By Navy Office of Community Outreach
(MAYPORT,
Fla.) – A 2011 homeschool graduate and Memphis, Tennessee native is serving with a
U.S. Navy helicopter squadron that flies the Navy’s newest and most
technologically-advanced helicopter.
Petty Officer 3rd Class John McDaniel is an aviation
ordnanceman 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 ordnanceman, McDaniel is responsible for maintaining
and serving the weapons systems aboard the MH-60R.
“In my job, I get to work with big guns,” said McDaniel. "It
makes you feel like you are a part of the bigger picture of keeping our country
safe."
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.
McDaniel said they and other sailors are proud to be part of
a warfighting team that readily defends America at all times.
“Being at this command allows you to learn your trade while
also being able to maintain a balanced home life,” said McDaniel.
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, McDaniel is
learning about being a more respectable leader, sailor and person through
handling numerous responsibilities.
"It is a great honor to be a part of something so much
bigger than myself,” said McDaniel. "It's great to experience first hand the benefits our country provides while being a part of the group that makes that
happen."