SAN DIEGO – Petty Officer 3rd class Marika Tucker, a native of Memphis, Tennessee, joined the U.S. Navy for the opportunity to travel, benefits and stability.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson Brown |
Now, three years later, Tucker serves with the Chargers of Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) 14, working with one of the Navy’s true workhorse aircraft at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego.
“Life with the squadron is good, I really like my job and the folks I work with are friendly,” said Tucker.
Tucker, a 2009 graduate of Munford High School, is an aviation machinist’s mate with HSC 14, a versatile squadron that’s capable of completing a number of important missions for the Navy with the MH-60S “Seahawk” helicopter.
“I supervise other sailors, I perform aircraft maintenance on the engine and rotar as well as train personnel on fuel and oil consumption,” said Tucker. “Additionally, I train plane captains, and launch and recover aircraft.”
Tucker credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Memphis.
“Leadership an attention to detail were life lessons that have carried over into my naval career,” said Tucker.
HSC 14 provides all-weather, combat-ready aircraft and crew to conduct anti-surface warfare, personnel recovery, special warfare support, search and rescue, and logistics for aircraft carrier air wings and navy shore installations. HSC 14 flies the MH-60S “Seahawk” helicopter, a state-of-the-art design that provides the Navy with true versatility, able to complete a number of mission requirements, according to Navy officials.
The MH-60S with its glass cockpit incorporates active matrix LCD displays, used to facilitate pilot and co-pilot vertical and horizontal situation presentations. Another major design of the MH-60S is a "common cockpit," which is shared with the MH-60R. This allows pilots to shift from one aircraft to another with minimal re-training.
“I used to work on the C-2 Greyhound and the MH-60S is a different aircraft, there are more components and it is a more challenging airframe,” said Tucker.
Serving in the Navy means Tucker 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, Tucker is most proud of becoming a supervisor and making rank and completing bootcamp.
“I had never completed something as challenging in life, the Navy has provided me some great opportunties that I am very grateful for,” said Tucker.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Tucker and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“I get to be a role model and leader to other sailors,” said Tucker. “I get to travel, I get stability for my family and education benefits. Serving in the Navy means I get to be part of something great.”
“Life with the squadron is good, I really like my job and the folks I work with are friendly,” said Tucker.
Tucker, a 2009 graduate of Munford High School, is an aviation machinist’s mate with HSC 14, a versatile squadron that’s capable of completing a number of important missions for the Navy with the MH-60S “Seahawk” helicopter.
“I supervise other sailors, I perform aircraft maintenance on the engine and rotar as well as train personnel on fuel and oil consumption,” said Tucker. “Additionally, I train plane captains, and launch and recover aircraft.”
Tucker credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Memphis.
“Leadership an attention to detail were life lessons that have carried over into my naval career,” said Tucker.
HSC 14 provides all-weather, combat-ready aircraft and crew to conduct anti-surface warfare, personnel recovery, special warfare support, search and rescue, and logistics for aircraft carrier air wings and navy shore installations. HSC 14 flies the MH-60S “Seahawk” helicopter, a state-of-the-art design that provides the Navy with true versatility, able to complete a number of mission requirements, according to Navy officials.
The MH-60S with its glass cockpit incorporates active matrix LCD displays, used to facilitate pilot and co-pilot vertical and horizontal situation presentations. Another major design of the MH-60S is a "common cockpit," which is shared with the MH-60R. This allows pilots to shift from one aircraft to another with minimal re-training.
“I used to work on the C-2 Greyhound and the MH-60S is a different aircraft, there are more components and it is a more challenging airframe,” said Tucker.
Serving in the Navy means Tucker 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, Tucker is most proud of becoming a supervisor and making rank and completing bootcamp.
“I had never completed something as challenging in life, the Navy has provided me some great opportunties that I am very grateful for,” said Tucker.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Tucker and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“I get to be a role model and leader to other sailors,” said Tucker. “I get to travel, I get stability for my family and education benefits. Serving in the Navy means I get to be part of something great.”