Carlsbad's Mikaila Arnold serves at US Navy Helicopter Squadron in Japan
This article was first published by Navy Outreach May 12, 2023.
ATSUGI, Japan - Petty Officer Third Class Mikaila Arnold, a native of Carlsbad, New Mexico, serves in the U.S. Navy as a member of a helicopter squadron forward deployed to Japan.
Arnold attended Carlsbad High School and graduated in 2020.
Arnold joined the Navy three years ago.
“I joined the Navy because I wanted to have a different challenge in my life,” said Arnold.
Today, Arnold serves as an aviation ordnanceman with Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 77.
Skills and values learned in the Navy are similar to those found in Carlsbad.
“When I was younger, I learned to look at the positive and not the negative because things can get worse,” said Arnold.
Members of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 77 fly and maintain helicopters for the U.S. Navy. Navy helicopters are able to perform many different missions. Some of the most common operations include search and rescue, air assaults, medical evacuations, supply transport and hunting submarines.
This year commemorates 50 years of women flying in the U.S. Navy. In 1973, the first eight women began flight school in Pensacola; one year later six of them, known as "The First Six," earned their “Wings of Gold.” Over the past 50 years, the Navy has expanded its roles for women to lead and serve globally and today our women aviators project power from the sea in every type of Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard aircraft. Our Nation and our Navy is stronger because of their service.
As a member of the Navy, Arnold is part of a world-class organization focused on maintaining maritime dominance, strengthening partnerships, increasing competitive warfighting capabilities and sustaining combat-ready forces in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“The Navy is important to national defense because it is a show of force to our enemies,” said Arnold.
Arnold serves in Japan as part of the Forward Deployed Naval Forces. These naval forces operate with allies and partners to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Service members in this region are part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, which has the largest area of responsibility in the world.
“As the largest force in our nation’s front line against revisionist actors, U.S. Pacific Fleet meets this great responsibility with strength, resolve and confidence," said Adm. Samuel Paparo, U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander. "Together with our joint and combined partner operations, we are positioned to defend - across all domains - any attempts to threaten our nation, our allies and partner’s security, freedom and well-being."
Arnold and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“I’m most proud of being mentally strong while being away from my family and my friends,” said Arnold.
As Arnold and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“To me serving in the Navy is taking pride in showing my younger siblings and cousins that they can do anything that they put their mind to,” said Arnold.
Arnold is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my dad, grandparents and aunts,” added Arnold.
This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Carlsbad's Mikaila Arnold serves at US Navy Helicopter Squadron in Japan
