By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tim Miller,
Navy Office of Community Outreach
Photo by Senior Chief Petty Officer Gary Ward
YOKOSUKA, Japan- A Wichita, Kansas native is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard USS Blue Ridge.
Petty Officer 1st class Marvin Thompson is a mass communication specialist aboard the
forward-deployed amphibious command ship operating out of Yokosuka, Japan.
As a Navy mass communication specialist, Thompson leads and mentors junior sailors responsible for photo
journalism and public affairs for the Navy, telling the Navy's story in
creative ways using the latest media technology.
“Growing
up, I learned the importance of hard work and
being trustworthy,” said Thompson. “These
values apply to my job every day in 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 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've been in Japan for 12 years and really like it," said Thompson. "It’s amazing how safe it is here and how friendly the people are. Their sense
of service is second to none. I feel privileged that not many people I know
have had the chance to visit or live here. I'm most proud seeing my sailors' success and hearing
about how their family members are proud of what they are doing. I don’t
consider it a sacrifice at all to have surrendered aspects of my career in order to see them
advance in their professional and personal lives."
Sailors serving abroad in Japan are highly motivated and
quickly adapt to changing conditions, explained Navy officials.
“I
believe that the Navy gave me a second lease on
life," added Thompson. "I was just working and had no real outlook and now I have a lot of pride
in my work and in my life. I feel like I’m receiving more than I’m giving.
These are opportunities I truly never expected. I wouldn’t be where I am today
if it wasn’t for the Navy.”
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.