SAN DIEGO – Petty Officer 1st Class Ryan Farr, a native of Houston, was inspired to join the Navy for professional growth opportunities.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson Brown |
"I needed to expand myself and grow and do something different," Farr said.
Now, nine years later, Farr 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.
“We have long hours but it is gratifying to see the progress we've made in junior sailors,” said Farr.
Farr, a 2007 graduate of James Madison High School, is an aviation machinist's mate 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 repair and replace engines, blades, driveshafts and gearboxes on helicopters,” said Farr.
Farr credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Houston.
“I learned that everyone has a story and a background," Farr said. "You have to learn that before you can help them.”
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.
“"The coolest thing is the forward looking infrared," Farr said. "It gives you like animal sight almost. You can see everything.”
Serving in the Navy means Farr 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, Farr is most proud of completing a cross country tour by helicoptor from New York to San Diego.
"We flew helicoptors from New York down to Florida, then down to San Diego," Farr said. "It was rare to take brand new helicopters from the factory and fly them across the U.S.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Farr 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 is a sense of accomplishment because no matter how normal things seem to me, my family thinks I'm a superstar,” said Farr.
Now, nine years later, Farr 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.
“We have long hours but it is gratifying to see the progress we've made in junior sailors,” said Farr.
Farr, a 2007 graduate of James Madison High School, is an aviation machinist's mate 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 repair and replace engines, blades, driveshafts and gearboxes on helicopters,” said Farr.
Farr credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Houston.
“I learned that everyone has a story and a background," Farr said. "You have to learn that before you can help them.”
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.
“"The coolest thing is the forward looking infrared," Farr said. "It gives you like animal sight almost. You can see everything.”
Serving in the Navy means Farr 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, Farr is most proud of completing a cross country tour by helicoptor from New York to San Diego.
"We flew helicoptors from New York down to Florida, then down to San Diego," Farr said. "It was rare to take brand new helicopters from the factory and fly them across the U.S.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Farr 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 is a sense of accomplishment because no matter how normal things seem to me, my family thinks I'm a superstar,” said Farr.