Military and Veterans Military Spotlight: Bradenton Native Cristine Civil Serves with Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 35

Cristine Civil

BRADENTON — Petty Officer 2nd Class Cristine Civil, graduate of the 2004 class of Bradenton Christian, is currently serving as an aviation electrician with the "Magicians" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 35 in San Diego.

The squadron deploys itself aboard Navy ships internationally, and uses the Navy's most advanced helicopter, the MH-60R Sea Hawk. That particular aircraft "features more sophisticated electronics, like a new low-frequency sonar and an advanced radar system,” says Lt. Reagan Lauritzen, Commander, Naval Air Force U.S. Pacific Fleet spokesperson.

Civil is responsible for electrical maintenance of the MH-60R as well as 35's other aircraft. "As an electrician we diagnose discrepancies within the electrical systems, it’s like a game of cat and mouse. Many systems tie into each other so our knowledge base is in all systems, not just in one area," she says.

Missions are conducted while aboard Navy ships. Those missions range from hunting enemy subs, to combating enemy ships, to search and rescue, according to Lauritzen.

“The Navy has the ability to impact the world in a lot of different ways, not just war related,” said Civil. “Our humanitarian efforts reach so many people. The thought that you just never know how we’re going to help others – and even ourselves in the long run – is very rewarding.”

One such humanitarian instance involved Civil's squadron helping the Haitian people after their country's 2010 earthquake. The officer has family in Haiti. “I was so grateful to this squadron and thanked them for helping my family. They had a huge impact on my mom, brother and me.”

Civil says she has served eight years because of that kind of positive impact the Navy can have in the world. “It feels great to deploy because it gives me a strong sense of accomplishment. You never know what’s going to happen in the world when you are deployed, so the ability to be there when that next big thing happens is an honor.”