Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson G. Brown
NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY BAHRAIN – Petty Officer 2nd Class Stephen Sartin’s, a San Antonio native, great-grandfather served in the Navy during WWII.
Now, five years later and half a world away at Naval Support Activity Bahrain, Sartin serves at U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) / U.S. 5th fleet.
“Hands down the most challenging aspect is tech support with the coalition partners and the foreign country allies,” said Sartin. “Working with the different cultures of the 32 countries we support, it is key to keep communications and computers working.”
Sartin, a graduate of Winston Churchill High School, is an information systems technician at U.S. 5th Fleet, headquartered in Manama, Bahrain.
“I am responsible for installing satellite antennas on allied foreign ships and maintaining those satellite networks,” said Sartin.
Sartin credits success at U.S. 5th Fleet, and in the Navy, to many of the lessons learned in San Antonio.
“San Antonio is a diverse and multi-cultural city, living in that environment made it easier to deal with all the different countries we work with here in 5th fleet,” said Sartin.
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.
“My job is important because if the ships on the water can't communicate with the battle watches the mission is compromised,” said Sartin.
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.
“Being in Bahrain, you have the ability to travel to the different Middle Eastern countries and work on allied foreign country ships,” said Sartin.
Serving in the Navy means Sartin 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, Sartin is most proud of installing communications equipment on two Korean ships.
“I am proud of that because it took a lot of people and preparation to complete that project,” said Sartin. “It took me years of practice and training to have the opportunity to work on that type of equipment.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Sartin and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“I’m doing my part to help make the world a little bit safer,” said Sartin. “I also strive to improve myself so I can become a better sailor and shipmate for my coworkers and countrymen.”
“Hands down the most challenging aspect is tech support with the coalition partners and the foreign country allies,” said Sartin. “Working with the different cultures of the 32 countries we support, it is key to keep communications and computers working.”
Sartin, a graduate of Winston Churchill High School, is an information systems technician at U.S. 5th Fleet, headquartered in Manama, Bahrain.
“I am responsible for installing satellite antennas on allied foreign ships and maintaining those satellite networks,” said Sartin.
Sartin credits success at U.S. 5th Fleet, and in the Navy, to many of the lessons learned in San Antonio.
“San Antonio is a diverse and multi-cultural city, living in that environment made it easier to deal with all the different countries we work with here in 5th fleet,” said Sartin.
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.
“My job is important because if the ships on the water can't communicate with the battle watches the mission is compromised,” said Sartin.
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.
“Being in Bahrain, you have the ability to travel to the different Middle Eastern countries and work on allied foreign country ships,” said Sartin.
Serving in the Navy means Sartin 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, Sartin is most proud of installing communications equipment on two Korean ships.
“I am proud of that because it took a lot of people and preparation to complete that project,” said Sartin. “It took me years of practice and training to have the opportunity to work on that type of equipment.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Sartin and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“I’m doing my part to help make the world a little bit safer,” said Sartin. “I also strive to improve myself so I can become a better sailor and shipmate for my coworkers and countrymen.”