By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jerry Jimenez, Navy Office of Community Outreach
YOKOSUKA, Japan – Seaman Christopher Gaines, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, serves in Japan aboard a forward-deployed U.S. Navy warship.
Gaines joined the Navy one year ago. Today, Gaines serves as an intelligence specialist aboard USS Dewey.
“I joined because I wanted to see new places outside of Baltimore and my brother joined and I saw that he was doing well,” said Gaines.
Growing up in Baltimore, Gaines attended Woodlawn High School and graduated in 2022.
Today, Gaines relies upon skills and values similar to those found in Baltimore to succeed in the military.
“Growing up, I learned the importance of working hard,” said Gaines. “It helped me become a harder worker here and to help other people.”
Modern U.S. Navy surface ships provide a wide range of warfighting capabilities in multi-threat air, surface and subsurface environments.
A Navy surface ship is capable of operating independently or as part of carrier strike groups, surface action groups or expeditionary strike groups.
Jobs aboard a U.S. Navy ship are highly specialized, requiring both dedication and skill, according to Navy officials. The jobs range from maintaining engines to handling weaponry along with a multitude of other assignments that keep the ship mission-ready at all times.
As a member of the Navy, Gaines is part of a world-class organization focused on maintaining maritime dominance, strengthening partnerships, increasing competitive warfighting capabilities and sustaining combat-ready forces in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“The Navy is important to national defense because it helps protect us from potential threats from other countries,” said Gaines.
Gaines serves in Japan as part of the Forward Deployed Naval Forces. These naval forces operate with allies and partners to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Service members in this region are part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, which has the largest area of responsibility in the world.
“As the largest force in our nation’s front line against revisionist actors, U.S. Pacific Fleet meets this great responsibility with strength, resolve and confidence,” said Adm. Samuel Paparo, U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander. “Together with our joint and combined partner operations, we are positioned to defend – across all domains – any attempts to threaten our nation, our allies and partner’s security, freedom and well-being.”
Gaines and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“I am proud of being allowed to go into and work with another division,” said Gaines. “It’s allowed me to get new experience that I could use for the rest of my career in the Navy.”
As Gaines and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“Serving in the Navy mens supporting the people I’m working with and keeping our ship ready,” said Gaines. “Most importantly, to show the people of Baltimore that there is something else that we can do and the Navy is one example of that.”
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