SAN DIEGO - Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Ford, a native of Bakersfield, California, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 41.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Class Joey Sitter, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West |
Ford graduated from Mojave River Academy in 2017.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Bakersfield.
“Growing up, the biggest thing I learned was to apply the golden rule of treating people the way you want to be treated,” Ford said. “I also learned that if you work hard, you’ll see the benefits of it. I’ve seen people not do that and how that’s affected them. I don’t like the idea that this is how it was when I was in and that’s how I’m going to treat you. Those people never rank up. I see other people treating people how they want to be treated and they advance faster.”
Ford joined the Navy six years ago. Today, Ford serves as an aviation electronics technician.
“My grandfather was in the Marine Corps and my dad was in the Navy,” Ford said. “I listened to my grandfather, who had a pretty set life and never really worried about money for anything. When I turned 18, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. I asked him, and he said you should consider the military if you don’t really have a direction in life. So, I joined the Navy. My dad helped me out and told me what jobs not to pick.”
Members of HSM 41 fly and maintain the MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter, the Navy’s most advanced rotary wing maritime strike platform. The Navy MH-60R is able to perform many different missions. Some of the most common operations include strikes on maritime targets, submarine hunting and attack, electronic warfare, search and rescue, medical evacuations and supply support.
The U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year.
According to Navy officials, “America is a maritime nation and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.”
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Ford has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I’m most proud of earning my wings,” Ford said. “It took a lot of knowledge about my platform to get them. You have to know everything there is to know about the helicopter and all of the equipment and what it’s for. I got my wings as an airman, and they don’t do that anymore.”
Ford serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“To me, serving in the Navy is just a job,” Ford said. “I’m proud to be in the military, but it’s not my whole life. When people ask what I do, I tell them I’m a helicopter mechanic, not that I’m in the Navy. I’ve told my siblings to join, but only because it’s a good job. If you really don’t know what you’re doing in life, the Navy can push you in a different direction.”
Ford is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I’d like to thank my wife, Isabel Ford, for always being there for me and being supportive,” Ford added. “I know it probably wasn’t her plan to be a military wife, but she’s doing an amazing job. I also want to thank my grandfather, Thomas Hernandez, for giving me direction and advice. Lastly, I want to thank my dad, James Ford, for being a great dad. If he wasn’t the dad he was, I wouldn’t be the person I am.”