Navy Office of Community Outreach
SASEBO, Japan – A Fresno, California, native and 2007 Sunnyside High School graduate is serving in Japan in the U.S. Navy aboard one of the forward-deployed mine countermeasures ship, USS Pioneer.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Juan Deleon is a damage controlman 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 damage controlman is responsible for fighting fires and repairing holes on the ship. If there is a casualty on the ship such as a fire, flood, chemical or gas leak, a damage controlman would be the first to respond. They perform maintenance on all shipboard fire fighting equipment and personal protective equipment. They are responsible for instructing the rest of the crew on how to effectively fight a fire and repair the ship.
Deleon is proud to serve in the Pacific and fondly recalls memories of Fresno.
Deleon thus far is proud of reaching his nine-year mark in the Navy. To him this is a huge milestone. He is excited for the rest of his successful career.
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, Pioneer is 224 feet long and weighs approximately 1,300 tons. Pioneer 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.
“The workload is steady here but I’m ready to get back out to sea,” said Deleon. “The Navy has made me the man I am today, it’s given me structure.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Deleon 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 an income, stability, and since I’m the first person in my family to join, I want to start a tradition,” said Deleon.
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 damage controlman is responsible for fighting fires and repairing holes on the ship. If there is a casualty on the ship such as a fire, flood, chemical or gas leak, a damage controlman would be the first to respond. They perform maintenance on all shipboard fire fighting equipment and personal protective equipment. They are responsible for instructing the rest of the crew on how to effectively fight a fire and repair the ship.
Deleon is proud to serve in the Pacific and fondly recalls memories of Fresno.
Deleon thus far is proud of reaching his nine-year mark in the Navy. To him this is a huge milestone. He is excited for the rest of his successful career.
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, Pioneer is 224 feet long and weighs approximately 1,300 tons. Pioneer 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.
“The workload is steady here but I’m ready to get back out to sea,” said Deleon. “The Navy has made me the man I am today, it’s given me structure.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Deleon 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 an income, stability, and since I’m the first person in my family to join, I want to start a tradition,” said Deleon.
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.