Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson G. Brown
NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY BAHRAIN – Petty Officer 2nd Class Marcos Alvarado, an El Paso, Texas, native, was working three jobs at once, and going down a road he wasn't proud of before he joined the Navy.
Now, four years later and half a world away at Naval Support Activity Bahrain, Alvarado serves at U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) / U.S. 5th fleet.
“Adapting to a new environment has been a challenge but definitely an educational experience for me, which I've enjoyed,” said Alvarado.
Alvarado, a 2013 graduate of Jefferson high School, is a culinary specialist at U.S. 5th Fleet, headquartered in Manama, Bahrain.
“We are responsible for ensuring our service members are fed top-quality food,” said Alvarado. "We directly influence the morale of the command.”
Alvarado credits success at U.S. 5th Fleet, and in the Navy, to many of the lessons learned in El Paso.
“I was lucky enough to be born and raised in one of the most diverse cities in America,” said Alvarado. “At a young age, I grew up learning how to work with, learn and appreciate different cultures, and that has really helped me in the Navy.”
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.
“I'm in charge of inspecting the food and making sure it's safe and good to eat,” said Alvarado. "Good food makes good morale for the crew, and it's imperative that our morale is high.”
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.
“Adapting to a new culture has been very unique for me,” said Alvarado. “I'm learning as I go in the Navy, and it’s a challenge I enjoy.”
Serving in the Navy means Alvarado 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, Alvarado is most proud of assisting a dining facility in receiving a five-star accreditation by the Navy.
“My job was to ensure that all food items were accounted for,” said Alvarado.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Alvarado and other Sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“Serving in the Navy for me is a way to give back to my country,” said Alvarado. “I owe the Navy everything because, prior to joining, I was heading down a path that could have easily led to bad consequences. Every time someone comes up to me and asks why I joined, I always respond with the same answer: it saved my life, and it's the best decision I've ever made.”
“Adapting to a new environment has been a challenge but definitely an educational experience for me, which I've enjoyed,” said Alvarado.
Alvarado, a 2013 graduate of Jefferson high School, is a culinary specialist at U.S. 5th Fleet, headquartered in Manama, Bahrain.
“We are responsible for ensuring our service members are fed top-quality food,” said Alvarado. "We directly influence the morale of the command.”
Alvarado credits success at U.S. 5th Fleet, and in the Navy, to many of the lessons learned in El Paso.
“I was lucky enough to be born and raised in one of the most diverse cities in America,” said Alvarado. “At a young age, I grew up learning how to work with, learn and appreciate different cultures, and that has really helped me in the Navy.”
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.
“I'm in charge of inspecting the food and making sure it's safe and good to eat,” said Alvarado. "Good food makes good morale for the crew, and it's imperative that our morale is high.”
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.
“Adapting to a new culture has been very unique for me,” said Alvarado. “I'm learning as I go in the Navy, and it’s a challenge I enjoy.”
Serving in the Navy means Alvarado 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, Alvarado is most proud of assisting a dining facility in receiving a five-star accreditation by the Navy.
“My job was to ensure that all food items were accounted for,” said Alvarado.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Alvarado and other Sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“Serving in the Navy for me is a way to give back to my country,” said Alvarado. “I owe the Navy everything because, prior to joining, I was heading down a path that could have easily led to bad consequences. Every time someone comes up to me and asks why I joined, I always respond with the same answer: it saved my life, and it's the best decision I've ever made.”