By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Robert
Zahn, Navy Office of Community Outreach
Photo by Senior Chief Petty Officer Gary Ward
YOKOSUKA, Japan – A North
Powder, Oregon native and 2015 North Powder Charter School graduate is serving in the U.S.
Navy aboard the guided missile destroyer, USS Curtis Wilbur.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Lane
Loennig is an
electronics technician 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 electronics technician manages preventive and corrective
maintenance on electronic equipment. They maintain, repair, calibrate, tune,
and adjust electronic equipment while utilizing test equipment and technical
drawings for Command, Control, Computer, Communication, and Intelligence (C4I)
systems, cryptographic systems, radar systems, and navigation systems.
“The value of hard work was
instilled in everyone back home including my family, friends, community, and
teachers,” said Loennig. “This has influenced me greatly and helped me since
joining the Navy.”
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 had an uncle in the Navy who
would tell me sea stories and just hearing what he had to say inspired me to
join the Navy,” said Loennig.
Sailors serving abroad in Japan are highly motivated and quickly adapt
to changing conditions, explained Navy officials.
“I joined the Navy because I
wanted to serve for my country and protect the freedoms that we hold,” added
Loennig.
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.