The Secretary of the Navy takes pleasure in presenting the MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION to

MARINE HELICOPTER TRAINING GROUP THIRTY

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:
For meritorious service in providing the specialized training of helicopter pilots, helicopter mechanics, aerial gunners, and other aircrewmen while stationed at Marine Corps Air Station (Helicopter), Santa Ana, California, from 20 January 1966 to 31 January 1972. Throughout this period, Marine Helicopter Training Group Thirty distinguished itself by conducting the technical training of over 800 helicopter pilots and 2,500 aviation technical personnel in preparation for further assignment to operational units in combat and noncombat environments. The expertise exhibited by the pilots and aircrewmen trained by Marine Helicopter Training Group Thirty for service in Vietnam reflected directly on the professional instruction received. In addition, Marine Helicopter Training Group Thirty was responsible for the conversion, refresher, transition, and maintenance test pilot training of over 250 selected pilots. From 1 February 1969 to 31 January 1972, Marine Helicopter Training Group Thirty amassed 46,530 flight hours while maintaining the low average aviation accident rate of 0.21. Throughout the six-year period, innumerable complex and challenging tasks were successfully accomplished by Marine Helicopter Training Group Thirty, including rescue and evacuation missions during the California floods in 1969, briefing numerous United States and foreign military flag officers, providing specialized helicopter training for other United States services and foreign service pilots, and the testing and evaluation of helicopter related support systems. The exceptional professionalism and devotion to duty of the officers and men of Marine Helicopter Training Group Thirty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

For the Secretary of the Navy,
R.E. Cushman, Jr.
Commandant of the Marine Corps