SAN DIEGO – Airman Kristopher Maya, a native of El Paso, Texas, wanted to carry on a muti-generational family tradition of military service.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson Brown |
“My dad is currently serving in the U.S. Navy,” he said. “My grandfather was in the Navy during the Vietnam War and my sister is in the U.S. Air Force.”
Now, two and a half years later, Maya 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.
“My experience has been more than what I have hoped for," said Maya. "I am very fortunate to belong to a command that cares and takes care of their sailors.”
Now, two and a half years later, Maya 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.
“My experience has been more than what I have hoped for," said Maya. "I am very fortunate to belong to a command that cares and takes care of their sailors.”
Maya, a 2008 graduate of J.M. Hanks High School, is an avionics technician with a versatile squadron that’s capable of completing a number of important missions for the Navy with the MH-60R “Seahawk” helicopter.
“I am a plane captain, I am responsible for preping an aircraft to fly with a turnaround inspection between flights, a daily inspection and for retrieving and launching aircraft,” said Maya.
Maya credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in El Paso.
“I joined when I was 27 years old, I already had an idea of what taking orders meant and achieving something more than me," said Maya. "My family impressed upon me perseverance to keep going and the importance of family support to help you achieve your goals.”
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.
“Considering that I was a cook before I entered the military, the change of pace and the excitement of working with avionics is more stimulating and rewarding for me as an airman,” said Maya.
Serving in the Navy means Maya is part of a community 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.
America is a maritime nation, and 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, so far, Maya is most proud of joining the U.S Navy and serving his country.
“It was a long process for me to join and I was very grateful for the opportunity.,” said Maya.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Maya 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 making myself proud, confident, and more sercure and how I can be self sufficient," said Maya. "It is a testament to me for everything that I have overcome to get to where I am in life. I feel like I am a part of something bigger than myself.”