Courtesy Photo | Petty Officer 3rd Class Jason Stotridge, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 26...... read more read more
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By Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason T. Poplin
MANAMA, Bahrain - Petty Officer 3rd Class Jason Stotridge has been assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 26 Detachment 1 "Desert Hawks" less than a month and is already an integral part of the Norfolk, Va., based squadron's logistics support team.
Stotridge's primary job is trouble-shooting electronics equipment on the detachment's three twin-engine MH-60S Knighthawk helicopters, which are assigned to Commander Task Force 53. These "birds" are used for logistics support, search and rescue, vertical replenishment and naval
special warfare support.
"The helicopter that we work on is like the pickup truck of the Navy," Stotridge said. "It can do just about anything, from moving supplies to personnel. It's a do-all kind of vehicle and we keep them running."
CTF 53, which reports to Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, has tactical control of all Navy combat logistics force ships, strategic sealift, special mission ships and logistics aircraft operating within the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. The "Desert Hawks" take pride in
contributing to this mssion by providing "quality combat support to the fleet, safely, professionally, and on time."
"Stotridge hit the ground running," said Senior Chief Petty Officer Justin Blakley, the detachment's leading chief petty officer.
"Ever since he got off the plane, he's been a big player and an asset. He'll start off the day performing plane captain functions by inspecting the aircraft, ensuring they are safe to fly prior to the pilots' pre-flight inspections."
There are about 63 personnel assigned to the detachment, which is forward-deployed to Naval Support Activity, Bahrain's aviation unit in Muharraq, Bahrain. With such a small work force, Sailors have to cross-train to learn jobs outside their specialties.
"Stotridge's primary training was as an electrician, so he gets involved with electronics discrepancies to trouble-shoot and correct them," Blakley said. "But he wasn't trained in metalwork, hydraulics, landing-gear and jet engines - he gets that on the job here. He has a sterling work ethic that ensures his duties are fulfilled well, and in the end we're able to execute our mission out here, which is to provide passenger, and mail and cargo transport services."
Hailing from Avon Lake, Ohio, Stotridge enlisted in the Navy in June of 2005 and attributes his success to the camaraderie that has developed at the small detachment.
Stotridge says even the smallest contributions - such as checking engine oil, tightening a bolt, or clearing the aircraft of foreign object debris - are critical to keeping the birds in the air and ensuring pilots' safety.
"It's an extremely important job," said Stotridge. "People's lives depend on everything that we do."
But the safety of his pilots isn't the only thing that motivates Stotridge to do well. Ensuring the end results, such as the timely delivery of mail, also inspire the Sailor to do his best.
"Sometimes all the war fighters need is a letter to keep them going and we want to make sure it gets there," he said.
| Date Taken: | 06.02.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 06.02.2010 11:41 |
| Story ID: | 50717 |
| Location: | MANAMA, BH |
| Web Views: | 278 |
| Downloads: | 166 |
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