SAN DIEGO – Petty Officer 3rd Class Lexie Grant, a native of Bullhead City, Arizona, serves in the U.S. Navy in San Diego, California.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jesse Hawthorne |
“I sat in on a Navy recruiting presentation that encouraged me to sign up to join,” said Grant. “That’s how I ended up becoming a sailor.”
Grant joined the Navy five and a half years ago. Today, Grant serves with Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron SEVEN THREE (HSM 73) in San Diego, working with one of the Navy’s most advanced helicopters, the MH-60R Seahawk.
Growing up in Bullhead City, Grant attended River Valley High School and graduated in 2016. Today, Grant uses the same skills and values learned in Bullhead to succeed in the military.
“Growing up I learned what not to do by living through some difficult situations and that has helped guide me in my Navy career,” said Grant.
Grant joined the Navy five and a half years ago. Today, Grant serves with Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron SEVEN THREE (HSM 73) in San Diego, working with one of the Navy’s most advanced helicopters, the MH-60R Seahawk.
Growing up in Bullhead City, Grant attended River Valley High School and graduated in 2016. Today, Grant uses the same skills and values learned in Bullhead to succeed in the military.
“Growing up I learned what not to do by living through some difficult situations and that has helped guide me in my Navy career,” said Grant.
These lessons continue to help Grant while serving in the Navy.
Navy pilots and aircrew at HSM 73 constantly train to ensure they are prepared for peacetime and warfighting missions. According to Navy officials, the MH-60R is the most capable multi-mission helicopter available in the world today. It is used for a variety of missions, including hunting and tracking enemy submarines, attacking enemy ships, search and rescue, drug interdiction, delivering supplies and supporting the Navy’s special operations forces.
"The BattleCats of HSM 73 proudly provide advanced mission capability and readiness to America's Navy,” said Cmdr. Rich “Speed” Christoff, HSM 73 commanding officer. “Our sailors come from every corner of the nation and the world, bringing their expertise and fighting spirit to a unit that I'm extremely proud to command."
Serving in the Navy means Grant is part of a team that is taking on new importance in America’s focus, rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“I think we are very good at keeping peace,” said Grant. “We make our presence known and we support our allies.”
With more than 90 percent of all trade traveling by sea, and 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic carried through fiber optic cables lying on the ocean floor, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to a strong and ready Navy.
According to Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday, four priorities will focus efforts on sailors, readiness, capabilities, and capacity.
“For 245 years, in both calm and rough waters, our Navy has stood the watch to protect the homeland, preserve freedom of the seas, and defend our way of life,” said Gilday. “The decisions and investments we make this decade will set the maritime balance of power for the rest of this century. We can accept nothing less than success.”
Grant and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“I am most proud of being a mentor and helping my peers and junior sailors,” said Grant. “I want them to know that I am here to support them.”
As Grant and other sailors continue to train and perform the missions they are tasked with, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“The Navy is a source of stability for me and my family and it's given me the opportunity to travel, which is something I always wanted to do,” added Grant. “It’s also given me the chance to meet new people and I get to say that I have a cool job.”