SAN DIEGO – Seaman Apprentice Braedon Jones, a native of Morehead, North Carolina, needed a career and didn't want to go to college.
 |
| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson Brown |
Now, less than one year later, Jones 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.
Jones, a 2018 graduate of West Carteret High School, is a yeoman with Helicopter Maritime Squadron (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'm an awards yeoman, so the program I run is getting award packages ready and submitting them to leadership, then processing them for the members,” said Jones.
Jones credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Morehead.
“I was taught to work hard and be careful with money,” said Jones.
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.
“This is my first squadron so I'm still learning about the big Navy and naval aviation,” said Jones.
Serving in the Navy means Jones 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, Jones is most proud of graduating boot camp and getting to his first command.
“I'm looking forward to a lot more accomplishments,” said Jones. “I plan to make a career of the Navy. Not everyone serves and of those that join, not everyone gets through boot camp. I'm proud to be a part of the Navy.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Jones and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“This is an opportunity to serve my country and provide a future for my family at the same time,” said Jones.
Jones, a 2018 graduate of West Carteret High School, is a yeoman with Helicopter Maritime Squadron (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'm an awards yeoman, so the program I run is getting award packages ready and submitting them to leadership, then processing them for the members,” said Jones.
Jones credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Morehead.
“I was taught to work hard and be careful with money,” said Jones.
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.
“This is my first squadron so I'm still learning about the big Navy and naval aviation,” said Jones.
Serving in the Navy means Jones 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, Jones is most proud of graduating boot camp and getting to his first command.
“I'm looking forward to a lot more accomplishments,” said Jones. “I plan to make a career of the Navy. Not everyone serves and of those that join, not everyone gets through boot camp. I'm proud to be a part of the Navy.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Jones and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“This is an opportunity to serve my country and provide a future for my family at the same time,” said Jones.