By Navy Office of Community Outreach
(MAYPORT,
Fla.) – A 2004 Suwannee High School graduate and Live Oak, Florida native is serving with a
U.S. Navy helicopter squadron that flies the Navy’s newest and most
technologically-advanced helicopter.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Josh Davis is a Naval air crewman 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 a Naval air crewman, Davis is responsible for anti-submarine
warfare and surface warfare support.
“My job gives me the opportunity to do something different
everyday,” said Davis. "One day we are hunting submarines, the next day we
are manning machine guns to ensure the safety of the surface fleet."
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.
Davis said they and other sailors are proud to be part of a
warfighting team that readily defends America at all times.
“This command has a great group of people who love their job,”
said Davis. "Being here also allows me to train the next generation of
sailors in my job."
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, Davis is
learning about being a more respectable leader, sailor and person through
handling numerous responsibilities.
"The Navy has taught me to become a more responsible
person,” said Davis. "It's as simple as showing up and taking
responsibility for the day."