By Petty Officer 1st Class Robert Zahn,

Navy Office of Community Outreach

SASEBO, Japan – A Houston native and 2018 Jersey Village High School graduate is serving in Guam in the U.S. Navy aboard the expeditionary submarine tender, USS Emory S. Land.

Seaman Celine Rischer is an interior communications technician aboard the Guam-based submarine tender, one of two submarine tenders in the U.S. Navy. The ship routinely deploys to protect alliances, enhance partnerships, and respond if a natural disaster occurs in the region.

A Navy interior communications technician directs and coordinates the installation, maintenance and repair of interior communications systems on ships and at shore facilities. These systems include communication systems, indicating and navigation systems, visual landing aids for aircraft, alarm, safety, and warning systems.

Rischer is proud to serve in the Pacific and fondly recalls memories of Houston.

“My hometown taught me that respect comes from respect,”said Rischer. “You get what you put into things.”

Rischer’s proudest accomplishments in the Navy have been earning certifications and continuing to learn.

The Emory S. Land made a routine port visit in Sasebo, Japan while conducting an exercise.

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 Sasebo is part of that long-standing commitment, explained Navy officials.

With a crew of 42 officers and 600 enlisted, submarine tenders are 649 feet long and weigh approximately 23,493 tons. Their mission is to provide maintenance, repairs, hotel services, weapons reload and logistics support to deployed guided-missile and fast-attack submarines. Both of the U.S. Navy’s submarine tenders are homeported in Apra Harbor, Guam, and rotate between deployment to support the forward-operating in the 5th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility and in port in Guam to support in-port and visiting units.

Submarine tenders are additionally capable of providing repair and logistic services to deployed surface ships.

“I have enjoyed the work here,” said Rischer. “I like the the people I work with. The Navy has helped with my understanding of different cultures and people.”

As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Rischerand other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.

“Serving in the Navy means having another family,” said Rischer.

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.