By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Sunday Sawyer
Juarez
(MAYPORT,
Fla.) – A 1996 Monte Vista High School graduate and San Diego, California native is serving with a
U.S. Navy helicopter squadron that flies the Navy’s newest and most
technologically-advanced helicopter.
Senior Chief Lance Robeson 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, Robeson is responsible
for managing the personnel who maintain the MH-60R helicopters.
“I really enjoy watching people grow and advance and seeing
them do better,” said Robeson. "That is really the best part of my job."
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.
Robeson said he and other sailors are proud to be part of a
warfighting team that readily defends America at all times.
“I like that being at this command gives me time for personal
growth and time to work on me” said Robeson.
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, Robeson is
learning about being a more respectable leader, sailor and person through
handling numerous responsibilities.
"The Navy has really taught me how to be humble and not
judge people,” said Robeson. “You really learn how to accept people and help
them grow for who they are. I have had the opportunity to do that all over
the world.”