SAN DIEGO – Petty Officer 3rd Class Ezequiel Gutierrez, a native of San Clemente, California, 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 more out of life,” said Gutierrez. "I wanted to do something bigger than myself. I have a sister who was in the Navy and she showed me that joining would allow me to achieve both."
Gutierrez joined the Navy four years ago. Today, Gutierrez 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 San Clemente, Gutierrez attended San Clemente High School and graduated in 2017. Today, Gutierrez uses the same skills and values learned in San Clemente to succeed in the military.
“I grew up in a Marine Corps city, so growing up there, there was a lot of support for military and national pride,” said Gutierrez. "I think a big part of my inspiration for joining is that I am a first generation citizen, so having the chance to serve, I've brought diversity to my dream."
These lessons have helped Gutierrez 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 Gutierrez 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.
“Having been deployed last year, one of the greatest things I saw was how the U.S. presence is widely accepted and widely known,” said Gutierrez. "The places we go can see and feel what it means to be American and have freedom. That’s what we represent. I remember when we went to another country and I was standing watch with a female sailor. She was not spoken to by a contractor because she was a woman. In the same world as the one where my fellow sailor was ignored, but in America, women have the same powers and respect as men."
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.”
Gutierrez and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“My proudest naval accomplishment is having been deployed during the 2020 pandemic,” said Gutierrez. "While the rest of the world struggled and was disorganized, I felt that being deployed during this critical time in history was essential to our country being able to show other nations that we are still on top of things and able to keep our people safe."
As Gutierrez 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.
“Growing up in a beach town, I always loved the ocean and being with my family on the water,” added Gutierrez. "I loved spending the 4th of July on the water celebrating my country. Serving in the Navy means that the happiness I felt on the water and the pride for my country can continue. I'm continuing to celebrate and help spread the dream of freedom. I look forward to enjoying these same free waters with my children one day."