By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Robert Zahn, Navy Office of Community Outreach
SASEBO, Japan – A Miami native and 2012 Turner Tech graduate is serving in Japan in the U.S. Navy aboard one of the forward-deployed mine countermeasures ship, USS Warrior.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Khalib Caldwell is a logistics specialist 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 logistics specialist is responsible for ordering, receiving, inspecting, stowing, preserving, packaging, shipping, and issuing materials and cargo. They perform postal counterwork, including sale of stamps and money orders and process incoming and outgoing mail. They process claims and inquiries, account for government materials, and prepare and maintain required forms, records, correspondence, reports, and files.
Caldwell is proud to serve in the Pacific and fondly recalls memories of Miami.
“One thing that I learned from growing up in my community was to take care of myself and so I can care for others,” said Caldwell.
Caldwell thus far is proud of recently being meritoriously advanced to the next rank. He feels accomplished. They recognized he was responsible to assume the next rank and all the leadership and responsibilities that it comes with.
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 Warrior is 224 feet long and weighs approximately 1,300 tons. USS Warrior 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.
“It can get stressful being deployed here, we so often have to adjust with last minute changes in schedule, rules and inspections,” said Caldwell. “But it’s rewarding to learn that your chain of command looks out for you. I’ve also learned so much about my job being out here. Since joining the Navy, I’m more aware of things and my surroundings. I’m more patient with things as well. I’ve had a lot of growth since being in.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Caldwell and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“I enjoy all of the amazing people I work with. A lot of people generally care about each other and their jobs,” said Caldwell. “The leadership has pushed me to be better than I expected of myself.”
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 logistics specialist is responsible for ordering, receiving, inspecting, stowing, preserving, packaging, shipping, and issuing materials and cargo. They perform postal counterwork, including sale of stamps and money orders and process incoming and outgoing mail. They process claims and inquiries, account for government materials, and prepare and maintain required forms, records, correspondence, reports, and files.
Caldwell is proud to serve in the Pacific and fondly recalls memories of Miami.
“One thing that I learned from growing up in my community was to take care of myself and so I can care for others,” said Caldwell.
Caldwell thus far is proud of recently being meritoriously advanced to the next rank. He feels accomplished. They recognized he was responsible to assume the next rank and all the leadership and responsibilities that it comes with.
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 Warrior is 224 feet long and weighs approximately 1,300 tons. USS Warrior 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.
“It can get stressful being deployed here, we so often have to adjust with last minute changes in schedule, rules and inspections,” said Caldwell. “But it’s rewarding to learn that your chain of command looks out for you. I’ve also learned so much about my job being out here. Since joining the Navy, I’m more aware of things and my surroundings. I’m more patient with things as well. I’ve had a lot of growth since being in.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Caldwell and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“I enjoy all of the amazing people I work with. A lot of people generally care about each other and their jobs,” said Caldwell. “The leadership has pushed me to be better than I expected of myself.”
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.