SAN DIEGO – Airman Gilberto Amezaga, a native of Tomball, 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 was inspired to join the Navy by my uncles who had served,” said Amezaga. "They've since retired, but I wanted to follow in their footsteps."
Amezaga joined the Navy one year ago. Today, Amezaga serves with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron EIGHT (HSC 8) in San Diego, working with one of the Navy’s most advanced helicopters, the MH-60S Seahawk
Growing up in Tomball, Amezaga attended Tomball High School and graduated in 2018. Today, Amezaga uses the same skills and values learned in Tomball to succeed in the military.
“Growing up, I was taught to be aware of my surroundings and to be aware of who I surround myself with,” said Amezaga. "I want to surround myself with people I see working hard and achieving their goals."
This lesson continues to help Amezaga while serving in the Navy.
Navy pilots and aircrew at HSC 8 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.
Serving in the Navy means Amezaga 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 is a huge contributor to national security,” said Amezaga. "If we were not protecting the seas and keeping them free, then our shores would be easily reachable."
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.”
Amezaga and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“My proudest naval accomplishment is being named Blue Jacket of the Quarter on my first deployment at my first command,” said Amezaga.
As Amezaga 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 means everything to me,” added Amezaga. "It means sacrifice and integrity. It also means I get to take the lessons learned as a sailor and apply them to myself and my life outside the military as well."
Growing up in Tomball, Amezaga attended Tomball High School and graduated in 2018. Today, Amezaga uses the same skills and values learned in Tomball to succeed in the military.
“Growing up, I was taught to be aware of my surroundings and to be aware of who I surround myself with,” said Amezaga. "I want to surround myself with people I see working hard and achieving their goals."
This lesson continues to help Amezaga while serving in the Navy.
Navy pilots and aircrew at HSC 8 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.
Serving in the Navy means Amezaga 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 is a huge contributor to national security,” said Amezaga. "If we were not protecting the seas and keeping them free, then our shores would be easily reachable."
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.”
Amezaga and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“My proudest naval accomplishment is being named Blue Jacket of the Quarter on my first deployment at my first command,” said Amezaga.
As Amezaga 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 means everything to me,” added Amezaga. "It means sacrifice and integrity. It also means I get to take the lessons learned as a sailor and apply them to myself and my life outside the military as well."