Navy Office of Community Outreach
(MAYPORT, Fla.) – A 1999
Summerville High School graduate and Summerville, South
Carolina 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
Cyllas Ross
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,
Ross is a helicopter crew chief responsible
for both MH-60R radar operations and the search
and rescue team.
“I love the camradiere and
brotherhood that is shown by my Naval aircrew brothers and sisters,” said
Ross.
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.
Ross said he and other HSM-46 sailors
are proud to be part of a warfighting team that readily defends America at all
times.
“I love the can-do-spirit and
the pride and professionalism shown by each and every sailor here at this
command,” said Ross.
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. Ross
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 Ross,” commented Commander Chris Richard,
HSM-46 Commanding Officer.
Serving in the Navy, Ross
said he is learning about being a more respectable leader, Sailor and person
through handling numerous responsibilities.
“The Navy has given me the self-confidence needed to know I can do anything that I put my mind to,” added Ross.