By U.S. Navy Chief Mass Communications Specialist Bill
Steele, Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs
PEARL HARBOR - A 2000 Polk County High School graduate and Hendersonville, North Carolina native is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard one of the world’s most advanced
nuclear-powered fast attack submarines, USS Cheyenne.
Petty Officer 2nd Class
Johnny Stepp
is a culinary specialist serving aboard
the Pearl Harbor-based submarine, one of 40 Los Angeles-class submarines making
it the backbone of the submarine force.
A Navy culinary specialists
is responsible for ensuring that everyone is
appropriately fed aboard ship.
“We make sure that guys can
do their job,” said Stepp. “I get to
interact face to face with each crewmember every day, I love it. I get to be a
soundboard in a sense,” he added.
With a crew of 130, this submarine is 360 feet long and
weighs approximately 6,900 tons. A nuclear-powered propulsion system helps push
the submarine through the water at more than 25 mph.
Attack submarines are designed to hunt down and destroy
enemy submarines and surface ships; strike targets ashore with cruise missiles;
carry and deliver Navy SEALs; carry out intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance
missions; and engage in mine warfare. Their primary tactical advantage is
stealth, operating undetected under the sea for long periods of time.
“Submarine
sailors never cease to amaze me with their ability to complete complex missions
in the world’s most challenging environments,” said Rear Adm. Fritz Roegge,
Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. “Continued U.S. undersea
superiority is not possible without their dedication, expertise and
professionalism.”
According
to Navy officials, because of the demanding environment aboard submarines,
personnel are accepted only after rigorous testing and observation. Submariners
are some of the most highly trained and skilled people in the Navy. The
training is highly technical and each crew has to be able to operate, maintain,
and repair every system or piece of equipment on board. Regardless of their specialty, everyone also
has to learn how everything on the ship works and how to respond in emergencies
to become “qualified in submarines” and earn the right to wear the coveted gold
or silver dolphins on their uniform.
“We are literally the tip
of the spear,” said Stepp. “We are one highly motivated and utilized boat.”
Challenging
submarine living conditions actually build strong fellowship among the elite crew,
Navy officials explained. The crews are
highly motivated, and quickly adapt to changing conditions. It is a busy life of specialized work,
watches, and drills.
“Serving in the Navy allows
me to support of my family, and being able to do my part to protect my country is what it’s all about
for me.