By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Robert Zahn, Navy Office of Community Outreach
Photo by Senior Chief Petty Officer Gary Ward
YOKOSUKA, Japan- A 2016 Eleanor Roosevelt High School graduate and Los Angeles native is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard USS Blue Ridge.
Seaman Ashley Scott is a culinary specialist aboard the forward-deployed amphibious command ship operating out of Yokosuka, Japan.
A Navy culinary specialist is responsible for operating kitchen and dining facilities, budgeting for food service management, and ensuring morale aboard the ship.
“My mom taught me to never give up and to complete every task which I believe has helped me succeed in the Navy,” said Scott.
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 United States 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."
USS Blue Ridge serves as the flagship for the U.S. Seventh Fleet. It is one of only two U.S. Navy command ships in the world, providing command and control for fleet commanders.
Forward-deployed sailors are crucial to the success of the global Navy mission and earn high praise from their leaders.
“Being forward deployed here the work can get demanding and it is not always fun but I believe it is my goal to try to make everyone around me happy as much as I can,” said Scott.
Sailors serving abroad in Japan are highly motivated and quickly adapt to changing conditions, explained Navy officials.
“I joined the Navy to push myself to the limit and to see what I can accomplish,” added Scott. “I believe the Navy provides me opportunities to better my life."
Sailors play a vital role in the overall military mission around the world.
"The U.S.-Japan alliance remains the cornerstone for peace and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region," said Harris.