SASEBO, Japan – Seaman Yanet Sebastian, a native of Greenville, South Carolina, was inspired by her brother, who served in the Marines, to join the Navy. After she participated in ROTC in high school for four years, she decided to enlist in the Navy after high school.
Now, three years later and half a world away, Sebastian serves aboard one of the Navy’s most dependable amphibious ships at Fleet Activities Sasebo, patrolling one of the world’s busiest maritime regions as part of U.S. 7th Fleet.“The work is hard and demanding because the schedule is always changing,” said Sebastian. “I like my chain of command. They are very supportive of the crew, they understand when someone needs a break.”Sebastian, a 2015 graduate of Berea High School, is a ship's serviceman aboard the forward-deployed Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Germantown in Sasebo, Japan.“I’m highly needed on the ship because people definitely need their laundry done and they always need things from the ship's store and vending machines,” said Sebastian.Sebastian credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Greenville.“I was sheltered growing up so the Navy was something that I was not used to. It was a culture shock because Navy life is so different,” said Sebastian. “The Navy has taught me a lot. I’ve learned to just push through.”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.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." USS Germantown is 610 feet long. The ship can travel at speed in excess of 20 nautical miles per-hour. Germantown is one of eight Whidbey Island-class dock landing ships currently in service. The ship’s primary purpose is to launch equipment and personnel for amphibious missions. Approximately 22 officers and 390 enlisted men and women make up the ship's company. Their jobs are highly specialized and keep each part of the ship running smoothly. The jobs range from washing dishes and preparing meals to maintaining engines and handling weaponry.Serving in the Navy means Sebastian 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.”Though there are many ways for sailors to earn distinction in their command, community, and career, Sebastian is most proud of receiving a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medal for her work while the ship was in dry dock.“They realized how hard I worked for it,” said Sebastian. “It feels good to be recognized for something you didn’t expect.” As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Sebastian and other Sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the nation needs.“I feel like I’m doing something important with my life by serving in the Navy,” said Sebastian.