SAN DIEGO – Petty Officer 1st Class William Netherton, a native of Shady Grove, Florida, inspired by family tradition to join the Navy.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson Brown |
"My dad was a gunner's mate in Vietnam,” Netherton said. “He was a river boat gunner.”
Now, 13 years later, Netherton 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.
“Serving here can be pretty hectic, but it's a good challenge,” said Netherton.
Netherton, a 2004 graduate of Taylor Technical Institute, is an aviation structural mechanic 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.
“My job is more managerial for as long I've been doing it,” Netherton said. “I supervise other sailors.”
Netherton credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Shady Grove.
“I learned to stay hungry and work hard,” said Netherton.
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 most closely resembles a flying computer compared to any other model of 60 I’ve worked on,” said Netherton.
Serving in the Navy means Netherton 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, Netherton is most proud of earning four humanitarian assistance unit awards.
“All the units I was part of, we probably saved either directly or indirectly 10,000 lives,” said Netherton.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Netherton 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 security,” Netherton said. “I have a more secure job than I could have had if I hadn't joined the Navy and still lived in Florida.”