Navy Office of
Community Outreach
(MAYPORT, Fla.) – A 2003
Belleville East Township graduate and Belleville, Illinois native is serving
with a U.S. Navy helicopter squadron that flies the Navy’s newest and most
technologically-advanced helicopter.
Lt. Matthew Dori is a
pilot with the “Grandmasters” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 46,
a Mayport, Florida based squadron that operates the Navy’s next generation
submarine hunter and anti-surface warfare helicopter, the MH-60R Seahawk. Each
helicopter is nearly 65 feet long, may weigh up to 23,500 lbs. (max gross) and
can travel over 120 miles per hour for nearly 320 miles on a tank of gas.
As a pilot, Dori is
responsible for flying Naval aircraft.
“Flying the aircraft
is exciting,” said Dori. “When you fly low, you have to be able to make split
second decisions.”
According to Navy
officials, the MH-60R is the most capable multi-mission helicopter available in
the world today. It is used for a variety of missions, including hunting and
tracking enemy submarines, attacking enemy ships, search and rescue, drug
interdiction, delivering supplies and supporting the Navy’s special operations
forces.
It is replacing the
Navy’s older helicopters because of its greater versatility and more advanced
weapon systems.
Dori said they and
other HSM-46 sailors are proud to be part of a warfighting team that readily
defends America at all times.
“Our maintenance team
and junior officers at this command are awesome,” said Dori.
Sailors’ jobs are
highly varied within the squadron. Approximately 270 Navy men and women are
assigned and keep all parts of the squadron running smoothly. This includes everything from maintaining
helicopter airframes and engines, to processing paperwork, handling weapons and
flying the aircraft.
“The mission of
HSM-46 is to embark and deploy combat-ready helicopter detachments around the
world. Dori is a big part of why we are so successful. He has a tireless work ethic, and embodies our squadron motto of ‘Set the Standard.’
I’m very proud of Dori,” commented Commander Chris Richard, HSM-46
commanding officer.
Serving in the Navy, Dori
said he is learning about being a more respectable leader, sailor and person
through handling numerous responsibilities.
“The Navy has given
me the opportunity to better my life,” said Dori. “You get to explore options
and grow as a person.”