VP-30

Patrol Squadron Thirty (VP-30), the “Pro’s Nest,” is the United States Navy’s Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS). VP-30’s mission is to provide P-3 and P-8 specific training to pilots, naval flight officers, and enlisted aircrew prior to reporting to the fleet. More than 650 staff personnel train over 800 officer and enlisted personnel annually, utilizing 10 Lockheed P-3C Orion and 10 Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft. Foreign military personnel from Thailand, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Japan and the Republic of Korea have all received specific aircrew and maintenance training at VP-30.

Lineage

 * Established as VP-30 on 30 June 1960.

History
VP-30 was commissioned in 30 June 1960 at NAS Jacksonville, to train flight crews for P-5 Marlin and P-2 Neptune aircraft. In June 1963, VP-30 Detachment Alfa was formed at Patuxent River, Md., to begin training in the newly introduced P-3 Orion. Growth of VP-30 Detachment Alfa soon became significant enough that the squadron homeport was moved from NAS Jacksonville to NAS Patuxent in 1966. Flight operations continued at NAS Jacksonville until P-2 aircraft were phased out of service in December 1968. In 1970, VP-30 assumed the training of P-3 maintenance personnel with the Fleet Readiness Aviation Maintenance Program (FRAMP). From March to August 1975, VP-30 returned to its present homeport of NAS Jacksonville. In August 1991, the command was designated a major shore command as the Maritime Patrol Community Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS).

VP-30 not only ensures the fleet receives safe and competent replacement naval aviators, naval flight officers, and aircrew, but the “Pro’s Nest” also provides post-FRS training to the fleet as well. In 1998, VP-30 formed the P-3 Weapons Tactics Unit (WTU) to provide fleet-wide training on topics including advanced tactics, weapon system employment, and in an effort to improve survivability during overland missions, established counter threat training. As a result, full operational integration of this platform was achieved during operations in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq, where Aircraft Improvement Program (AIP)-equipped P-3’s fired missiles in combat for the first time since Vietnam. In 2002, VP-30 graduated the first VQ naval flight officers after assuming the duties as EP-3E Sensor System Improvement Program model manager. In 2003, the squadron instituted the Fleet Instructor Training Course, and the NATOPS Department integrated the Naval Portable Flight Planning System into the P-3 fleet for training and evaluation.

With the consolidation of VP-30 and VP-31 into a single-site FRS in 1993, VP-30 is now the largest squadron in the Navy. There are currently 12 active duty VP fleet squadrons homeported in Jacksonville, Fla., Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, and Whidbey Island, Wash.; one special project squadrons homeported in Kaneohe Bay; and two Fleet Air Reconnaissance squadrons, both homeported in Whidbey Island. In addition, a Squadron Augment Unit was established at VP-30 to aid in the responsibilities of supporting the Reserve Component Units as part of Active Reserve Integration. All of these operational squadrons are supported by the dedicated men and women of the “Pro’s Nest.”

VP-30’s awards include six Navy Meritorious Unit Commendations, including three for the training and introduction of P-3s for the Norwegian Navy, for P-3C Update II training of the Japanese and Royal Netherlands Navies, and for the consolidation of all P-3 training into a single-site FRS. VP-30 also received the United States Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation with Operational Distinguishing Device for participation in the 1985-1986 Winter Law Enforcement Operation; the 1971, 1983, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1998, 2007 and 2008 CNO Safety Award, and the 1995, 1999, 2000, and 2001 CINCLANTFLT Golden Anchor Award for retention. VP-30 was honored to receive the 2008 Golden Wrench Award as well as the 2010 DEFY Fulcrum Shield award and 2010 Retention Excellence award. In December 2010, VP-30 surpassed 46 years and over 450,000 flight hours without a Class-A mishap. Additionally, the 2010 Naval Safety Center Aviation Maintenance Survey assessed VP-30 as having the best overall score of more than 300 units evaluated over the previous year. VP-30 has twice received the Cmdr. T.G. Ellyson Award for aviator production excellence which is presented to the Navy's most effective fleet replacement squadron.

The future of VP-30 and the Maritime Patrol community is the P-8A Poseidon. The P-8A is the newest long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft in the U.S. Navy’s arsenal. It possesses an advanced mission system for maximum interoperability in battle space. Capable of broad-area, maritime, and littoral operations, the P-8A is expected to influence how the U.S. Navy's maritime patrol and reconnaissance forces train, operate, and deploy.

Patrol Squadron Three Zero, the "Pro's Nest", is the U.S. Navy's maritime patrol fleet replacement squadron. VP-30's mission is to provide aircraft specific training for pilots, naval flight officers and enlisted aircrew prior to reporting to maritime patrol aviation fleet. VP-30 trains approximately 650 officers and enlisted annually, using 29 P-3 Orion aircraft of various models. Additionally, foreign military personnel from Great Britain, Canada, Australia, Thailand, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Chile, Norway and Argentina have received specific aircrew and maintenance training on P-3 operations and systems.

