Unit Name: | Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron Seven One |
Dates: | 4 October 2007 - present |
Role: | Anti-Surface Warfare (ASUW) Under-Sea Warfare (USW) Search & Rescue (SAR) |
Command Structure: | Carrier Air Wing 9 |
Garrison: | Naval Air Station North Island |
Nickname: | "Raptors" |
Motto: | "The First and the Finest" |
Current Commander: | CDR Joshua Starr |
Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron Seven One (HSM-71) is a United States Navy helicopter squadron based at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, California. Nicknamed the "Raptors", they are attached to Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) and deploy with the strike group centred on the aircraft carrier . The squadron was formed on 4 October 2007 and was the first fleet squadron to receive the MH-60R Seahawk.It received its first Battle "E" in 2009, and was also awarded the Captain Arnold Jay Isbell Trophy for superior air antisubmarine warfare (ASW) in 2009 and again in 2010.