SASEBO, Japan – Petty Officer 1st Class Andres Raigoza, a native of San Bernardino, California, is the first in his generation to serve in the military. He also wanted to serve for his country. He felt it was his duty to serve.
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| Photo by Senior Chief Petty Officer Gary Ward |
“This is my first time being on a ship so it’s not what I expected,” said Raigoza. “The work is very repetitive, it’s like groundhog day, every day seems to blend into the next. It’s easy to lose track of your day. The toughest parts about it are that we don’t really get all these extra days off like everyone back home, like getting holidays off and stuff like that. It’s just work, work, work.”
Raigoza, a 1999 graduate of San Gorgonia High School, is a hospital corpsman aboard the forward-deployed amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay in Sasebo, Japan.
“I’m the food and health inspector on the ship,” said Raigoza. “I’m responsible for the sanitation of the ship and the health of the entire crew.”
Raigoza credits some success in the Navy to lessons learned in San Bernardino.
“My parents taught me a lot about patience,” said Raigoza. “That’s one of the key things to master in the Navy. There are so many people coming and going. You just have to be able to know how to respect people and learn how to work together to get the job done.”
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.
“Since we are deployed here in Japan we have it a little rougher than other parts of the Navy,” said Raigoza. “We have a curfew, we have to watch what we say and wear while out in town. We are the ambassadors for the US. We represent the Navy and the US. It is just tough sometimes because you have to sacrifice a lot.”
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 Raigoza 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. Raigoza is most proud of being a corpsman in the Navy.
“I simply just like helping people,” said Raigoza. “I have a purpose in the Navy and that is to not only care for the health and wellness of the crew but also being there as a friend to help them when needed.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Raigoza and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“I love serving in the Navy so I can give back to the country that has provided so many opportunities for myself and my family,” said Raigoza.