SAN DIEGO – Petty Officer 2nd Class Jasmine Johnson, a native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, was inspired to join the Navy for education and travel opportunities.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson Brown |
"I wanted to go to college and see the world," Johnson said.
Now, five years later, Johnson 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.
“It's definitely easier than the boat," Johnson said. "I like it. It's fast paced but at least you get to go home after the work is done and spend more time with family.”
Johnson, a 2014 graduate of Newnan High School in Newnan, Georgia, is an aviation ordnanceman 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'm responsible for ammunition accounting, bomb building, rocket testing, and more," Johnson said. "We load lots of ordnance, qualify pilots and aircrew and we do ship ammo onloads and offloads.”
Johnson credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Tuscaloosa.
“I learned to never take a day for granted and always be positive," Johnson said. "My biggest thing was to always use everything as a learning lesson and grow from it.”
Helicopter Maritime Squadron (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.
Serving in the Navy means Johnson 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, Johnson is most proud of earning a Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.
“You have to volunteer a great amount of hours over a certain period of time,” said Johnson. “It was 250 hours over three years. I volunteered for the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society and with the elderly in assisted living homes.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Johnson 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 to me," Johnson said. "I love it. It provides for me and my daughter. It's the best opportunity that anyone could possibly ask for.”
Now, five years later, Johnson 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.
“It's definitely easier than the boat," Johnson said. "I like it. It's fast paced but at least you get to go home after the work is done and spend more time with family.”
Johnson, a 2014 graduate of Newnan High School in Newnan, Georgia, is an aviation ordnanceman 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'm responsible for ammunition accounting, bomb building, rocket testing, and more," Johnson said. "We load lots of ordnance, qualify pilots and aircrew and we do ship ammo onloads and offloads.”
Johnson credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Tuscaloosa.
“I learned to never take a day for granted and always be positive," Johnson said. "My biggest thing was to always use everything as a learning lesson and grow from it.”
Helicopter Maritime Squadron (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.
Serving in the Navy means Johnson 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, Johnson is most proud of earning a Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.
“You have to volunteer a great amount of hours over a certain period of time,” said Johnson. “It was 250 hours over three years. I volunteered for the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society and with the elderly in assisted living homes.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Johnson 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 to me," Johnson said. "I love it. It provides for me and my daughter. It's the best opportunity that anyone could possibly ask for.”