Petty Officer 3rd Class Blake Hamilton works as a boatswain’s mate, which is responsible for training, directing, and supervising personnel in ship’s maintenance duties.
A 2012 Cherokee High School graduate and Marlton native is part of an elite Navy helicopter squadron with a critical mission: hunting and destroying enemy mines in waters around the world.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Blake Hamilton serves with Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15, known as the “Blackhawks,” which operates out of Norfolk.
Hamilton works as a boatswain’s mate, which is responsible for training, directing, and supervising personnel in ship’s maintenance duties.
“I love driving the ridged hull inflatable boats,” Hamilton said. “It is exhilarating”
According Navy officials, the squadron’s primary mission is to provide combat-ready helicopters for airborne mine countermeasures using a magnetic minesweeping sled. The MH-53E helicopter tows this sled while patrolling foreign and domestic waters to locate and eradicate sea-based mines that would damage watercraft. In doing so, the helicopter’s crew is able to map out safe sea-lanes for travel. Adding speed and range to their operations, MH-53E crews also conduct airborne mine countermeasures. The MH-53E is capable of flying over the horizon at speeds greater than 170 mph.
“People are the most critical element of HM-15’s ability to maintain a combat-ready posture capable of deploying anywhere in the world in 72 hours,” Cmdr. Bernard V. Spozio said. ”These sailors are always advancing; working to better themselves and the squadron as a whole, and their tireless pursuit of perfection is the lifeblood of our organization.”
In turn, Hamilton said leadership in the command is “top notch” and “enjoyable.”
According to Navy officials, sailors assigned to HM-15 support rotating 24-hour operations. Jobs are highly specialized and designed to keep each part of the squadron running smoothly. Whether training new aviators, maintaining airframes and engines, processing paperwork, or handling and flying the aircraft, Hamilton said the key to the squadron’s success is teamwork.
“Being in the Navy has allowed me to do something different and explore different parts of the world,” Hamilton said.
