By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Theodore Quintana, Navy Office of Community Outreach
YOKOSUKA, Japan- A Pueblo West, Colorado, native and 2014 Dolores Huerta High School graduate is serving in the U.S. Navy forward-deployed aboard USS Blue Ridge.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Erin Trujillo 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 is responsible for maintaining the exterior surfaces of the ships, deck handling and equipment, handling cargo and operating small boats
Trujillo is proud to serve in the Pacific and fondly recalls memories of Pueblo West.
“I didn’t want to live in Pueblo my whole life so joining the Navy made me realize that everyone came from different backgrounds and there’s a big world out here,” said Trujillo.
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.
“I enjoy being forward deployed, it has given me the opportunity to travel and maintain relations with foreign countries,” said Trujillo.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Trujillo 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 makes me feel proud and my family members speak highly of me and it makes me feel important,” said Trujillo.
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.