SASEBO, Japan – Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Matlock, a native of Whittier, California, knew I was eventually going to join the military ever since he was seven years old. When the time came to choose which branch to serve in, Matlock said he felt like the Navy offered the best options.
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| Photo by Senior Chief Petty Officer Gary Ward |
“It's nice,” he said. “We're spoiled on this ship. We've got better racks, there’s more space in the passageways than most ships. It's not a hard life, but it's demanding. If you do the work, you'll be alright. If you don't, you'll struggle.”
Matlock, a 2016 graduate of La Habra High School, is an information systems technician aboard the forward-deployed amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay in Sasebo, Japan.
“We’re in charge of external communications, running the radio room, setting up services to talk ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore,” he said. “I also set up communications services to allow sailors to talk to folks back home.”
Matlock credits some of his success in the Navy to lessons learned young.
“We moved around a lot and I'm used to going place to place,” he said. “I didn't grow up in the nicest neighborhoods, so I learned how not to be too soft.”
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.
“There’s lots of culture here,” he said. “The people here are really nice and they welcome you in wherever you go. You get to see a different aspect of life and meet a lot of different people.”
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 Matlock 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. Matlock said as newer people come on board, he tries to be there to help them.
“Watching them grow and building them up is satisfying,” he said. “We're all here to help each other. Taking care of people the way I needed taken care of when I first arrived feels good.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Matlock and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes, contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“Service depends on the person. The military's not for everybody,” he said. “If you're willing to put in the work, you'll be well rewarded. It may not always show up in your paycheck, but it's in the people you meet and the places you go. You feel accomplishment. We're out here doing what we have to do to defend the country. If you put the time into it, you'll get the payout.”