By Navy Office of Community Outreach
(MAYPORT, Fla.) – A 2011
Spring Valley High School graduate and Huntington, West
Virginia native is serving with a U.S. Navy helicopter squadron that
flies the Navy’s newest and most technologically-advanced helicopter.
Petty Officer 2nd Class
Anthony Evans
is a Naval air crewman 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 Naval air crewman,
Evans is responsible for operating systems and manning aerial gunnery for the MH-60Rs.
“I enjoy helping my fellow sailors in various missions and search and rescue operations,” said Evans.
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.
Evans said he and other HSM-46 sailors
are proud to be part of a warfighting team that readily defends America at all
times.
“It's a tight-knit group here
at HSM-46," said Evans. "We have a real sense of true brotherhood."
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. Evans
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 Evans,” commented Commander Chris Richard,
HSM-46 Commanding Officer.
Serving in the Navy, Evans
said he is learning about being a more respectable leader, sailor and person
through handling numerous responsibilities.
“The morals, values and
principles instilled in me by the Navy has definitely made me a better overall
person,” said Evans.