SAN DIEGO - Petty Officer 2nd Class Anthony Kawaguchi, a native of Castro Valley, California, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 35.
Kawaguchi graduated from Castro Valley High School in 2014.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Castro Valley.
“Growing up, I learned I had to look at the big picture,” Kawaguchi said. “The work I did prior to the military really made you take a step back and take it all in.”
Kawaguchi joined the Navy five years ago. Today, Kawaguchi serves as a naval air crewman (tactical helicopter).
“I was a lifeguard growing up,” Kawaguchi said. “I wanted the opportunity to further help my community and country, so I joined the Navy. I was most interested in the rescue swimmer path.”
Members of HSM-35 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.
Kawaguchi has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I’m most proud of making it through the selection process for rescue swimmer,” Kawaguchi said. “Rescue swimmer school was an intensive schooling that many didn’t make it through. My training for my specific platform took an additional two years after rescue swimmer school. It was mentally intensive while rescue swimmer school was physically demanding.”
Kawaguchi serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“Serving in the Navy and following in my grandparents’ and uncle’s footsteps brings me a great deal of pride,” Kawaguchi said. “My family was in the military, and to get the opportunity to carry that legacy forward is always inspiring.”
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joseph Sitter, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West |
Kawaguchi graduated from Castro Valley High School in 2014.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Castro Valley.
“Growing up, I learned I had to look at the big picture,” Kawaguchi said. “The work I did prior to the military really made you take a step back and take it all in.”
Kawaguchi joined the Navy five years ago. Today, Kawaguchi serves as a naval air crewman (tactical helicopter).
“I was a lifeguard growing up,” Kawaguchi said. “I wanted the opportunity to further help my community and country, so I joined the Navy. I was most interested in the rescue swimmer path.”
Members of HSM-35 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.
Kawaguchi has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I’m most proud of making it through the selection process for rescue swimmer,” Kawaguchi said. “Rescue swimmer school was an intensive schooling that many didn’t make it through. My training for my specific platform took an additional two years after rescue swimmer school. It was mentally intensive while rescue swimmer school was physically demanding.”
Kawaguchi serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“Serving in the Navy and following in my grandparents’ and uncle’s footsteps brings me a great deal of pride,” Kawaguchi said. “My family was in the military, and to get the opportunity to carry that legacy forward is always inspiring.”
Kawaguchi is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my mom and dad, Phillip and Judith Vierra,” Kawaguchi added. “Originally, they were averse to the idea of me joining the military, but after seeing the positive impact I get to make on the world every day, they have been nothing but supportive.”