SAN DIEGO – Chief Petty Officer Jeffrey Knox, a native of Brush Creek, Tennessee, was inspired to join the Navy by his grandfather.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson Brown |
“I was supposed to go into the Army and they called me at 6 a.m. on a Saturday and I told them ‘no’ and joined the Navy,” Knox said. “I followed in my grandfather’s footsteps. He was in the Navy.”
Now, 19 years later, Knox serves with the Scorpions of Helicopter Maritime Squadron (HSM) 49, working with one of the Navy’s most advanced helicopters at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego.
“This squadron is unique compared to others," said Knox. "There are different missions that we are able to accomplish.”
Knox, a 1999 graduate of Watertown High School, is an aircrew survival equipmentman with HSM 49, a versatile squadron that’s capable of completing a number of important missions for the Navy with the MH-60R “Seahawk” helicopter.
“I have 11 sailors and we are in charge of 65 sets of survival gear ranging from personal equipment to search and rescue equipment,” said Knox.
Knox credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Brush Creek.
“I learned the importance of having a strong work ethic,” Knox said. “I came from a small town and you had to work for what you wanted. It's like a family.”
HSM 49's primary mission is to conduct sea control operations in open-ocean and coastal environments as an expeditionary unit. This includes hunting for submarines, searching for surface targets over the horizon and conducting search and rescue operations.
According to Navy officials, the MH-60R is the Navy's new primary maritime dominance helicopter. Greatly enhanced over its predecessors, the MH-60R helicopter features a glass cockpit and significant mission system improvements, which give it unmatched capability as an airborne multi-mission naval platform.
As the U.S. Navy's next generation submarine hunter and anti-surface warfare helicopter, the MH-60R "Romeo" is the cornerstone of the Navy's Helicopter Concept of Operations. Anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare are the MH-60R's primary missions. Secondary missions include search and rescue, medical evacuation, vertical replenishment, naval surface fire support, communications relay, command, control, communications, command and control warfare and non-combat operations.
“There are different missions that we're capable of doing, from submarine hunting to search and rescue,” Knox said. “It’s multiple platform and multi-mission. That's what makes it unique.”
Serving in the Navy means Knox is part of a world that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
A key element of the Navy the nation needs is tied to the fact that America is a maritime nation, and that the nation’s prosperity is tied to the ability to operate freely on the world’s oceans. More than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water; 80 percent of the world’s population lives close to a coast; and 90 percent of all global trade by volume travels by sea.
“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.”
Though there are many ways for sailors to earn distinction in their command, community, and career, Knox is most proud of being promoted to chief petty officer.
“You see it growing up in the Navy,” Knox said. “It's all around you, but you don't really envision it until you strive to get it.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Knox and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“I'm proud of what I do,” Knox said. “It's the pride and professionalism that engulfs you.”
Now, 19 years later, Knox serves with the Scorpions of Helicopter Maritime Squadron (HSM) 49, working with one of the Navy’s most advanced helicopters at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego.
“This squadron is unique compared to others," said Knox. "There are different missions that we are able to accomplish.”
Knox, a 1999 graduate of Watertown High School, is an aircrew survival equipmentman with HSM 49, a versatile squadron that’s capable of completing a number of important missions for the Navy with the MH-60R “Seahawk” helicopter.
“I have 11 sailors and we are in charge of 65 sets of survival gear ranging from personal equipment to search and rescue equipment,” said Knox.
Knox credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Brush Creek.
“I learned the importance of having a strong work ethic,” Knox said. “I came from a small town and you had to work for what you wanted. It's like a family.”
HSM 49's primary mission is to conduct sea control operations in open-ocean and coastal environments as an expeditionary unit. This includes hunting for submarines, searching for surface targets over the horizon and conducting search and rescue operations.
According to Navy officials, the MH-60R is the Navy's new primary maritime dominance helicopter. Greatly enhanced over its predecessors, the MH-60R helicopter features a glass cockpit and significant mission system improvements, which give it unmatched capability as an airborne multi-mission naval platform.
As the U.S. Navy's next generation submarine hunter and anti-surface warfare helicopter, the MH-60R "Romeo" is the cornerstone of the Navy's Helicopter Concept of Operations. Anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare are the MH-60R's primary missions. Secondary missions include search and rescue, medical evacuation, vertical replenishment, naval surface fire support, communications relay, command, control, communications, command and control warfare and non-combat operations.
“There are different missions that we're capable of doing, from submarine hunting to search and rescue,” Knox said. “It’s multiple platform and multi-mission. That's what makes it unique.”
Serving in the Navy means Knox is part of a world that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
A key element of the Navy the nation needs is tied to the fact that America is a maritime nation, and that the nation’s prosperity is tied to the ability to operate freely on the world’s oceans. More than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water; 80 percent of the world’s population lives close to a coast; and 90 percent of all global trade by volume travels by sea.
“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.”
Though there are many ways for sailors to earn distinction in their command, community, and career, Knox is most proud of being promoted to chief petty officer.
“You see it growing up in the Navy,” Knox said. “It's all around you, but you don't really envision it until you strive to get it.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Knox and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“I'm proud of what I do,” Knox said. “It's the pride and professionalism that engulfs you.”