NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY BAHRAIN – Petty Officer 1st Class Chasity Eastland, a Houston native, joined the Navy after speaking with her hometown recruiters and listening to their stories about where they traveled.

Now, 13 years later and half a world away at Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain, Eastland serves as the leading-edge of the Navy the Nation Needs.

“I love the high pace,” said Eastland. “There are no excuses allowed, and you better come with your ‘A’ game and keep a smile on our face.”

Eastland, a 2006 graduate of Booker T. Washington, is a culinary specialist at NSA Bahrain, forward-deployed to the Arabian Gulf region in the Navy’s U.S. 5th Fleet.

“I am a leading petty officer of the culinary specialist and make sure the admiral is happy as well as entertaining foreign dignitaries,” said Eastland.

Eastland credits success in Bahrain, and in the Navy, to many of the lessons learned in Houston.

“Independence is very important,” said Eastland. “No one is going to give you anything, if you want to be successful, you have to work hard at it.”

U.S. 5th Fleet directs naval operations to ensure maritime security and stability in the Central Region, which connects the Mediterranean Sea and Pacific Ocean through the western Indian Ocean. They work with partner nations to ensure freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce in international waterways.

NSA Bahrain enables the forward operations and responsiveness of U.S. 5th Fleet and allied forces in support of Navy Region Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia's mission to provide services to the fleet, warfighter and family.

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

Serving in the Navy means Eastland 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, Eastland is most proud being one of the first African-American women to be meritoriously advanced.

“It shows I have the grit it takes to survive in a male dominant military and my hard work was recognized,” said Eastland.

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

“If you are looking for something bigger and different you can serve in the military and experience life,” said Eastland.