HM - 14 Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 14 ( HM - 14 ) is a United States Navy helicopter squadron based at Naval Station Norfolk , Virginia . Nicknamed the " Vanguard " and flying the MH - 53E Sea Dragon , it comprises both active duty and reserve personnel . It is the sister squadron to HM - 15 , the " Blackhawks " , based at Naval Station Norfolk . History . HM - 14 was established at Naval Air Station , Norfolk , on 12 May 1978 as the world ' s first fully self - contained Airborne Mine Countermeasures ( AMCM ) squadron . The squadron was outfitted with eight RH - 53D aircraft from HM - 12 and with Vietnam War legacy minewsweeping equipment from AMCM Unit Alpha , including five Mk - 105 sleds . 1980s . In April 1981 , the squadron deployed to Europe for 5½ months as the AMCM element of the first integrated MCM Task Group , along with surface and underwater MCM units . They participated in multi - national exercises and demonstrations in several countries to show the capabilities of an AMCM squadron . In June 1984 , HM - 14 took delivery of the AN / AQS - 14 Mine Hunting Sonar and established the Fleet ’ s first operational airborne mine hunting capability . This new asset was put to use in the Red Sea during Operation Intense Look while the squadron conducted split - site operations , with the main body of the squadron deploying on USS Shreveport ( LPD - 12 ) and Detachment One operating out of Jeddah , Saudi Arabia . The squadron received its first MH - 53 Sea Dragon E - model helicopter on 9 April 1989 . A variant of the CH - 53E , this model was the first aircraft designed specifically for AMCM . The MH - 53E includes Precision Navigation System for minefield navigation , a dedicated hydraulic system for MCM operations , and a greater fuel capacity for extended on - station time while conducting sweeps . 1990s . In October 1990 , HM - 14 Detachment One forward deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield , becoming the first U . S . Navy squadron to do so . With six aircraft , 300 personnel , and all associated support equipment , this was the largest detachment in community history . The squadron set up a forward operating presence in Abu Dhabi , UAE , at the Sheikh Zayed MCM Base Abu Dhabi ( SZMBAD ) from which they provided AMCM coverage of the entire Gulf in coordination with the surface MCM Fleet under COMUSMCMGRU . In January 1992 , six containers of arsenic were swept overboard from a freighter during a severe storm off the coast of New Jersey . HM - 14 self - lifted to New Jersey to support the U . S . Coast Guard in searching for the containers during Operation Toxic Look . HM - 14 swept over 305 linear miles using the AQS - 14 sonar system before finding all six containers and preventing an ecological disaster . The detachment was awarded the Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Award for this action . In 1995 , HM - 14 integrated with USNR sister squadron HM - 18 . Following fellow squadrons HM - 15 and HM - 19 as the first squadrons to integrate active and reserve elements into a single squadron , over 200 personnel from HM - 18 boosted the manning of HM - 14 to almost 700 , making it one of the largest operational squadrons in the U . S . Navy . Regular Navy , Temporary Active Reserve ( now FTS ) , and Selected Reserve pilots , aircrew , maintenance and administrative personnel deploy and work side by side with no distinction made between them . In 1999 , HM - 14 established the first permanent AMCM detachment in Manama , Bahrain . They maintained this detachment until 2003 , when it was turned over to sister squadron HM - 15 . During this time , HM - 14 Det One participated in numerous exercises , logistics and AMCM support of Operation Iraqi Freedom , and routine AMCM training . 2000s . In 2001 , HM - 14 took over the flight training of Fleet Replacement Pilots and Aircrew from HMT - 302 . While the Airborne Mine Countermeasures Weapon Systems Training School ( AWSTS ) in Norfolk conducts all ground training of student pilots and aircrew , HM - 14 maintains the aircraft that are used for their training . From 2005 to 2007 , HM - 14 participated in numerous operations worldwide , including Operation New Horizon in Haiti , Joint Task Force Katrina in Louisiana , Joint Task Force Lebanon , and two presidential visits to Mexico and Uruguay . They used the unparalleled capabilities of the MH - 53E helicopters to provide heavy lift logistical support for cargo and personnel movement . In 2007 and 2008 , HM - 14 participated in the humanitarian missions Pacific Partnership and Continuing Promise aboard and respectively . These extended operations went to multiple countries in the Eastern Pacific and Western Pacific areas , providing medical services and Seabee support to impoverished areas . In September 2007 , HM - 14 established the community ' s second permanent detachment , this time in Iwakuni , Japan . This detachment provided Seventh Fleet with a forward - deployed AMCM and heavy - lift asset to parallel HM - 15 Det Two in Manama , Bahrain . The location in Iwakuni also allowed for sharing of assets and training with the Japan Maritime Self - Defense Force squadron HM - 111 , the only dedicated AMCM squadron outside of the United States and the only other squadron in the world that flies the MH - 53E . In October 2008 , HM - 14 DET 1 Iwakuni , Japan relocated to Pohang , Korea continuing to provide Seventh Fleet with AMCM and heavy - lift support and performs operations in multiple countries in the Eastern Pacific . Operations and Organization . HM - 14 ' s mission is to stand ready to deploy anywhere in the world within 72 hours via US Air Force C - 5 Galaxy to provide airborne mine countermeasures and vertical onboard delivery support . Additionally , humanitarian and disaster relief tasking has been increasing in recent years . Recognizing the capabilities of the MH - 53E , the squadron can also provide platforms for United States Navy EOD and Force Recon paratroopers . The squadron has 17 MH - 53E Sea Dragon aircraft and 700 total members including pilots , aircrew , maintainers , and administrative personnel , organized into . The squadron has all of the typical departments of an aviation squadron , as well as a dedicated AMCM department , responsible for maintaining the minehunting and minesweeping gear and the RHIB s used for tending them .