Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson G. Brown
NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY BAHRAIN – Lt. j.g. Erinn Chang, a Troy, Michigan, native, wanted to serve her country and pay for college without going into debt.
Now, four years later and half a world away at Naval Support Activity Bahrain, Chang serves at U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) / U.S. 5th fleet.
“Working in 5th fleet, we all put in long hours and we have a very large area of operation,” said Chang. “This requires a lot of coordination and planning to be successful.”
Chang, a graduate of Avondale High School, is a surface warfare officer at U.S. 5th Fleet, headquartered in Manama, Bahrain.
“As a surface warfare officer, I am responsible for navigating and fighting war ships,” said Chang.
Chang credits success at U.S. 5th Fleet, and in the Navy, to many of the lessons learned in Troy.
“I worked as a waitress during high school,” said Chang. “Learning to be patient and understanding has greatly helped me in my naval career.”
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 support the 5th Fleet mission by planning exercises and serving as a liaison with our partner nations,” said Chang.
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.
“This is the first time I have lived away from the U.S.,” said Chang. “The environment is dynamic and there is always something new to deal with.”
Serving in the Navy means Chang 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, Chang is most proud of earning the engineering officer of the watch qualification.
“I came from a political science background with no engineering experience," said Chang. "I had to study for several months about material that was out of my comfort zone.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Chang 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 working alongside some of the most amazing people and being able to be a bridge between the U.S. and other nations,” said Chang.
“Working in 5th fleet, we all put in long hours and we have a very large area of operation,” said Chang. “This requires a lot of coordination and planning to be successful.”
Chang, a graduate of Avondale High School, is a surface warfare officer at U.S. 5th Fleet, headquartered in Manama, Bahrain.
“As a surface warfare officer, I am responsible for navigating and fighting war ships,” said Chang.
Chang credits success at U.S. 5th Fleet, and in the Navy, to many of the lessons learned in Troy.
“I worked as a waitress during high school,” said Chang. “Learning to be patient and understanding has greatly helped me in my naval career.”
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 support the 5th Fleet mission by planning exercises and serving as a liaison with our partner nations,” said Chang.
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.
“This is the first time I have lived away from the U.S.,” said Chang. “The environment is dynamic and there is always something new to deal with.”
Serving in the Navy means Chang 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, Chang is most proud of earning the engineering officer of the watch qualification.
“I came from a political science background with no engineering experience," said Chang. "I had to study for several months about material that was out of my comfort zone.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Chang 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 working alongside some of the most amazing people and being able to be a bridge between the U.S. and other nations,” said Chang.