SAN DIEGO – Petty Officer 3rd Class Seth Cason, a native of Macon, Georgia, was inspired to join the Navy by opportunities for travel.
 |
| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson Brown |
“I wanted to see the world and have a job while doing it,” Cason said.
Now, nine years later, Cason 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 a really great community,” Cason said. “We're around a group of people who love what they do and that just brings people closer together which is essential for a good work environment.”
Cason, a 2007 graduate of Rutlan High School, is an aviation electrician'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 take care of anything electrical on the aircraft,” Cason said.
Cason credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Macon.
“I learned southern hospitality, being humble and being a gentleman,” said Cason.
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.
“They are emotional creatures of aviation, maintenance wise,” Cason said. “Helicopters are an odd way of flying aorund. It creates engineering complications and high maintenance. I think that speaks for the entire helicopter community.”
Serving in the Navy means Cason 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, Cason is most proud of the chance to work on aircraft.
“It’s only been in the last century that we've been able to travel upwards into the third dimension,” Cason said. “To make sure that happens for our pilots and aircrew and that they get home safely gives me pride.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Cason 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 a lot,” Cason said. “I've met so many people and seen so many places. It's really opened my eyes. To give back my service for that is well worth it.”
Now, nine years later, Cason 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 a really great community,” Cason said. “We're around a group of people who love what they do and that just brings people closer together which is essential for a good work environment.”
Cason, a 2007 graduate of Rutlan High School, is an aviation electrician'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 take care of anything electrical on the aircraft,” Cason said.
Cason credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Macon.
“I learned southern hospitality, being humble and being a gentleman,” said Cason.
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.
“They are emotional creatures of aviation, maintenance wise,” Cason said. “Helicopters are an odd way of flying aorund. It creates engineering complications and high maintenance. I think that speaks for the entire helicopter community.”
Serving in the Navy means Cason 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, Cason is most proud of the chance to work on aircraft.
“It’s only been in the last century that we've been able to travel upwards into the third dimension,” Cason said. “To make sure that happens for our pilots and aircrew and that they get home safely gives me pride.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Cason 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 a lot,” Cason said. “I've met so many people and seen so many places. It's really opened my eyes. To give back my service for that is well worth it.”