Naval Air Station Whiting Field is a United States Navy base located near Milton, Florida, in central Santa Rosa County, and is one of the Navy's two primary pilot training bases . NAS Whiting Field also provides training for U.S. Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Air Force student pilots, as well as...

 in Milton, Florida

Milton, Florida

Milton , or Milltown, because Milton had the largest mill around) is a city in Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States. The city was incorporated in 1844 and is home to Naval Air Station Whiting Field. The population was 7,045 at the 2000 census. In 2004, the population recorded by the U.S...

. The squadron, nicknamed the "Vigilant Eagles", is responsible for giving prospective naval aviator

Naval Aviator

A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...

s their Advanced Helicopter Training

Advanced Helicopter Training

Advanced Helicopter Training is the last phase of flight school for Navy and Marine Corps helicopter pilots. Training is accomplished at NAS Whiting Field in Milton, Florida. All training is done in Bell TH-57 Sea Rangers...

. The squadron also provides rotary-wing training and designation to selected members of various allied nations, refresher and transition training to fleet aviators, and indoctrination flights for mid-shipmen, and flight surgeons. HT-18 flies the TH-57 SeaRanger.

History

Helicopter Training Squadron EIGHTEEN (HT-18) was organized as the Advanced Helicopter Training Squadron in 1972 to fulfill the increasing requirements for helicopter trained pilots in the expanding helicopter

Helicopter

A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...

 community of the Navy, Marine Corps

United States Marine Corps

The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...

, and Coast Guard

United States Coast Guard

The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...

. On October 7, 1985, HT-18 added Primary Helicopter Training to its advanced training syllabus and now provides all facets of helicopter training to Student Military Aviators.

See also

• History of the United States Navy
  History of the United States Navy
  The history of the United States Navy divides into two major periods: the "Old Navy", a small but respected force of sailing ships that was also notable for innovation in the use of ironclads during the American Civil War, and the "New Navy", the result of a modernization effort that began in the...
  
  
• Naval aviation
  Naval aviation
  Naval aviation is the application of manned military air power by navies, including ships that embark fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters. In contrast, maritime aviation is the operation of aircraft in a maritime role under the command of non-naval forces such as the former RAF Coastal Command or a...
  
  
• List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons

External links

• HT-18's official website