Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson G. Brown
NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY BAHRAIN – Petty Officer 1st Class Richard Balbuena, a Chicago, native, grew up in the Philippines and joined the Navy to serve.
Now, 18 years later and half a world away at Naval Support Activity Bahrain, Balbuena serves at U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) / U.S. 5th fleet.
“The most challenging part of working in the 5th fleet is not working in my specialty,” said Balbuena. “It allows me to learn new things and grow as a sailor.”
Balbuena, a graduate of Paranaque Municipal High School located in the Philippines, is an information systems technician at U.S. 5th Fleet, headquartered in Manama, Bahrain.
“I have a broad range of responsibilities including network administration, database management, computer hardware implementation, cyber security, physical security, and key management infrastructure,” said Balbuena. “I make sure that we have communication available throughout the area.”
Balbuena is a part of Task Force 55, which controls surface forces, including U.S. Navy coastal patrol craft, cruisers and destroyers, and U.S. Coast Guard patrols boats, in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. They have a permanently assigned forward-deployed force consisting of 10 U.S. Navy coastal patrol ships and six U.S. Coast Guard patrol boats.
Balbuena credits success at U.S. 5th Fleet, and in the Navy, to many of the lessons learned in Chicago.
“Life is about relationships,” said Balbuena. “Making connections with other people who have different personalities and building trust goes along way.”
U.S. 5th Fleet directs naval operations to ensure maritime security and stability in the Central Region, which connects the Mediterranean Sea and Pacific Ocean through the western Indian Ocean. They work with partner nations to ensure freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce in international waterways.
“We make sure that we are efficient in communications and also as a watch stander," said Balbuena. "Our situational awareness is important so we can relay all the messages in an efficient manner.”
The Navy’s U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of ocean, and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. This expanse, comprised of 20 countries, includes three critical choke points; the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Bab al Mandeb at the southern tip of Yemen.
“The job is unique,” said Balbuena. “I enjoy getting to work with all the ships in our area of responsibility.”
Serving in the Navy means Balbuena is part of a world that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
A key element of the Navy is tied to the fact that America is a maritime nation, and that the nation’s prosperity is tied to the ability to operate freely on the world’s oceans. More than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water; 80 percent of the world’s population lives close to a coast; and 90 percent of all global trade by volume travels by sea.
“Our priorities center on people, capabilities and processes, and will be achieved by our focus on speed, value, results and partnerships,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. “Readiness, lethality and modernization are the requirements driving these priorities.”
Though there are many ways for sailors to earn distinction in their command, community, and career, Balbuena is most proud of being a good role model for junior sailors,
“I am proud that I have never been in trouble while serving 18 years in the Navy,” said Balbuena. “I have made a lot of friends and have been active in the community no matter what country.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Balbuena and other Sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“For me being in the Navy means I have to be a better person,” said Balbuena. “You just have to be more responsible and remain accountable for your actions.”
“The most challenging part of working in the 5th fleet is not working in my specialty,” said Balbuena. “It allows me to learn new things and grow as a sailor.”
Balbuena, a graduate of Paranaque Municipal High School located in the Philippines, is an information systems technician at U.S. 5th Fleet, headquartered in Manama, Bahrain.
“I have a broad range of responsibilities including network administration, database management, computer hardware implementation, cyber security, physical security, and key management infrastructure,” said Balbuena. “I make sure that we have communication available throughout the area.”
Balbuena is a part of Task Force 55, which controls surface forces, including U.S. Navy coastal patrol craft, cruisers and destroyers, and U.S. Coast Guard patrols boats, in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. They have a permanently assigned forward-deployed force consisting of 10 U.S. Navy coastal patrol ships and six U.S. Coast Guard patrol boats.
Balbuena credits success at U.S. 5th Fleet, and in the Navy, to many of the lessons learned in Chicago.
“Life is about relationships,” said Balbuena. “Making connections with other people who have different personalities and building trust goes along way.”
U.S. 5th Fleet directs naval operations to ensure maritime security and stability in the Central Region, which connects the Mediterranean Sea and Pacific Ocean through the western Indian Ocean. They work with partner nations to ensure freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce in international waterways.
“We make sure that we are efficient in communications and also as a watch stander," said Balbuena. "Our situational awareness is important so we can relay all the messages in an efficient manner.”
The Navy’s U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of ocean, and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. This expanse, comprised of 20 countries, includes three critical choke points; the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Bab al Mandeb at the southern tip of Yemen.
“The job is unique,” said Balbuena. “I enjoy getting to work with all the ships in our area of responsibility.”
Serving in the Navy means Balbuena is part of a world that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
A key element of the Navy is tied to the fact that America is a maritime nation, and that the nation’s prosperity is tied to the ability to operate freely on the world’s oceans. More than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water; 80 percent of the world’s population lives close to a coast; and 90 percent of all global trade by volume travels by sea.
“Our priorities center on people, capabilities and processes, and will be achieved by our focus on speed, value, results and partnerships,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. “Readiness, lethality and modernization are the requirements driving these priorities.”
Though there are many ways for sailors to earn distinction in their command, community, and career, Balbuena is most proud of being a good role model for junior sailors,
“I am proud that I have never been in trouble while serving 18 years in the Navy,” said Balbuena. “I have made a lot of friends and have been active in the community no matter what country.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Balbuena and other Sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“For me being in the Navy means I have to be a better person,” said Balbuena. “You just have to be more responsible and remain accountable for your actions.”