NORFOLK, Va. - Petty Officer 3rd Class William Morgan, whose stepdad lives in Aurora, Colorado, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 5.
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Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Mark Pena, Navy Public Affairs Support Element East |
Morgan joined the Navy five years ago. Today, Morgan serves as an aviation structural mechanic.
“I always knew I was going to join the military - I just didn’t know what branch,” Morgan said. "I ended up choosing the Navy because they put the most effort into recruiting me. I also saw the military as a stepping stone."
Members of HSC-5 fly and maintain the MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter within Carrier Air Wing SEVEN (CVW-7). The MH-60S's primary missions are Search and Rescue, Naval Special Warfare Support and Anti-Surface Warfare. Additional missions include logistic support, vertical replenishment, medical evacuation, non-combatant evacuation operations and maritime interdiction operations. In short, HSC-5 "Rescues, Protects and Delivers!"
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.
Morgan has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am most proud of going on deployments, doing humanitarian aid and interacting with other cultures,” Morgan said. “Seeing other cultures and countries is an eye-opening experience. I am also proud of the humanitarian missions I’ve done because they showed me the reason why we do what we do. That made it all worth it for me.”
Morgan serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation's prosperity and security.
“The Navy gives me a sense of purpose because I see the benefit of my work,” Morgan said. "It is a very humbling experience."
Morgan is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my mom, Lashawnatye, for helping me keep my head on straight,” Morgan added. “She taught me a lot of lessons early on that I couldn’t appreciate until I was on my own at 18. After turning 18, those lessons made me understand the weight of independence and security. I also want to thank my stepdad, Paul Tye, for always having my back in the sense that whatever I did, he supported me fully. Lastly, I want to thank Aviation Structural Mechanic 2nd Class Diego Lopez, for being a good friend and mentor to me. He really showed me the importance of being good at what you do, just to be good at it."