2008 Woodbury Senior High School graduate and Woodbury native Petty Officer 1st Class Nathaniel Helminski has been featured in the US Navy’s Outreach publication for duties he performs to help keep the Navy flying. Helminski is a naval helicopter tactical air crewman with the Airwolves of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 40, a Mayport, Florida based 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, and can travel over 120 miles per hour for nearly 320 miles on a tank of fuel. As a naval helicopter tactical air crewman, Helminski is responsible for maritime surveillance and reconnaissance. Coming from a long line of Service members, including a grandfather in WWII, Helminski is playing an important part in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
(Photo Source: US Navy)
