SASEBO, Japan – Hospitalman Aaron Gadsden, a native of Jersey City, New Jersey, joined the Navy to travel. He also joined to gain new experiences. He was inspired by what opportunities the Navy provides for him and his future.
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| Photo by Senior Chief Petty Officer Gary Ward |
“It's never a dull moment, you are always doing something, you are constantly learning,” said Gadsden. “One of my favorite things about being out here is that you’ll never see the stars anywhere else like you do in the middle of the ocean. It is so surreal and quiet, just absolutely beautiful.”
Gadsden, a 2011 graduate of University Academy Charter High School, is a hospitalman aboard the forward-deployed amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay in Sasebo, Japan.
“I work as a medical assistant as well as a dental technician,” said Gadsden. “I do a little bit of everything.”
Gadsden credits some success in the Navy to lessons learned in Jersey City.
“In Jersey City, the Navy didn’t have a big presence so I was always exposed to other branches like Army and National Guard,” said Gadsden. “I joined the Navy because I wanted to gain the skills needed to do what I want to do in the future which is in the medical field.”
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.
“Being forward deployed we are always on the go, we are constantly traveling to new places like Japan, Guam, Thailand, and Australia,” said Gadsden. “I love to travel to other countries so it works for me. I enjoy being able to experience different cultures through the people that live there.”
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 Gadsden 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. Gadsden is most proud of what he does for a job in the Navy.
“Being able to use what I’ve learned in the Navy as a corpsman to one day going out into the civilian world and making a difference is exciting to me,” said Gadsden. “I enjoy my job. I want to make a biggest difference.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Gadsden and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“Serving my country means being a part of something bigger than myself,” said Gadsden. “It means ensuring my friends and family have the ability to do the things that they love to do. I feel that what I do out here, in some way, I’m protecting their freedoms.”