SAN DIEGO – Petty Officer 2nd Class Benard Wilks, a native of Detroit, was inspired to join the Navy by his family.
 |
| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson Brown |
“One of my biggest inspirations was my grandfather,” Wilks said. “He was previous Air Force and I also had a grandfather in the Army. I wanted to follow in their footsteps.”
Now, nine years later, Wilks 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.
“Everyone is pretty close and striving to be the best and bring out the best in you,” Wilks said. “They give you the opportunity to make an impact.”
Wilks, a 2007 graduate of Southfield Lathrop High School, is an aviation ordnanceman 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.
“As a technician I'm responsible for all the ordnance and troubleshooting weapon systems and overall helicopter maintenance,” said Wilks.
Wilks credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Detroit.
“I learned independence and leadership,” Wilks said. “Coming from a single-parent household I had to learn the majority of things on my own. I started work at the age of 14. As far as leadership qualities, I take my own experiences and mistakes I made and teach that to others.”
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.
“It’s unique for the anit-submarine capabilities and the ability to do search and rescue missions,” said Wilks.
Serving in the Navy means Wilks 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, Wilks is most proud of re-earning his rank.
“I feel that was my biggest accomplishment,” Wilks said. “It allowed me to reenlist and continue my Navy career and also learn from my mistakes and teach others not to make the same mistakes I made.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Wilks and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“Serving in the Navy means upholding high standards and having the ability to carry on the Navy core values and remembering the legacy of the people who came before me and the lives that were lost,” said Wilks.
Now, nine years later, Wilks 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.
“Everyone is pretty close and striving to be the best and bring out the best in you,” Wilks said. “They give you the opportunity to make an impact.”
Wilks, a 2007 graduate of Southfield Lathrop High School, is an aviation ordnanceman 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.
“As a technician I'm responsible for all the ordnance and troubleshooting weapon systems and overall helicopter maintenance,” said Wilks.
Wilks credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Detroit.
“I learned independence and leadership,” Wilks said. “Coming from a single-parent household I had to learn the majority of things on my own. I started work at the age of 14. As far as leadership qualities, I take my own experiences and mistakes I made and teach that to others.”
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.
“It’s unique for the anit-submarine capabilities and the ability to do search and rescue missions,” said Wilks.
Serving in the Navy means Wilks 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, Wilks is most proud of re-earning his rank.
“I feel that was my biggest accomplishment,” Wilks said. “It allowed me to reenlist and continue my Navy career and also learn from my mistakes and teach others not to make the same mistakes I made.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Wilks and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“Serving in the Navy means upholding high standards and having the ability to carry on the Navy core values and remembering the legacy of the people who came before me and the lives that were lost,” said Wilks.