SASEBO, Japan – Fireman Apprentice Adia Segura, a native of Tucson, Arizona, had two parents who served in the Air Force. She wanted to serve, too, but decided to go her own way. She chose the U.S. Navy.
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| Photo by Senior Chief Petty Officer Gary Ward |
“As an engineer, it's fast paced,” she said. “There's something always breaking. The ship can't move without our generators or steam pushing the turbines forward. I’ve only been here a year and I've already earned the highest possible qualifications I can in the career field.”
Segura, a 2017 graduate of Palo Verde High School, is an electrician's mate aboard the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Wasp in Sasebo, Japan. She credits some success in the Navy to lessons learned in Tucson.
“I heard my mother talk sometimes about how lazy some people could be at her job, and I didn't want to be the type of person my mom complained about,” she said. “I learned a lot about hard work.”
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.
“It’s definitely a different culture here, how together the Japanese people are,” Segura said. “They always follow the rules, they’re very disciplined, there’s no trash anywhere. If there’s not a walk sign, they won't cross the street.”
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."
Wasp, one of the Navy's most advanced amphibious ships, is designed to deliver Marines and their equipment where they are needed to support a variety of missions ranging from amphibious assaults to humanitarian relief efforts.
Sailors' jobs are highly varied aboard USS Wasp. More than 1,000 men and women make up the ship's crew, which keeps all parts of the ship running smoothly, from handling weapons to maintaining the engines. An additional 1,200 Marines can be embarked. USS Wasp is capable of transporting Marines and landing them where they are needed using helicopters, vertical takeoff and landing aircraft and other water-to-shore landing craft.
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.
Serving in the Navy means Segura 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. Segura is most proud of the qualifications she’s earned.
“There’s never been a fireman here before who qualified for electrical plant console control,” she said. “I can control the generators which feed power to entire ship. It took a lot of effort to figure out how a generator actually works. You have to take apart a generator and understand how the diesels work. There was just a lot of studying and effort involved, and to be the only fireman qualified makes me proud. I'm trying to be something here.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Segura and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes, contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“All the electricians that have been here have helped me out,” she said. “But it's not for everyone. It’s hard, you're away from family, if you’re an engineer you often don't even get to go out and see the sun. You have to have a purpose and know what you want. You always have to think about what you're going to do with your experience later.”