SAN DIEGO – Petty Officer 1st Class David Revay, a native of Langeloth, Pennsylvania, joined the Navy to do something different to get away from his hometown.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson Brown |
Now, 15 years later, Revay serves with the Raptors of Helicopter Maritime Squadron (HSM) 71, working with one of the Navy’s most advanced helicopters at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego.
Revay, a 2003 graduate of Burgettstown Junior Senior High School, is an aviation structural mechanic with Helicopter Maritime Squadron (HSM) 71, a versatile squadron that’s capable of completing a number of important missions for the Navy with the MH-60R “Seahawk” helicopter.
Revay, a 2003 graduate of Burgettstown Junior Senior High School, is an aviation structural mechanic with Helicopter Maritime Squadron (HSM) 71, a versatile squadron that’s capable of completing a number of important missions for the Navy with the MH-60R “Seahawk” helicopter.
“I work on the hydraulics, airframe and landing gear of the aircraft," said Revay. "I was a leading petty officer for one of our combat elements. Currently I’m a quality assurance representative.”
Revay credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Langeloth.
“It toughened me up and prepared me for random obstacles being thrown my way," said Revay. "Not everything goes as planned in the Navy.”
HSM 71'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 Revay 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.
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, Revay is most proud of getting safe-for-flight qualified.
“I screen maintenance logs and records for the aircraft before it goes flying, verifying that it is safe for the pilots to fly," said Revay. "It's one of the hardest qualifications for a petty officer to achieve. It's usually held by a chief in the squadron.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Revay and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“I love what I do," added Revay. "It's a great career.”