By Mass Communications Specialist
1st Class Sunday Sawyer Juarez
(MAYPORT, Fla.) – A 2001 Thomas Edison High School graduate
and Queens, New York 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 Yugesh
Madraveren is an aviation electrician’s mate with the “Airwolves” 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 electrician’s mate,
Madraveren is responsible for the electronic systems of the helicopter.
“I like the trouble shooting aspect
of this job,” said Madraveren. “It is always something different and it is
really challenging.”
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.
Madraveren 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 to train junior
sailors who are new to the Navy and I take comfort in knowing that I personally
get to have a hand in what and how they learn this job,” said Madraveren. “Later if I see them in the fleet, I know that
I trained them and they know what they are doing.”
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, Madraveren is
learning about being a more respectable leader, sailor and person through
handling numerous responsibilities.
"The Navy has taught me responsibility
and has helped make me completely self-sufficient,” said Madraveren.