Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson G. Brown
NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY BAHRAIN – Seaman Brianna Johnson, a Kenosha, Wisconsin, native, worked a lot of jobs throughout high school, and wanted to challenge herself by joining the Navy.
Now, two years later and half a world away at Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain, Johnson serves as the leading-edge of the Navy the Nation Needs. “The heat is definitely challenging out here, as it's something I have to overcome to do my job,” said Johnson. “That being said, I love being able to travel to a different part of the world I haven't been to yet”
Johnson, a 2017 graduate of Tremper High School, is a master-at-arms at NSA Bahrain, forward-deployed to the Arabian Gulf region in the Navy’s U.S. 5th Fleet.
“I'm responsible for the security and safety of the base here in Bahrain,” said Johnson. “I help conduct vehicle inspections, personnel inspections and baggage inspections to make sure people are operating in a secure environment.”
Johnson credits success in Bahrain, and in the Navy, to many of the lessons learned in Kenosha.
“I was able to get into management positions in high school, and that really helped me in the Navy,” said Johnson. “I'm able to take on responsibilities that other junior sailors are reluctant to."
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.
“With all the activity going on in this region, it's vitally important to always be on the lookout,” said Johnson. “Without us, no one would be able to operate here with peace of mind.”
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.
“The people here are really nice and welcoming, the culture is very different so it's been a learning experience,” said Johnson. “I've enjoyed being here, it's been a great experience.”
Serving in the Navy means Johnson 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.”
Though there are many ways for sailors to earn distinction in their command, community, and career, Johnson is most proud of being in a joint color guard with the Marine Corps.
“I was hand-selected to be in that color guard, one of only two sailors,” said Johnson. “We performed in parades, retirement ceremonies and other high-profile events that made me feel proud.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Johnson and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing the Navy the nation needs.
“Serving in the Navy is a responsibility that I cherish,” said Johnson. “It's helping me grow into a person I didn’t expect to become, and that I'm very proud to be. It's a new challenge and a new door I can open up for myself, and helps me step into a role model position for my four younger siblings.”