YOKOSUKA, Japan – Petty Officer 2nd Class Kyle Tobey, a native of Anchorage, Alaska, said he needed the kind of change that serving five years in the Air National Guard hadn’t quite given him. So he enlisted in the U.S. Navy.
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| Photo by Senior Chief Petty Officer Gary Ward |
“It's strongly intense, but great,” Tobey said. “It's always busy, there's never a dull moment. You get to do a lot of different things you wouldn't get to do. Shooting a .50 cal was the highlight of my last patrol.”
Tobey, a 2008 graduate of West Anchorage High School, is a culinary specialist aboard the Yokosuka, Japan-based ship, one of three cruisers forward-deployed to the region.
“I have overall responsibility for the bulk store room,” Tobey said. “I break out every item for every meal, every day. It's a large inventory, we usually have stores in the hundred thousand dollar range. I also supervise our food service attendants and monitor cleanliness of our food service areas.”
Tobey credits success in the Navy to lessons learned growing up.
“The best thing I ever learned was, accept change as it comes and don't fight it,” Tobey said.
“Change is inevitable. I also learned to always question things as well. If it doesn't make sense, find out why it doesn't make sense. Don't accept the status quo. Always strive for better.”
U.S. 7th Fleet spans more than 124 million square kilometers, stretching from the International Date Line to the India/Pakistan border; and from the Kuril Islands in the North to the Antarctic in the South. U.S. 7th Fleet's area of operations encompasses 36 maritime countries and 50 percent of the world’s population with between 50-70 U.S. ships and submarines, 140 aircraft, and approximately 20,000 sailors.
“We’re highly driven to accomplish our mission to the best of our abilities every day,” Tobey said. “Here, we're always moving and working and pushing forward to keep the area safe from aggressors. It's extremely stressful, but it's a good stress.”
With more than 50 percent of the world's shipping tonnage and a third of the world's crude oil passing through the region, the United States has historic and enduring interests in this part of the world. The Navy's presence in Yokosuka is part of that long-standing commitment.
"The Navy is forward-deployed to provide security and strengthen relationships in a free and open Indo-Pacific. It's not just the ships and aircraft that have shown up to prevent conflict and promote peace," said Vice Adm. Phil Sawyer, commander, U.S. 7th Fleet. "It is, and will continue to be our people who define the role our Navy plays around the world. People who've made a choice, and have the will and strength of character to make a difference."
A Navy cruiser is a multi-mission ship that can operate independently or as part of a larger group of ships at sea. The ship is equipped with a vertical launching system, tomahawk missiles, torpedoes, guns, and a phalanx close-in weapons system.
Approximately 300 men and women serve aboard the ship. Their jobs are highly specialized and keep each part of the cruiser running smoothly, according to Navy officials. They do everything from maintaining gas turbine engines and operating the highly sophisticated Aegis weapons system to driving the ship and operating small boats.
Serving in the Navy means Tobey 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.”
There are many ways for sailors to earn distinction in their command, community, and career. Tobey is just proud to be where he is in general. He said he didn't think he would make it this far.
“I’m proud to be a critical part of helping the supply department get certified by passing with a high grade on the first try with no re-inspections,” he said. “The level of trust I've been given here is very high. My chain of command has put a lot of faith in me, and my repayment is to always do my best.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Tobey and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes, contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“You have to have high integrity to join the military service,” he said. “The integrity to always do the right thing. It's a privilege to me as it's a tradition in my family to serve. If you're stuck in a small town or feel trapped, it's a great way to escape from the monotony of your life and do something that means something.”