By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Sunday Sawyer Juarez
(MAYPORT,
Fla.) – A 2008 San Benito High School graduate and San Benito, Texas
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
Nestor Delgado
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, Delgado is responsible
for the mechanical upkeep of the MH-60R helicopter.
“I like that my job allows me to always
learn new things on a technical level,” said Delgado.
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.
Delgado said he and other
sailors are proud to be part of a warfighting team that readily defends America
at all times.
“I love that this command has me allowed me to live in
Jacksonville," said Delgado. "We do a lot of volunteer work in the local community which is rewarding."
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 Aircrewmen 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, Delgado is learning about being a more
respectable leader, sailor and person through handling numerous
responsibilities.
"The diversity of the
Navy is amazing,” said Delgado. “Being able to relate to different cultures is a part of what makes the Navy great.”