By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Robert
Zahn, Navy Office of Community Outreach
Photo by Senior Chief Petty Officer Gary Ward
YOKOSUKA, Japan – A Los
Angeles native and 2014 Chatsworth High School graduate is serving in the U.S. Navy
aboard the guided missile destroyer, USS Curtis Wilbur.
Seaman Jessica Colton works
in the deck department 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 sailor in the deck
department maintains and preserves the exterior surfaces of the ship, handles
deck machinery and equipment, handles mooring lines, handles cargo, operates
small boats, and takes part in various evolutions such as search and rescue and
underway replenishment.
“One thing that I learned from
home was to respect others,” said Colton. “Since the Navy is so diverse I
believe this trait has helped me a lot.”
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.
“My older brother joined the
Air Force and I saw how he carried himself," said Colton. "He became sort of a positive role
model to me and this influenced me in joining the Navy. Being stationed here is tough
because we are always busy working very long hours and the culture here is so
different from ours. What makes this rewarding is that I love
being a boatswain’s mate and I love experiencing new cultures.”
Sailors serving abroad in Japan are highly motivated and quickly adapt
to changing conditions, explained Navy officials.
“I enjoy serving in the Navy
because I feel like I am protecting my family back home and the people who can't protect themselves,” added Colton.
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.