By Mass
Communication Specialist 1st Class Tim Miller, Navy Office of Community
Outreach
Photo by Senior
Chief Petty Officer Gary Ward
YOKOSUKA, Japan
– An Excelsior
Springs, Missouri native and 2008 Excelsior
Springs High School graduate is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard
the guided missile destroyer, USS Curtis Wilbur.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Katelynn Coughlin is a quartermaster aboard
the forward-deployed Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer operating out
of Yokosuka, Japan. Curtis Wilbur is one
of eight destroyers forward-deployed in Yokosuka.
A Navy quartermaster is responsible for working on the bridge with the captian to help plot
the course ensuring the save navigation of the entire ship.
“Seeing a lot of great people and role models who started
in Excelsior Springs and went on to do outstanding things has inspired me," said Coughlin. "I
learned by them that I can do anything I set my mind to.”
With more than 50 percent of the world's shipping tonnage and a third
of the world's crude oil passing through the region, the U.S. has historic and
enduring interests in this part of the world.
"Our
alliance is rooted in shared interests and shared values," said Adm. Harry
Harris, Commander, U.S. Pacific Command. "It's not hyperbole to say that
the entire world has benefited from the U.S.-Japan alliance. While our alliance
helped stabilize the region after the Second World War, it also enabled the
Japanese people to bring about an era of unprecedented economic growth. And for
the last six decades, our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast
Guardsmen have worked side by side with the Japan Self Defense Force to protect
and advance peace and freedom."
Approximately
300 men and women serve aboard the ship. Their jobs are highly specialized and
keep each part of the ship running smoothly, according to Navy officials. They
do everything from maintaining gas turbine engines and operating the highly
sophisticated Aegis weapons system to driving the ship and operating small
boats.
Forward-deployed
sailors are crucial to the success of the global Navy mission and earn high
praise from their leaders.
“I have many family
members who served in the military and I believe by being in the Navy that I'm
carrying on that same tradition,” said Coughlin. “I’m proud of the fact that I advanced from E1 to E5 in less than three years. I
did a lot of work outside of my rate as well as my pay grade. I see many
forward-deployed sailors advance faster and I believe it’s because of the
amount of time doing your job at sea."
Sailors serving
abroad in Japan are highly motivated and quickly adapt to changing conditions,
explained Navy officials.
“Seeing how the Navy
responded over the years, all over the world to the many disasters influenced
my decision to join," added Coughlin. "I’m honored to know that I serve and am part of a bigger
picture. Seeing the good the Navy does is encouraging to me.”
With the ability to conduct anti-air warfare, anti-submarine
warfare and anti-surface warfare, destroyers are capable of sustained maritime
operations supporting forward naval presence, maritime security, sea control,
deterrence of aggressive actions on U.S. partners around the globe, as well as
humanitarian assistance. Fast, maneuverable, and technically advanced,
destroyers provide credible combat power, at and from the sea.