HT-18

Helicopter Training Squadron EIGHTEEN (HT-18), known as "Vigilant Eagles," is a United States Navy helicopter training squadron established on March 1, 1972. Based at Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Milton, Florida, HT-18 was created to meet the growing demand for naval helicopter pilots during the Vietnam War era. The squadron provides advanced helicopter flight training to Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and allied student aviators, primarily utilizing the TH-57 Sea Ranger. Over the decades, HT-18 has played a crucial role in producing highly skilled rotary-wing aviators, ensuring the operational readiness of U.S. and allied naval forces.