SAN DIEGO - Petty Officer 2nd Class Tyler Simonson, a native of Helena, Montana, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 75.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joey Sitter, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West |
Simonson graduated from Helena High School in 2015.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Helena.
“I grew up on a farm where I learned that hard work, dedication and having a positive outlook can provide a secure future,” Simonson said. “These lessons have helped me a lot while dealing with the challenges of the Navy.”
Simonson joined the Navy three years ago. Today, Simonson serves as an aviation electrician's mate.
“I always had a desire to serve,” Simonson said. “I've also had people on both sides of my family that served in the military, including in WWII and Vietnam. I joined when I finally hit a point in my life where I wanted to so that I wouldn’t look back and regret not serving.”
Members of HSM 75 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.
Simonson has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“Being selected as Junior Sailor of the Year for HSM 75 was my proudest accomplishment because it showed me that my chain of command and my peers thought highly of me since they nominated me,” Simonson said. “It also proved to them and myself that I was worthy.”
Simonson serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation's prosperity and security.
“Being in the Navy means I'm fulfilling a dream I've always had to serve,” Simonson said. “It also gives me the ability to learn new skills, visit places I would've never seen and meet people from all around the globe.”
Simonson is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my fiancé for staying by my side through enlisting, boot camp, training and deployment,” Simonson added. “I also want to thank my mother, Julie, for continually supporting me through everything I've gone through. Lastly, I want to thank my supervisors and leadership in both the 220 and 310 shops because they have guided me and helped me work to better myself inside and outside of the Navy.”