SASEBO, Japan – Petty Officer 2nd Class Mason Palma, a native of Burbank, California, said he needed a boost in his life to launch him into a career.
“The Navy provided it,” he said.
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| Photo by Senior Chief Petty Officer Gary Ward |
“It can be rough,” he said. “It's demanding, physically and mentally. The pace of the mission and being forward deployed is fast. We work 12-hour shifts and we're underway nine or ten months of the year. But overall, it's fulfilling.”
Palma, a 2008 graduate of Lancaster High School, is an information systems technician aboard the forward-deployed amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay in Sasebo, Japan.
“Anything tied into the electronic infrastructure of the ship that has a computer tied into – we oversee all of that and maintain and troubleshoot anything on the network,” said Palma.
Palma credits some success in the Navy to lessons learned since setting out from Burbank.
“Dealing with stresses and finding a way to humble your ego is important, and a skill you need to develop in order to succeed,” said Palma.
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.
“The pace is fast here, but you get exactly what you put into it,” he said. “If you want to learn a field entirely, you can. In the Navy, information technology touches everything. Out here, you have nothing but focusing on your job and your skillset and learning as much as you can. There's as much time as you want to work on developing.”
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 Sasebo 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."
These ships support missions from sea to shore, special operations and other warfare missions. They also serve as secondary aviation platforms. Because of their inherent capabilities, these ships have been and will continue to be called upon to support humanitarian and other contingency missions on short notice, according to Navy officials.
Sailors’ jobs are highly varied aboard Green Bay. More than 400 men and women make up the ship's crew, which keeps all parts of the ship running smoothly, from handling weaponry to maintaining the engines. An additional 700 Marines can be embarked. Green Bay is capable of transporting Marines and landing them where they are needed using helicopters, vertical takeoff and landing aircraft and other water-to-shore craft.
Serving in the Navy means Palma 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. Palma said he’s gotten satisfaction from the multiple certifications he’s earned in his field during his time aboard the ship.
“I feel like that adds to my accomplishments,” he said. “It displays that you have certain competencies. I’ve earned three certs in security, I’m a certified network security professional. I can use that on a resume later, and I’m pretty proud of that.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Palma and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes, contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“You get what you put into it,” he said. “It can be totally fulfilling for some people, or it can be the next step into the next part of your career. Honestly, everyone can get something out of this.”
“You get what you put into it,” he said. “It can be totally fulfilling for some people, or it can be the next step into the next part of your career. Honestly, everyone can get something out of this.”