By Lt. Philip Fortnam, Navy Office of Community Outreach

U.S. 5th FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS – A 2007 San Angelo Central High School graduate and Houston, Texas native is a part of a Navy team tasked to protect the skies over the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.

Petty Officer Third Class Chris Montano is a yeoman, which involves handling correspondence and setting up appointments according to Montano. “I make sure the mission succeeds. Everything starts we with me and that means I have to get it right.”

“The people I work are great. We are a tight-knit group. There’s a lot of reservist here so the camaraderie is at a high level,” said Montano.

Within this undisclosed location in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations, Sailors from all over the United States come together to form one unit, providing unparalleled support to multiservice personnel within the area of operations. These Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen and Marines work together to deter and counter disruptive countries, defeat violent extremism and strengthen security and stability throughout the region.

He is one of thousands of Sailors forward deployed to the Middle East in the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet.

The Navy’s 5th Fleet’s area of operation encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. The expanse comprises 20 countries, including three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Bab al Mandeb at the southern tip of Yemen.

Montano is receiving firsthand experience working in a foreign country alongside coalition-focused forces who are executing the full spectrum of maritime operations with foreign counterparts, to keep the world safe from hostile forces.

“I’m learning the trade and am continuously being given more responsibilities. The networking opportunities are great. All of the different kinds of people, advice, and connections are great,” said Montano.

Montano realizes the significance of serving his country abroad and is proud of the work he is doing in the Middle East, helping protect America halfway around the world.

“I’m carrying on a proud family tradition of military service, but I'm the first one to go into the Navy and I love it,” said Montano.