SASEBO, Japan – A Birmingham, Alabama, native and 2015 Bessemer City High School graduate is serving in Japan in the U.S. Navy aboard one of the forward-deployed mine countermeasures ship, USS Patriot.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Micah Brown is a mineman aboard the Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship, operating out of Sasebo, 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 mineman is responsible for assisting in the detection and neutralization of underwater mines. They test various electronic components to ensure proper repair and make sure that the mine works properly. They are also responsible for safe storage, handling and loading of mines for transporting.
Brown is proud to serve in the Pacific and fondly recalls memories of Birmingham.
“If you put your mind to it, you don’t have to make bad choices to be successful which I learned from my mom," said Brown. "She also taught me that when situations are tough, to not just quit, because there will always be hard times.’
Brown thus far is proud of the teamwork here on the ship. He feels like they are all willing to help each other no matter what the task is.
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 Sasebo is part of that long-standing commitment, explained Navy officials.
With a crew of more than 80, USS Patriot is 224 feet long and weighs approximately 1,300 tons. USS Patriot is one of the Navy’s 11 Avenger-class mine countermeasures ships that are designed to neutralize mines from vital waterways and harbors. There are four minesweepers in Sasebo as part of the forward-deployed mine countermeasures force that are on-call to respond in the event of a mine-clearing operation in the Indo-Pacific.
MCMs in Sasebo routinely operate with allies and partners to build mine countermeasures proficiency and sustain our alliances.
“This is my first command, so being away from family is hard. The only contact is through phone calls and the internet," said Brown. "I do like being in Japan though, it’s always been my dream to visit Japan, now I'm finally here. My attention to detail is better than it was before. I'm a lot more aware of what’s going on. I’ve become more disciplined since being in the Navy.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Brown 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 means that I get to protect my loved ones," said Brown. "To make sure they can exercise the same freedoms and rights that I have.”
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.
A Navy mineman is responsible for assisting in the detection and neutralization of underwater mines. They test various electronic components to ensure proper repair and make sure that the mine works properly. They are also responsible for safe storage, handling and loading of mines for transporting.
Brown is proud to serve in the Pacific and fondly recalls memories of Birmingham.
“If you put your mind to it, you don’t have to make bad choices to be successful which I learned from my mom," said Brown. "She also taught me that when situations are tough, to not just quit, because there will always be hard times.’
Brown thus far is proud of the teamwork here on the ship. He feels like they are all willing to help each other no matter what the task is.
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 Sasebo is part of that long-standing commitment, explained Navy officials.
With a crew of more than 80, USS Patriot is 224 feet long and weighs approximately 1,300 tons. USS Patriot is one of the Navy’s 11 Avenger-class mine countermeasures ships that are designed to neutralize mines from vital waterways and harbors. There are four minesweepers in Sasebo as part of the forward-deployed mine countermeasures force that are on-call to respond in the event of a mine-clearing operation in the Indo-Pacific.
MCMs in Sasebo routinely operate with allies and partners to build mine countermeasures proficiency and sustain our alliances.
“This is my first command, so being away from family is hard. The only contact is through phone calls and the internet," said Brown. "I do like being in Japan though, it’s always been my dream to visit Japan, now I'm finally here. My attention to detail is better than it was before. I'm a lot more aware of what’s going on. I’ve become more disciplined since being in the Navy.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Brown 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 means that I get to protect my loved ones," said Brown. "To make sure they can exercise the same freedoms and rights that I have.”
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.