SAN DIEGO – Petty Officer 2nd Class Samuel Swanson, a native of Cottage Grove, Minnesota, serves in the U.S. Navy in San Diego, California.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jesse Hawthorne |
“I joined the Navy because I wanted to travel and see the world,” said Swanson. "I knew the Navy could do that and help me get off my feet."
Swanson joined the Navy seven years ago. Today, Swanson serves with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron SIX (HSC 6) in San Diego, working with one of the Navy’s most advanced helicopters, the MH-60S Knighthawk.
Growing up in Cottage Grove, Swanson attended Park High School and graduated in 2009. Today, Swanson uses the same skills and values learned in Cottage Grove to succeed in the military.
“Growing up, I was taught to get out of my comfort zone,” said Swanson. "You experience a lot of different people and places when you serve in the Navy, so that's been helpful."
That lesson continues to help Swanson while serving with HSC 6.
Navy pilots and aircrew at HSC 6 constantly train to ensure they are prepared for peacetime and warfighting missions. The mission set of the MH-60S includes anti-surface warfare, search and rescue, vertical replenishment, logistics support, personnel transport, humanitarian disaster relief, medical evacuation, support to Naval Special Warfare and organic airborne mine countermeasures. MH-60S helicopters are also equipped with the ability to conduct replenishments at sea, search and rescue missions and enable other operations for the carrier strike group.
“For over 60 years, HSC 6 has provided all-weather rotary wing operations to America’s Navy," said Cmdr. Charles A. Chmielak, HSC 6’s commanding officer. "Whether it’s recovering the astronauts of Apollo 14 after they returned to Earth, or deploying around the world to preserve free and open sea lanes, our highly trained sailors have always answered the call, wherever and whenever the nation needs them.”
Serving in the Navy means Swanson 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.
“The Navy contributes to national security because we are all over the world,” said Swanson. We have the biggest Navy in the world, so projecting that outward helps."
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.”
Swanson and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“My proudest naval accomplishment is advancing in rank to second class petty officer,” said Swanson.
As Swanson 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.
“Serving in the Navy requires sacrifice,” added Swanson. "You don't get to see the people you love for long periods of time, but it's worth it because you get a lot of experience and you meet so many people from all over the world. You get to take their experiences and stories that they shared and learn from them.”