- November 14, 2024
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Information from a news release provided by U.S. Navy Community Outreach
A 2001 graduate of Flagler Palm Coast High School is serving with a U.S. Navy helicopter squadron that flies the Navy’s newest and most technologically-advanced helicopter.
Petty Officer 1st Class Lloyd Goodison is a naval air crewman with the “Air Wolves” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 40, a Mayport, Florida squadron that operates the Navy’s next generation submarine hunter, and Anti-Surface Warfare helicopter, the MH-60R Seahawk. Each helicopter is nearly 65 feet long, may weigh up to 23,500 lbs. (max gross) and can travel over 120 miles per hour, for nearly 320 miles, on a tank of gas.
As a naval air crewman, Goodison is responsible for monitoring and using strategic defense systems aboard the MH-60R helicopter.
“Being able to go out and fly as a part of my job is awesome,” Goodison said. “Getting to go out and see everything from a bird's eye view is pretty cool."
According to Navy officials, the MH-60R is the most capable multi-mission helicopter available in the world today. It is used for a variety of missions, including hunting and tracking enemy submarines, attacking enemy ships, search and rescue, drug interdiction, delivering supplies and supporting the Navy’s special operations forces.
It is replacing the Navy’s older helicopters because of its greater versatility and more advanced weapon systems.
Goodison said they and other sailors are proud to be part of a war fighting team that readily defends America at all times.
“The thing I love about serving at this command is I get the opportunity to train the guys first hand who are replacing me,” Goodison said. "I like to see the excitement in their eyes when they learn something they didn't know before."
Sailors’ jobs are highly varied within the squadron. Approximately 297 Navy men and women are assigned and keep all parts of the squadron running smoothly. This includes everything from maintaining helicopter airframes and engines, to processing paperwork, handling weapons and flying the aircraft.
"The Airwolves of HSM-40, represent the best and the brightest our Navy has to offer,” Cmdr. David Loo, HSM-40 commanding officer said. “HSM-40's mission is to train Fleet Replacement Pilots and Air crewman for deployed shipboard operations in the MH-60R Seahawk aircraft. The training conducted includes aircraft flights and full visual simulators in Aircraft Operations, Anti-Surface Warfare, Anti-Submarine Warfare, Search and Rescue, and Shipboard Operations. HSM-40’s support, maintenance, and instructor staff allow for the completion of over 100 assigned students, year round, operating 16 MH-60R helicopters and 5 simulators.”
Serving in the Navy, Goodison is learning about being a more respectable leader, sailor and person through handling numerous responsibilities.
"The Navy has taught me the importance of taking care of your people,” said Goodison. "It's important to provide the guidance to the younger guys so they know the ways to be successful without finding out the harder way."
