YOKOSUKA, Japan – Petty Officer 1st Class James Barnett, a native of Fluvanna, Virginia, said he was raised by a single mother and didn't want to put any strain on her to help pay for college. He said he also wanted to find a way to better himself, so he chose to join the U.S. Navy.
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| Photo By Senior Cheif Petty Officer Gary Ward |
“It’s challenging,” he said. “It’s fast tempo, things go non-stop, but it's good because it's a small crew, you get to learn your job.”
Barnett, a 2012 graduate of Fluvanna High School, is a damage controlman aboard the Yokosuka, Japan-based ship, one of three cruisers forward-deployed to the region.
“We handle firefighting maintenance, making sure all our gear is good to go, fire marshall duties, training the ship in firefighting duties, I’m essentially a shipboard firefighter,” said Barnett.
Barnett credits success in the Navy to lessons learned in Fluvanna.
“Hard work and good manners will get you a long way, as will having good military bearing,” he said. “I learned a lot from my mom, seeing her hard work, her dedication and the sacrifices she made.”
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.
“You've always got to be ready. You never know when you're going to be called upon,” said Barnett.
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 Barnett 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. Barnett is most proud of making first class petty officer quickly.
“It takes some people a lot longer than others,” Barnett said. “It means you really know your job.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Barnett and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes, contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“The Navy is all about putting your country above yourself,” he said. “You're not only serving the name on your uniform, you're serving the U.S.”