by Navy Office of Community Outreach
(MAYPORT, Fla.) – A 2000
Shawnee High School graduate and Louisville, Kentucky
native is serving with a U.S. Navy helicopter squadron that flies the Navy’s
newest and most technologically-advanced helicopter.
Petty Officer 1st Class
Laquetta Winters
is an aviation maintenance administrationman
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 an aviation maintenance administrationman,
Winters is responsible for the upkeep of all maintenance records for the
aircrafts and engines.
“I enjoy dealing with and
taking care of my people on a day to day basis,” said Winters.
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.
Winters said she and
other HSM-46 sailors are proud to be part of a warfighting team that readily
defends America at all times.
“I enjoy the morale,
camradiere and work ethic within the command,” said Winters.
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. Winters
is a big part of why we are so successful. She has a tireless work ethic, and embodies our squadron motto of ‘Set the Standard.’ I’m very proud of Winters,” commented Commander Chris Richard,
HSM-46 Commanding Officer.
Serving in the Navy, Winters
said she is learning about being a more respectable leader, sailor and person
through handling numerous responsibilities.
“The Navy has given me the
necessary confidence, leadership and mangerial skills needed to be successful
in life,” said Winters.