By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Sunday Sawyer
Juarez
(MAYPORT,
Fla.) – A 2005 Booker T. Washington High School graduate and Pensacola, Florida native is serving with a
U.S. Navy helicopter squadron that flies the Navy’s newest and most
technologically-advanced helicopter.
Lt. William Fletcher is a pilot 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 pilot, Fletcher is responsible for being an instructor
pilot who teaches the pilots how to fly specialty
aircraft, specifically the MH-60 Romeo.
“I love flying, so the more time I get to do that makes it a good
day,” said Fletcher.
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.
Fletcher said he and other sailors are proud to be part of a
warfighting team that readily defends America at all times.
“I like that I get an opportunity to shape and mold the
pilots that will be in the fleet,” said Fletcher. “It is a good feeling knowing
I get to prepare them for their career and how they will handle the
missions of the Navy.”
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 Air Wolves 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 air crewmen 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, Fletcher is
learning about being a more respectable leader, sailor and person through
handling numerous responsibilities.
"The most important things the Navy has taught me is professionalism
and attention to detail,” said Fletcher. “I will forever pay attention to the
little things and the overall bigger picture.”