By Mass
Communication Specialist 1st Class Tim Miller, Navy Office of Community
Outreach
Photo by Senior
Chief Petty Officer Gary Ward
YOKOSUKA, Japan- A 2008 Franklin
High School graduate and Stockton, California native is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard USS Blue Ridge.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Erick Castillo is a boatswain’s mate aboard the forward-deployed amphibious command
ship operating out of Yokosuka, Japan.
As a Navy boatswain’s
mate, Castillo is responsible for leading junior
sailors and all activities relating to deck and boat seamanship and
overseeing maintenance of the ship's external structure and deck equipment.
“Growing up I learned to
never give up," said Castillo. "Being in a big town you always have to have the heart to keep
going. The same applies in the Navy because with my job I have to remain flexible
everyday and stay the course.”
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.
“I'm the first of my
family to join the military and I have a lot of people back home supporting me.
This gives me a great deal of pride. I like the fact that I’m able to able to start
a tradition and also show others that there so much more to experience in life,”
said Castillo. “I’m most proud of my junior sailors. Many of them come in the Navy without
a job title and start working on the deck with me right away. I appreciate the
chance to mold and motivate them to take advantage of every opportunity the
Navy provides. I'm not just their leader but also their motivator, trainer and
friend.”
Sailors serving abroad in
Japan are highly motivated and quickly adapt to changing conditions, explained
Navy officials.
“I like my job in the Navy, but the bigger picture is
important as well," added Castillo. "I like to think that I do
this not just for myself, but for my family and friends back home and even
people I don’t know. Serving the Navy means serving my country.”
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.