Navy Office of
Community Outreach
(MAYPORT, Fla.) – A 2012
Oil City High School graduate and Oil City, Pennsylvania native is serving with
a U.S. Navy helicopter squadron that flies the Navy’s newest and most
technologically-advanced helicopter.
Airman Joseph Long is
an aircrew survival equipmentman 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 aircrew
survival equipmentman, Long is responsible for maintaining survival gear for
pilots and aircrew.
“I like knowing the
gear that I maintain saves lives of the aircrew,” said Long.
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.
Long said they and
other HSM-46 sailors are proud to be part of a warfighting team that readily
defends America at all times.
“It’s great to be a part of such a tight-knit group,” said Long. "We have a good family atmosphere at the command.”
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. Long 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 Long,” commented Commander Chris Richard, HSM-46 Commanding
Officer.
Serving in the Navy, Long
said he is learning about being a more respectable leader, sailor and person
through handling numerous responsibilities.
“Serving in the Navy
has provided me financial stability and has given me the morals, values and
principles needed to excel in life,” said Long.