Navy Office of Community Outreach
SASEBO, Japan – A Santa Rosa, California, native and 2014 Analy High School graduate is serving in Japan in the U.S. Navy aboard one of the forward-deployed mine countermeasures ship, USS Chief.
SASEBO, Japan – A Santa Rosa, California, native and 2014 Analy High School graduate is serving in Japan in the U.S. Navy aboard one of the forward-deployed mine countermeasures ship, USS Chief.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Leif Nelson is an engineman 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 engineman is responsible for operating, maintaining, and repairing internal-combustion engines, main propulsion machinery, refrigeration, air conditioning, gas turbine engines, and assigned auxiliary equipment on Navy ships; stand safety watches on auxiliary boilers and other assigned equipment.
Nelson is proud to serve in the Pacific and fondly recalls memories of Santa Rosa.
“My high school woodshop teacher would say, ‘always use the right tool for the right job,’” said Nelson. “This definitely helps me do my job in the Navy.”
Nelson thus far is proud to be a part of his ship. He enjoys the camaraderie on the ship.
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, Chief is 224 feet long and weighs approximately 1,300 tons. Chief 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 minesweeper 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’s a lot of work being stationed out here. You get to learn a lot about your job,” said Nelson. “It has definitely taught me responsibility and leadership skills being here.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Nelson and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“I joined the Navy for a higher purpose,” said Nelson. “I’m someone that people look up to as a role model, I feel proud of that.”
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 engineman is responsible for operating, maintaining, and repairing internal-combustion engines, main propulsion machinery, refrigeration, air conditioning, gas turbine engines, and assigned auxiliary equipment on Navy ships; stand safety watches on auxiliary boilers and other assigned equipment.
Nelson is proud to serve in the Pacific and fondly recalls memories of Santa Rosa.
“My high school woodshop teacher would say, ‘always use the right tool for the right job,’” said Nelson. “This definitely helps me do my job in the Navy.”
Nelson thus far is proud to be a part of his ship. He enjoys the camaraderie on the ship.
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, Chief is 224 feet long and weighs approximately 1,300 tons. Chief 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 minesweeper 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’s a lot of work being stationed out here. You get to learn a lot about your job,” said Nelson. “It has definitely taught me responsibility and leadership skills being here.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Nelson and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“I joined the Navy for a higher purpose,” said Nelson. “I’m someone that people look up to as a role model, I feel proud of that.”
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.