SAN DIEGO – Lt. Chad Alvarez, a native of Granite Bay, California, serves in the U.S. Navy in San Diego, California.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jesse Hawthorne |
“My dad worked for the FBI and on SWAT,” said Alvarez. ”A lot of his employees flew in aircraft, so I knew I wanted to fly aircraft and specifically in helicopters when I grew up.”
Alvarez joined the Navy five years ago. Today, Alvarez 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 Granite Bay, Alvarez attended Granite Bay High School and graduated in 2012. Today, Alvarez uses the same skills and values learned in Granite Bay to succeed in the military.
“I learned resilience through playing sports,” said Alvarez. “I also learned never to give up.”
These lessons have helped Alvarez while serving in the Navy.
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 Alvarez 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.
“We act as the big brother across the sea through our force projection,” said Alvarez. “We are also capable of providing a quick response through humanitarian aid.”
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.”
Alvarez and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“One of the proudest Navy moments I’ve had was getting my wings,” said Alvarez. “On my recent deployment aboard USS Nimitz, my team and I received a Sikorsky award for completing a lifesaving patient medical evacuation to Guam.”
As Alvarez 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.
“At first it was just a fun job, but once I got out to the fleet, I realized the larger impact my service and the Navy has on the rest of the world,” added Alvarez.
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 Alvarez 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.
“We act as the big brother across the sea through our force projection,” said Alvarez. “We are also capable of providing a quick response through humanitarian aid.”
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.”
Alvarez and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“One of the proudest Navy moments I’ve had was getting my wings,” said Alvarez. “On my recent deployment aboard USS Nimitz, my team and I received a Sikorsky award for completing a lifesaving patient medical evacuation to Guam.”
As Alvarez 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.
“At first it was just a fun job, but once I got out to the fleet, I realized the larger impact my service and the Navy has on the rest of the world,” added Alvarez.