Navy Office of
Community Outreach
(MAYPORT, Fla.) – A 2002
Bayside High School graduate and Palm Bay, Florida native is serving with a
U.S. Navy helicopter squadron that flies the Navy’s newest and most
technologically-advanced helicopter.
Chief Ryan Kerley is
an aviation machinist's mate 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
machinist's mate, Kerley is responsible for all of the mechanics of the
helicopters.
“I like being able to
be hands-on," said Kerley. "Teaching my guys how to take a helicopter that’s not ready to fly
and making it able to fly is really satisfying."
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.
Kerley said he and
other HSM-46 sailors are proud to be part of a warfighting team that readily
defends America at all times.
“This command is the
best command I have ever been a part of,” said Kerley. “From the top down, the
leadership takes care of you.”
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. Kerley 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 Kerley,” commented Commander Chris Richard, HSM-46
commanding officer.
Serving in the Navy, Kerley
said he is learning about being a more respectable leader, sailor and person
through handling numerous responsibilities.
“I joined the
military to see the world and the Navy has given me that opportunity,” said Kerley.
“By my 21st birthday, I had already been to six different countries.”