SAN DIEGO – Airman Gilberto Arias Lopez, a native of Longview, Texas, joined the Navy to set an example for his son and his siblings as well as the opportunity to travel.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson Brown |
Now, two years later, Arias Lopez 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.
“There's challenges at times because of the qualifications we have to get, but it's worth it because I've learned a lot and met some really good people here too,” said Arias Lopez.
Arias Lopez, a 2009 graduate of East Texas Charter High School, is an aviation machinist's mate with 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'm an engine mechanic, but I just picked up my rating so I'm new to my work center and my job in general," said Arias Lopez. "I'm shadowing the more experienced people.”
Arias Lopez credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Longview.
“Taking initiative and understanding there are many different kinds of people with different ways of looking at things has really helped me,” said Arias Lopez.
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.
“When the aircraft lands on the flight deck, you can feel the downwash," said Arias Lopez. "The way the helicopter feels when it takes off and lands is what stands out to me the most.”
Serving in the Navy means Arias Lopez 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 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, Arias Lopez is most proud of earning both his Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist and Surface Warfare Specialist Qualifications before most of his peers. Enlisted servicemembers have the opportunity to earn warfare qualifications at different times in their careers, taking up to three years each to complete. Arrias Lopez earned both of his in less than two years.
“Surface was the hardest for me," said Arias Lopez. "It took a lot of study and training for months--I didn't even have time to workout.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Arias Lopez 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 is a way to show an example for people that look up to me and to give a little bit back to this country that has given a lot to me," said Arias Lopez. "I'm very grateful and proud to be in the Navy.”
“There's challenges at times because of the qualifications we have to get, but it's worth it because I've learned a lot and met some really good people here too,” said Arias Lopez.
Arias Lopez, a 2009 graduate of East Texas Charter High School, is an aviation machinist's mate with 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'm an engine mechanic, but I just picked up my rating so I'm new to my work center and my job in general," said Arias Lopez. "I'm shadowing the more experienced people.”
Arias Lopez credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Longview.
“Taking initiative and understanding there are many different kinds of people with different ways of looking at things has really helped me,” said Arias Lopez.
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.
“When the aircraft lands on the flight deck, you can feel the downwash," said Arias Lopez. "The way the helicopter feels when it takes off and lands is what stands out to me the most.”
Serving in the Navy means Arias Lopez 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 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, Arias Lopez is most proud of earning both his Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist and Surface Warfare Specialist Qualifications before most of his peers. Enlisted servicemembers have the opportunity to earn warfare qualifications at different times in their careers, taking up to three years each to complete. Arrias Lopez earned both of his in less than two years.
“Surface was the hardest for me," said Arias Lopez. "It took a lot of study and training for months--I didn't even have time to workout.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Arias Lopez 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 is a way to show an example for people that look up to me and to give a little bit back to this country that has given a lot to me," said Arias Lopez. "I'm very grateful and proud to be in the Navy.”