(MAYPORT, Fla.) – A 2001 Iver C. Ranum Senior High School graduate and Denver native is serving with a U.S. Navy helicopter squadron that flies the Navy’s newest and most technologically-advanced helicopter.
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| Photo by Senior Chief Petty Officer Gary Ward |
Petty Officer 1st Class Jennifer Lee credits much of their success from lessons they learned growing up in Denver.
“Denver is a very diverse place and I grew up working with people from all different walks of life,” said Lee. "So that has made my transition into the Navy easier and make my job more enjoyable and allowed me to learn something from everybody."
Lee is a navy career counselor with the “Airwolves” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 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 navy career counselor, Lee is responsible for naval human resources.
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.
Lee is now a part of a long-standing tradition of serving in the Navy our nation needs.
“I have a lot of military service in my family,” said Lee. "My biggest influence to joining the Navy was my grandfather. He joined the Navy and it was always a prideful thing for him and he loved it so much that it was a huge part of why I choose to serve."
Lee said they are proud to be part of a warfighting team that readily defends America at all times.
“Once I made first class, I became a navy career counselor which allows me to see a direct impact on sailors,” said Lee. "Before, I came to work and did my job, now I get to help people grow and watch as they develop in their careers."
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.
Lee is playing an important part in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“Our priorities center on people, capabilities and processes, and will be achieved by our focus on speed, value, results and partnerships,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. “Readiness, lethality and modernization are the requirements driving these priorities.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon capital assets, Lee and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes.
Serving in the Navy, Lee is learning about being a more respectable leader, Sailor and person through handling numerous responsibilities.
“It's an honor to serve my country,” said Lee. "It's made me more aware of what it means to be American and what we truly stand for."
“Denver is a very diverse place and I grew up working with people from all different walks of life,” said Lee. "So that has made my transition into the Navy easier and make my job more enjoyable and allowed me to learn something from everybody."
Lee is a navy career counselor with the “Airwolves” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 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 navy career counselor, Lee is responsible for naval human resources.
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.
Lee is now a part of a long-standing tradition of serving in the Navy our nation needs.
“I have a lot of military service in my family,” said Lee. "My biggest influence to joining the Navy was my grandfather. He joined the Navy and it was always a prideful thing for him and he loved it so much that it was a huge part of why I choose to serve."
Lee said they are proud to be part of a warfighting team that readily defends America at all times.
“Once I made first class, I became a navy career counselor which allows me to see a direct impact on sailors,” said Lee. "Before, I came to work and did my job, now I get to help people grow and watch as they develop in their careers."
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.
Lee is playing an important part in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“Our priorities center on people, capabilities and processes, and will be achieved by our focus on speed, value, results and partnerships,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. “Readiness, lethality and modernization are the requirements driving these priorities.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon capital assets, Lee and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes.
Serving in the Navy, Lee is learning about being a more respectable leader, Sailor and person through handling numerous responsibilities.
“It's an honor to serve my country,” said Lee. "It's made me more aware of what it means to be American and what we truly stand for."