YOKOSUKA, Japan – Ensign Katherine Lindman, a native of St. Anthony Village, Minnesota, knew she wanted to serve her country and travel. With two parents who had served in the 80's and recommended it, she chose to pursue her goals in the sea service.
 |
| Photo by Senior Chief Petty Officer Gary Ward |
“I like the routine,” she said. “You kind of wake up and do the same things. I work out a lot, study a lot and do my job. The routine of it is enjoyable, and I love driving ships.”
Lindman, a 2012 graduate of St. Anthony Village High School, is a main propulsion division officer aboard the Yokosuka, Japan-based ship, one of three cruisers forward-deployed to the region.
“I put out information to the division I manage of 11 sailors,” she said. “I make sure they're taken care of and make sure the equipment is working properly. I also spend time getting myself qualified, performing a lot of zone inspections and going to a lot of meetings. But the main thing is taking care of the sailors and the second is taking care of the equipment.”
Lindman credits part of her success in the Navy to lessons learned in Minnesota, where she worked as a mortician before joining.
“I understand people come from all different walks of life, and you never know what people are going through,” she said. “It's helped me a lot in the Navy, having empathy. Not everyone has that. It has made me a better leader and has helped me work with people on what may be some of the toughest days of their lives.”
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.
“The schedule is always in flux,” Lindman said. “Here, you're underway for three months, back for three months, and you learn how to become very adaptable. If you're not good at being able to change frequently, 7th Fleet may not be for you.”
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 Lindman 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. Lindman gets the most pride out of driving the ship and getting it out onto the sea.
“You're the one that's in charge of 377 lives, so there's that sense of pride,” she said. “I get a lot of joy out of that.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Lindman and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes, contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“As difficult as it can be, I think everyone should serve their country and take on their civic duty of some sort to give back," said Lindman. "The military will provide a sense of family and camaraderie you will not get in a civilian job. There's a sense of community and teamwork. It's a family, even if you're only in for four years or for 30. What it can offer you throughout your life though, are completely worth it. Even if you're remotely thinking about it, I'd say do it.”