By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Theodore Quintana, Navy Office of Community Outreach
YOKOSUKA, Japan- A Delano, California, native and 2016 Delano High School graduate is serving in the U.S. Navy forward-deployed aboard USS Blue Ridge.
Seaman Ckrjay Laforteza is serving 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.
As a Navy seaman, Laforteza is responsible for maintaining the material readiness of the ship.
Laforteza is proud to serve in the Pacific and fondly recalls memories of Delano.
“Growing up I learned the importance of respect and responsibility,” said Laforteza.
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.
“Being forward-deployed is a great opportunity to learn different cultures and people,” said Laforteza.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Laforteza 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 has given me an opportunity to meet new people, learn new cultures, and travel the world,” said Laforteza.
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.