By Navy Office of Community Outreach
(MAYPORT,
Fla.) – A 2000 Huntland High School graduate and Huntland, Tennessee 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 Bethany Anderson is an aviation
electronics technician with the “Air Wolves” of Helicopter Maritime Strike
Squadron (HSM) 40, 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 electronics technician, Anderson is
responsible for communication and electronics systems aboard the MH-60R
helicopter.
“The best part of my job is being able to take part of
ground breaking advancements in electronics for the military,” said Anderson. "When
you get to be a part of something bigger than your yourself, it's
rewarding."
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.
Anderson said they and other sailors are proud to be part of
a warfighting team that readily defends America at all times.
“This command allows you to have more time with your family
which creates more stability” said Anderson.
Sailors’ jobs are highly varied within the squadron.
Approximately 297 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 Airwolves of HSM-40, represent the best and the
brightest our Navy has to offer,” said Cmdr. David Loo, HSM-40 commanding
officer. “HSM-40's mission
is to train Fleet Replacement Pilots and Aircrewman for deployed shipboard
operations in the MH-60R Seahawk aircraft.
The training conducted includes aircraft flights and full visual
simulators in Aircraft Operations, Anti-Surface Warfare, Anti-Submarine
Warfare, Search and Rescue, and Shipboard Operations. HSM-40’s support, maintenance, and instructor
staff allow for the completion of over 100 assigned students, year round,
operating 16 MH-60R helicopters and 5 simulators.”
Serving in the
Navy, Anderson is
learning about being a more respectable leader, sailor and person through
handling numerous responsibilities.
"The Navy has opened me up to other cultures and
diversity,” said Anderson. "There are people serving from, not only all
over the country, but all over the world and you can learn about life through
those relationships.”