SAN DIEGO – Airman Kadarrian Johnson, a native of Tyler, Texas, was inspired to join the Navy for professional opportunities.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson Brown |
Now, two years later, Johnson serves with the Magicians of Helicopter Maritime Squadron (HSM) 35, working with one of the Navy’s most advanced helicopters at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego.
“Serving here is fun and lively,” said Johnson. “It's work but it's fun. Everybody gets along and nobody really looks down upon us.”
Johnson, a 2015 graduate of Robert E. Lee High School, is an aviation maintenance adminstrationman with HSM 35, a versatile squadron that’s capable of completing a number of important missions for the Navy with the MH-60R “Seahawk” helicopter.
“I maintain aircraft logbooks, prep aircraft for flying, making sure every inspection is done accordingly, and keep track of logs of all aircraft parts and subcomponents,” said Johnson.
Johnson credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Tyler.
“I learned that it's best to be honest,” said Johnson.
HSM 35'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 an early advancement from A School.
“I thought it was going to be a more extended wait and I tried to be first in the class,” said Johnson.
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," Johnson said. "It makes me feel like a part of something bigger and makes me view the world in a different way. It shows me I have lot more that I'm capable of accomplishing.”
“Serving here is fun and lively,” said Johnson. “It's work but it's fun. Everybody gets along and nobody really looks down upon us.”
Johnson, a 2015 graduate of Robert E. Lee High School, is an aviation maintenance adminstrationman with HSM 35, a versatile squadron that’s capable of completing a number of important missions for the Navy with the MH-60R “Seahawk” helicopter.
“I maintain aircraft logbooks, prep aircraft for flying, making sure every inspection is done accordingly, and keep track of logs of all aircraft parts and subcomponents,” said Johnson.
Johnson credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Tyler.
“I learned that it's best to be honest,” said Johnson.
HSM 35'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 an early advancement from A School.
“I thought it was going to be a more extended wait and I tried to be first in the class,” said Johnson.
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," Johnson said. "It makes me feel like a part of something bigger and makes me view the world in a different way. It shows me I have lot more that I'm capable of accomplishing.”