Community

Naval pilots, crewmen visit BEA High School

WINGATE -- Naval pilots and crewmen landed at Bald Eagle Area High School recently.

The helicopters came to the school on May 15 as part of their "Every Leader is a Recruiter" program.

Students from both the middle and high schools were allowed to tour the helicopters and speak with naval personnel during school hours. After the buses had departed for the day, others could come to see the helicopters up close, too.

Young children with big eyes took it all in as they were able to sit and stand inside the MH-60 Romeo and the MH-60 Sierra heli's.

The purpose of the event was to give students and the public the opportunity to experience Naval Aviation.

According to Senior Chief Naval Aircrewman Neale McPheron, "I reached out to principal Jack Tobias to arrange the landing."

McPheron is a 1999 graduate of Bald Eagle Area High School and thought it would be a great experience to bring the helicopters to the school.

The aircraft left an air station in Patuxent River in southern Maryland for their 90 minute flight to Wingate.

"We could not have asked for a better day for flying and being here today. The weather is wonderful and the students are excited," said McPheron, who grew up in the Reese Hollow area of Port Matilda. His father was employed at Penn State back then, but now his parents live in Columbus, Ohio.

"It's always nice to return to the Centre County area. My wife graduated from Penns Valley and my in-laws live in Centre Hall, so we're able to come back for visits and to stay in touch with family and friends here," Pheron added.

McPheron said Navy recruitment numbers are down, but with the Every Leader is a Recruiter program and visiting the school, he has an opportunity to reach out to students in the hopes that they may want to learn more about Naval Aviation in the hopes of higher enlistments.

"Along with the pilots and crewmen that fly and operate these aircraft, structural mechanics, technicians, maintenance personnel and electricians were also on hand to explain their duties. Naval Aviation provides a broad scope of employment opportunities," said McPheron.

Personnel dressed in pristine white from the recruitment office in State College were also there to provide literature for those interested.

Bald Eagle Area School District was chosen for the landing because many of the high school students want to be involved in vocational and technical careers. Students may already be attending those types of classes at the Central PA Institute of Science and Technology in Pleasant Gap, so its purpose was to educate people that there is a wide range of employment opportunities with the United States Navy.

Pilots took a short break in the shade of a canopy on the warm afternoon, before returning to speak with folks about the differences in the helicopters.

The MH-60 Romeo is used primarily for anti-submarine warfare missions, while the Sierra is used for combat search and rescue missions.

One of the pilots was originally from the Lower Dauphin area of Pennsylvania while another grew up in Berks County.