SAN DIEGO – Airman Juan Lezama, a native of Silver Spring, Maryland, 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 had a youth pastor who was a corpsman in the Navy,” said Lezama. "He always talked about how he had the chance to help people in real situations. That made me want to join."
Lezama joined the Navy four years ago. Today, Lezama 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.
Lezama uses the same skills and values learned in Silver Spring to succeed in the military.
“Growing up, I was taught to be tolerant of a lot of different cultures,” said Lezama. "There were people from all over the world living near me because D.C. is so close. I think that prepared me for the Navy, because people from all over the world join the Navy."
These lessons have helped Lezama 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 Lezama 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 the Navy contributes to national security because we are able to have power projection at sea,” said Lezama. "We keep the trade routes open. It's so important to have international waters stay clear of self-serving groups. The Navy makes sure that happens."
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.”
Lezama and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“My proudest naval accomplishment is completing my most recent deployment during COVID-19,” said Lezama. "Not a lot of military had carrier air groups that could be out and doing the stuff we were doing in 2020. We were setting the standards for how the Navy should respond if we ever encounter another pandemic."
As Lezama 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.
“From the beginning of our country, there have always been people who have chosen to serve and protect,” added Lezama. "It felt very cool to know that during the pandemic, even though I wasn't going to be able to be with my wife and my newborn son, my service allowed others to be home with their families. There are people who have put others first before me, and there will be people who put others first after me."