My Job in the Navy

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My Job in the Navy

I work on the SH-60B Seahawk helicopter. I maintain and repair all Data, Mission, Navigation, Communication, and Weapons systems. A difficult job at best, considering there is over 5 miles of wire inside one of these aircraft.

Our primary mission is antisubmarine warfare(ASW), with a secondary mission of combat search and rescue(CSAR). However, we add new mission capabilities everyday. We can also engage surface threats using torpedoes, missiles, and 50 cal machine guns. The SH-60B is rapidly becoming one of the most versatile aircraft in the fleet. Those F-14/ F-18 fighter jocks talk bad about us, being "low & slow", but they sure are happy to see us when we come to pluck them out of the water.

My last duty station was Helicopter Antisubmarine Warfare Squadron Light Fifty-one(HSL-51). The squadron is located in Atsugi, Japan approx. 30 miles south of Tokyo. The location was spectacular as we could see Mt. Fuji all winter long. Sometimes in the summer also. HSL-51 is the only forward deployed HSL squadron in the world. Because of that we had the highest operation tempo of nay other HSL squadron in the Navy. Rarely did a day go by when we didn't have a Detachment or two in the Persian Gulf. We are primarily responsible for search and seizure of surface vessels attempting to violate the Iraqi Embargo.

HSL-51 took the Japanese Warlord Musashi as their mascot. Musashi was notorious for his two-handed sword fighting technique. He was a peace loving Buddhist by nature, but would become ruthless when in battle. HSL-51 functions much the same way. We are ambassadors of peace, with the capability and preparedness to conduct wartime missions if necessary.

Navy Opportunities