VP-30 was commissioned in June 1960 at NAS Jacksonville to train flight crews for P-5 Marlin and P-2 Neptune aircraft. In June 1963, VP-30 Detachment ALFA was formed at Patuxent River, Md., to begin training for the newly introduced P-3 Orion. Growth of VP-30 Det ALFA soon became significant enough that the squadron homeport was changed to Patuxent River in 1966. In 1970, VP-30 assumed training fo rP-3 maintenance personnel, and in 1975, VP-30 returned to NAS Jacksonville. In August 1991, the command was designated a major shore command as the maritime patrol community's fleet replacement squadron.

VP-30 is the Navy's largest aviation squadron and the only site conducting maritime patrol fleet replacement training. Since its establishment, VP-30 has epitomized professionalism in naval aviation. This ideal has been the command's trademark, which is largely due to a rigorous process used to screen ground and flight instructors who come to the Pro's Nest with vast fleet operational experience. They also undergo an extensive instructor-under-training syllabus prior to assignment as trainers. VP-30 ensures the fleet receives safe and competent replacement pilots, naval flight officers, aircrewmen and maintenance technicians who are ready to do the job upon reporting to fleet squadrons.

Significant Events

 * 30 Jun 1960: VP-30 was established at NAS Jacksonville, Fla., under the operational control of FAW-11. The squadron was organized to be a replacement ASW squadron, providing a continuous flow of operationally qualified pilots, aircrew and maintenance personnel to fleet patrol squadrons. Detachment Alpha was established at NAS Norfolk, Va., to train personnel on the P5M Marlin seaplane. The NAS Jacksonville unit provided training in the Lockheed P2V Neptune. The squadron had an initial complement of 40 officers, 271 enlisted personnel, five P5M seaplanes and 13 P2V aircraft (seven P2V-5FS and six P2V-7S).


 * 15 Jul 1961: The Alpha detachment was merged with the parent organization at NAS Jacksonville when plans were made to remove the P5M Marlin from the Navy’s inventory.


 * 1 Jun 1962: Det Alpha was reestablished at NAS Patuxent River, Md., to begin replacement training in the new P-3A aircraft. The unit expanded until the end of the year, by which time it was staffed with 10 officers and 53 enlisted personnel.


 * 21 Oct 1962: VP-30 transitioned from replacement training to an operational status for participation in the naval quarantine of Cuba, providing ASW cover for Task Force 44. The squadron reverted to its primary mission in March 1963.


 * 10 Jan 1966: The NAS Patuxent River detachment became the parent command, with the squadron headquarters relocating from NAS Jacksonville, Fla., to NAS Patuxent River, Md. Det Alpha was relocated to Jacksonville for replacement training in the SP-2E Neptune aircraft.


 * 27 May–4 Jun 1968: VP-30 was called upon to assist in the search for the missing Scorpion (SSN 589), overdue since 22 May 1968. The squadron searched the last known location of the vessel, 700 miles east of Norfolk, Va., until 4 June 1968, without result.


 * 10 Dec 1968: VP-30’s Alpha detachment at NAS Jacksonville, Fla., was phased out with the deletion of the SP-2E airframes from the Navy’s inventory. The assets and personnel of the detachment were merged with VP-31’s Det A, home based at NAS North Island, San Diego, Calif. Personnel staffing of the former VP-30 Det A was reduced from 400 to 300 with the merger. The expanded VP-31 Det A continued training on the P-3 Orion airframe.


 * Jun 1969: VP-30 received the first computerized models of the P-3C.


 * 1970: With the advent of the Fleet Readiness Aviation Maintenance Training Program (FRAMP), VP- 30 began training maintenance as well as flight crew personnel, conducting ten classes a year.


 * 6 Sep 1972: AXAN Colleen A. Ocha became the first woman to undergo training at VP-30 in the Fleet Replacement Aviation Maintenance Program (FRAMP).


 * 21 Jun 1972: The exceptional qualities of the P-3 Orion aircraft were apparent when VP-30 became the first squadron operating the P-3 to reach the safety milestone of 100,000 consecutive accident-free flight hours.


 * 22 Mar 1972: Lieutenant (jg) Judith A. Neufer, the second female Naval Aviator, reported aboard. She became the first female aviator to receive training in the P-3. Upon graduation, she reported to VW-4 at NAS Jacksonville, Fla..


 * 30 Jul 1975: VP-30 was relocated from NAS Patuxent River, Md., to its former home base at NAS Jacksonville, Fla. The Navy was prompted to initiate the move in the mid-1970s due to the increasing suburban construction around the Patuxent River airfield, electronic interference and danger of an air crash in a residential area.


 * 1983: VP-30 had grown to a staff of 700 personnel of all ranks, with 24 aircraft for the training of aircrew and maintenance people for service with Atlantic Fleet operational patrol squadrons.


 * Oct 1993: VP-30 became the sole Navy P-3 fleet readiness squadron upon the disestablishment of VP- 31 on the West Coast.


 * Jul 1995: VP-30 surpassed 31 years and 300,000 flight hours of accident-free flying, a Naval Aviation record.

Home Port Assignments
The squadron was assigned to these home ports, effective on the dates shown:
 * NAS Jacksonville, Florida 30 June 1960
 * NAS Norfolk, Virginia (Det A) 30 June 1960
 * NAS Patuxent River, Maryland (Det A) 1 June 1962
 * NAS Patuxent River, Maryland 10 January 1966
 * NAS Jacksonville, Florida (Det A) 10 January 1966
 * NAS Jacksonville, Florida 30 July 1975