PETTY officer 1st Class Tamara Lynch, a native of Kingston, is serving in the US Navy with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 on the island of Guam.

Lynch graduated from North Miami Senior High in 1999.

“Growing up I ran track, played basketball and soccer,” said Lynch. “I enjoyed being part of a team and having others depend on me. I was taught very early on to never give up and I never will here, in the Navy.”

Lynch joined the Navy five years ago. Today, Lynch serves as an aviation maintenance administrationman.

“I joined the Navy looking for a stable career that would help me grow and become a man,” said Lynch. “I love to travel and the Navy lets me go all over the world and see so many different places, people, and cultures.”

HSC 25 is the Navy’s only forward-deployed MH-60S expeditionary squadron and as part of Helicopter Sea Combat Wing Pacific, it provides an armed helicopter capability for US 7th and 5th Fleets, as well as detachments to various commands covering a diverse mission set. Flying the MH-60S helicopter, HSC-25 supports permanently assigned detachments to the USS America homeported in Sasebo, Japan, Commander Task Force 76, and Commander Task Force 73. These detachments perform combat logistics, search and rescue, and humanitarian assistance for US 7th Fleet.

Based at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, HSC 25 is the Navy’s only squadron that maintains a 24-hour search and rescue and medical evacuation alert posture, directly supporting the US Coast Guard, Sector Guam, and Joint Region Marianas. Since 1984, HSC 25 has launched 2,445 missions, resulting in 762 medical evacuations, and rescuing 475 lives from waters and jungles of the island chain.

Lynch serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world, and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.

“We will earn and reinforce the trust and confidence of the American people every day,” said Admiral Lisa Franchetti, chief of naval operations. “Together we will deliver the Navy the nation needs.”

Lynch has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.

“I am most proud of the fact I was able to climb to the rank of E-6 so early on in my career,” said Lynch. “I am also proud to say I was selected to be Sailor of the Year and being awarded with three Navy Achievement Medals. Serving in the Navy gives me the chance to be a part of making sure our country and my family back home are safe. We each play a role in keeping the ships floating and the planes flying in the sky.”

Lynch is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.

“I would like to thank my family back home for always being by my side and supporting me wherever I am in the world,” added Lynch. “I would also like to thank my command, Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 30, for helping make me the sailor I am today. I have learned so many skills that I will use for life. I have never felt so smart and so prepared to take on life.”