Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson G. Brown
NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY BAHRAIN – Petty Officer 3rd Class Eduardo Figueroa, a San Antonio, Texas, native, came to the U.S. from El Salvador and decided to give back to by serving in the Navy.
“The mission is very exciting,” said Figueroa. “Working long hours can be challenging, but it is all worth at the end of the day.”
Figueroa, a 2017 graduate of Southside High School, is an electrician’s mate aboard the Manama, Bahrain-based ship, one of 10 PCs forward-deployed to the Arabian Gulf in the Navy’s 5th Fleet.
“I am responsible for electrical equipment throughout the whole ship,” said Figueroa. “I work on anything from small light bulbs to diesel generators.”
Figueroa credits success in the coastal patrol force, and in the Navy, to many of the lessons learned in San Antonio.
“I learned to always to do my best no matter how hard the task may be,” said Figueroa.
USS Chinook is 179 feet long, 25 feet wide and weighs nearly 320 tons. Four diesel engines help push the ship through water at 40 miles per hour. Chinook is perfectly suited for the complex waters of the Arabian Gulf, where over 80 percent of maritime security operations take place in less than 39 feet of water. The ship’s light tonnage, powerful propulsion plants and shallow draft mean it can move nimbly in crowded coastal waters.
This platform is also used to escort larger ships such as destroyers, protect infrastructure like oil platforms and distilling platforms, and frequently participates in exercises with regional partners.
The PCs operate under U.S. 5th Fleet’s Task Force 55, responsible for surface ships in the region. 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.
“The most unique thing, about working in 5th fleet, is pulling into all the middle eastern ports,” said Figueroa. “I enjoy traveling and learning about the culture.”
Serving in the Navy means Figueroa 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 the nation needs 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.”
“I’m incredibly proud to serve with each of our Sailors, Coastguardsmen and Marines forward-deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations,” said Rear Admiral Paul Schlise, deputy commander for NAVCENT/ U.S. 5th Fleet. “They represent the very best of our country and serve as volunteers in a complex and dynamic region that’s vital to our security. I am honored to work alongside these warriors.”
Though there are many ways for sailors to earn distinction in their command, community, and career, Figueroa is most proud of his advancement to petty officer 3rd class.
“Becoming a petty officer is a very big accomplishment for any young sailor,” said Figueroa. “It means that I am knowledgeable in my career field and ready for more responsibility.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Figueroa 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 means being part of a team and working together to get the mission done,” said Figueroa. “I feel like in the Navy I can excel to my highest potential.”