SAN DIEGO – Airman Ashley Gonzalez, a native of La Feria, Texas, serves in the U.S. Navy in San Diego, California.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jesse Hawthorne |
“I knew I wanted to do something big with my life,” said Gonzalez. “I joined the Navy to fulfill my dreams.”
Gonzalez joined the Navy two years ago. Today, Gonzalez 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 La Feria, Gonzalez attended La Feria High School and graduated in 2019. Today, Gonzalez uses the same skills and values learned in La Feria to succeed in the military.
“Growing up my family taught me a lot about respect,” said Gonzalez. “They raised me right and taught me to learn and grow from my mistakes in order to become a better person.”
These lessons have helped Gonzalez 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 Gonzalez 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 believe that when we go on deployment we protect the sea from foreign and domestic enemies,” said Gonzalez. “We prepare every day so we can protect the waterways, our country and support other countries too."
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.”
Gonzalez and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“Receiving my Air Warfare pin is my greatest naval accomplishment,” said Gonzalez. “It was an accomplishment that I'm really proud of because I studied hard and pushed myself to earn it.”
As Gonzalez 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.
“I think serving in the Navy means that I will proudly serve my country and continually push myself to make my family proud,” added Gonzalez.