YOKOSUKA, Japan – Petty Officer 1st Class Freddy Pena, a native of Los Angeles, joined the Navy not only to serve his country but to live a better life.
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| Photo by Senior Chief Petty Officer Gary Ward |
“It's action packed, non-stop work being here, it's very demanding,” said Pena.
Pena, a 2001 graduate of Bell High School, is a culinary specialist aboard the Yokosuka, Japan-based ship, one of three cruisers forward-deployed to the region.
“I’m in charge of the service and sanitation of over 1,000 meals daily,” said Pena.
Pena credits success in the Navy to lessons learned in Los Angeles.
“I learned to be dependable and hard working from my father,” said Pena. “He always preached to me on how to earn money. I grew up in a bad area so he realized that I needed to learn how to get out and get jobs and learn a sense of responsibility.”
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 a part of a forward-deployed fleet is always rough because you are always on-call in one of the most demanding areas of the world,” said Pena.
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 Pena 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. Pena is most proud of his previous experiences at his last commands where he was involved in critical missions.
“I was deployed as an individual augmentee in Afghanistan for a year as well as being a part of the relief effort during the USS Fitzgerald collision in 2017, while I was stationed on there,” said Pena. “I supported the medical department after that collision. They were both special and meaningful experiences. I always say they were both one of best but worst experiences of my life.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Pena and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes, contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“It means everything to me to serve in the Navy,” said Pena. “The Navy has given me everything I have up until now. I'm able to support my family and have a great career.”