Navy Office of
Community Outreach
(MAYPORT, Fla.) – A 1999
Tawas City Area High School graduate and Tawas, Michigan native is serving with
a U.S. Navy helicopter squadron that flies the Navy’s newest and most
technologically-advanced helicopter.
Chief Luke Anschuetz
is an aviation ordnanceman 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
ordnanceman, Anschuetz is responsible for maintaining the bombs, missiles and
guns of Naval aircraft.
“Being in my job, it is a
very tight knit group,” said Anschuetz. “If you ever need help there is always
someone you can talk to.”
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.
Anschuetz said they and
other HSM-46 sailors are proud to be part of a warfighting team that readily
defends America at all times.
“This command is
known as the best,” said Anschuetz. “We have good leadership which creates our
culture.”
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. Anschuetz 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 Anschuetz,” commented Commander Chris Richard, HSM-46
commanding officer.
Serving in the Navy, Anschuetz
said he is learning about being a more respectable leader, sailor and person
through handling numerous responsibilities.
“The Navy has opened up great opportunities for me," added Anschuetz. "I've seen over 30
countries and traveled the entire world."