By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Robert Zahn, Navy Office of Community Outreach
YOKOSUKA, Japan- An Atlanta native and 2015 Hapeville Charter Career Academy is serving in the U.S. Navy forward-deployed aboard USS Blue Ridge.
Seaman Shawn Bernard Jr. is a boatswain's mate aboard the ship operating out of Yokosuka, Japan. The ship routinely deploys to protect alliances, enhance partnerships, and be ready to respond if a natural disaster occurs in the region.
A Navy boatswain's mate maintains and preserves the exterior surfaces of the ship, handles deck machinery and equipment, handles mooring lines, and takes part in various evolutions such as search and rescue and underway replenishment..
Bernard Jr. is proud to serve in the Pacific and fondly recalls memories of Atlanta.
“Being respectful to everyone is what I’ve learned back home,” said Bernard. “When we respect each other, it makes the job go by easier.”
Moments like that makes it worth serving around the world ready at all times to defend America’s interests. 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. The Navy's presence in Yokosuka is part of that long-standing commitment, explained Navy officials.
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.
“Serving in this fast-paced environment can be stressful at times, but that means there is never a dull moment,” said Bernard.
Bernard is also proud of becoming qualified in maintenance and achieving his second class swim qualification.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Bernard and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
"Serving in the Navy teaches me to be a better team player and grow as an individual,” said Bernard. “Being out to sea and experiencing it first hand is a fascinating experience that you can’t get working anywhere else.”
Seventh Fleet, which is celebrating its 75th year in 2018, spans more than 124 million square kilometers, stretching from the International Date Line to the India/Pakistan border; and from the Kuril Islands in the North to the Antarctic in the South. Seventh Fleet's area of operation encompasses 36 maritime countries and 50 percent of the world’s population with between 50-70 U.S. ships and submarines, 140 aircraft, and approximately 20,000 Sailors in the 7th Fleet.