By Navy Office Community Outreach
(MAYPORT,
Fla.) – A 2003 Blanca Malaret High School graduate and Sabama Grande, Puerto
Rico native
is serving with a U.S. Navy helicopter squadron that flies the Navy’s newest
and most technologically-advanced helicopter.
Airman Luis Quinones is an aviation structural mechanic 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 structural mechanic, Quinones is responsible
for the safety of pilots and aircrew of the MH-60R helicopter.
“Everyday in my job is different,” said Quinones. "Before
joining the Navy, I used to work with cars and this is similar but more
exciting."
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.
Quinones said they 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 learn more about my job while being able to go
home every night at this command,” said Quinones.
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, Quinones is
learning about being a more respectable leader, Sailor and person through
handling numerous responsibilities.
"After boot camp, I feel like I am a completely different
person,” said Quinones. "I feel like I am much more responsible and
organized and make better decisions."