By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Robert Zahn, Navy Office of Community Outreach
SASEBO, Japan – – A Rancho Santa Margarita, California, native and 2016 Tesoro High School graduate is serving in Japan in the U.S. Navy aboard one of the forward-deployed mine countermeasures ship, USS Patriot.
Seaman Ryan Cendejas is an information systems technician 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 information systems technician is responsible for electronic mail systems, shipboard control systems, special intelligence (SI) systems. They have a broad range of responsibilities, including network administration, database management and computer hardware and software implementation.
Cendejas is proud to serve in the Pacific and fondly recalls memories of Rancho Santa Margarita.
“I learned from my high school music teacher, Mr. Hancock, to treat everybody with respect, to respect other people’s view and ideas," said Cendajas. "It's helped me to get used to the climate and working with other people and cultures in the Navy.”
Cendejas thus far is proud of finishing system administrator "C" school. Completing this school will help him learn more about the information systems technology field. The school is rigorous and time consuming which he saw as a challenge. Once complete, Cendejas felt accomplished when finished. He feels he is ready for a successful job in the information systems technology field.
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.
“Deployment here is different especially on a mine sweeper, the work is rigorous and demanding," said Cendejas. "There's always something that needs to be done on the ship. I enjoy the people I work with because I’ve connected really well with everyone. I’ve gotten to know mostly everyone and learned to respect them. Overall, it's taught me how to do a job right.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Cendejas 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 serving the country. It’s an honor to serve and give back to the country what it’s given me, freedom and rights,” said Cendejas. “Also, I feel accomplished so far. I would say my work ethic has improved since joining the Navy. It’s set a standard for me as a person to always advance myself and work better, be better.”
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 information systems technician is responsible for electronic mail systems, shipboard control systems, special intelligence (SI) systems. They have a broad range of responsibilities, including network administration, database management and computer hardware and software implementation.
Cendejas is proud to serve in the Pacific and fondly recalls memories of Rancho Santa Margarita.
“I learned from my high school music teacher, Mr. Hancock, to treat everybody with respect, to respect other people’s view and ideas," said Cendajas. "It's helped me to get used to the climate and working with other people and cultures in the Navy.”
Cendejas thus far is proud of finishing system administrator "C" school. Completing this school will help him learn more about the information systems technology field. The school is rigorous and time consuming which he saw as a challenge. Once complete, Cendejas felt accomplished when finished. He feels he is ready for a successful job in the information systems technology field.
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.
“Deployment here is different especially on a mine sweeper, the work is rigorous and demanding," said Cendejas. "There's always something that needs to be done on the ship. I enjoy the people I work with because I’ve connected really well with everyone. I’ve gotten to know mostly everyone and learned to respect them. Overall, it's taught me how to do a job right.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Cendejas 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 serving the country. It’s an honor to serve and give back to the country what it’s given me, freedom and rights,” said Cendejas. “Also, I feel accomplished so far. I would say my work ethic has improved since joining the Navy. It’s set a standard for me as a person to always advance myself and work better, be better.”
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.