Palm Bay Native keeps the Navy’s newest, most advanced helicopters flying

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Amanda Rae Moreno, Navy Office of Community Outreach

(MAYPORT, Fla.) – A 2017 Bayside High School graduate and Palm Bay, Florida, native is serving with a U.S. Navy helicopter squadron that flies the Navy’s newest and most technologically-advanced helicopter.

Photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Gary Ward

Airman Anthony Sturtevant credits much of their success from lessons they learned growing up in Palm Bay.

“I really looked up to my father growing up. He taught me the value of hard work. When you're on the job you have to hustle,” said Sturtevant. “But you also have to get it done correctly the first time. That makes you stand out.”

Sturtevant is an aviation machinist’s mate 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 an aviation machinist’s mate, Sturtevant is responsible repair and maintenance of aircraft engines and transmissions.

 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.  

Sturtevant is now a part of a long-standing tradition of serving in the Navy our nation needs.

“I started doing research online and found that we have family that has served in the Revolutionary War, Civil War, WWI, WWII, in Korea and Vietnam. And most recently Iraq,” said Sturtevant. “It's a very long-standing family tradition.”

 Sturtevant said they are proud to be part of a warfighting team that readily defends America at all times.

“I am so proud of taking the first step to join the Navy,” said Sturtevant.

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. 

Sturtevant 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, Sturtevant and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes.

Serving in the Navy, Sturtevant is learning about being a more respectable leader, Sailor and person through handling numerous responsibilities. 

“Defending the country give you a lot of pride,” said Sturtevant. “If you don't take pride in your work, there are lives on the line in this job.”