Anchors aweigh for Haverford petty officer
YOKOSUKA, JAPAN » A Haverford native and 2015 Haverford High School graduate is serving in the U.S. Navy forward-deployed aboard USS Blue Ridge.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Matthew Pepper is a logistics specialist aboard the ship operating out of Yokosuka, Japan. The ship routinely deploys to protect alliances, enhance partnerships, and be ready to respond if a natural disaster occurs in the region.
A Navy logistics specialist is responsible for managing inventories of repair parts/general supplies and distributing mail for ships, squadrons, and shorebased activities.
Pepper is proud to serve in the Pacific and fondly recalls memories of Haverford.
“Emphasis on teamwork and communication and how important it is in everyday life and appreciation of a hard day’s work are things I learned from my hometown that I bring into the Navy,” said Pepper.
Moments like that makes it worth serving around the world ready at all times to defend America’s interests. 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, explained Navy officials.
USS Blue Ridge serves as the flagship for the U.S. Seventh Fleet. It is one of only two U.S. Navy command ships in the world, providing command and control for fleet commanders.
“I love being forward deployed and being able to experience different cultures,” said Pepper.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Pepper and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“I’m a lot more assertive because of the Navy and I take up leadership roles,” said Pepper. “Serving in the Navy means being a part of something bigger than yourself and learning to work with people coming from different backgrounds, all working to achieve the same goal.”
Seventh Fleet, which is celebrating its 75th year in 2018, 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. Seventh Fleet’s area of operation 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 in the 7th Fleet.