Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Tristan Lotz | 190109-N-ME396-008 GROTON, Conn. (Jan. 7, 2019) - Electrician's Mate 2nd Class Seth...... read more read more
GROTON, Conn. – Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class Seth Fairfax is a typical American with a not-so-typical Navy career.
His job has brought him from serving aboard a submarine tender, to adventures on a destroyer and now to Naval Submarine Base (SUBASE) New London.
Born in New Mexico but raised in Hiram, Ga., Fairfax joined the Navy to get on his own feet and find a place for himself in the world. He chose the Electrician’s Mate rating because of its civilian prospects and was assigned to a submarine tender for his first command.
“I figured everyone needs electricity, so that would provide job security,” said Fairfax. “My very first command was the submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) but it was not what I expected. We mostly focused on quality assurance and administration, so I didn’t get to do the kind of hands-on work I wanted to.”
Fairfax said that the U.S. Navy’s two submarine tenders are unusual commands to be assigned to and explained how being assigned to one differs from being on the Navy’s more conventional warships.
“The biggest difference between submarine tenders and destroyers is that the Military Sealift Command actually runs the tenders,” said Fairfax. “Navy Sailors more or less just ride along. We didn’t do much in the way of actual maintenance. On the destroyer, we owned everything from the mast to the keel. If it got electricity, it was ours.”
Following three years serving aboard Frank Cable, Fairfax was assigned to the destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62). While there, Fairfax sailed all over the Pacific Ocean and saw many foreign lands. He was also onboard the ship when it suffered a collision with a civilian container ship in 2017.
“We were in the middle of our work-up cycle after leaving dry dock,” said Fairfax as he recalled the night. “I had gotten off watch and went to bed when the collision happened. Luckily for me, my repair locker is right nearby so I was ready to spring into action. We really lucked out. We were at the top of our game when it came to damage control when we crashed. Everybody had no choice but to know what they were doing.”
As fate would have it, Fairfax would again find himself in unexpected circumstances after he checked off the Fitzgerald to go to his next command.
“After the collision, I had some administrative stuff they needed to sort out, so they sent me to Destroyer Squadron 15,” said Fairfax. “I spent a couple months there until I was able to reenlist as an EM
[Electrician’s Mate] and get orders. It was a weird time because I was the only Blue Jacket in the office. It was funny going from the fast-paced forward deployed small boy life to shore duty here in Groton. I wanted to go back to a destroyer and get back in the action, but the Navy needed me in Connecticut.”
Now enjoying the more laid-back pace of shore duty and settling into life in Connecticut, Fairfax said he has used the time to focus on his own personal development.
“On SUBASE I’m able to take care of myself and my chain of command takes good care of me,” said Fairfax. “Right now I’m using the extra time to work on myself. I just got my first home, bought my first car and I’m in a committed relationship.”
Reflecting on his last few years in uniform, Fairfax shared his thoughts on the seemingly random nature of his adventures and the unique view of the Navy it has given him, as well as his advice for junior Sailors setting foot in the Navy.
“I have been bounced around the Navy like a pinball,” said Fairfax with a grin. “It’s really given me a useful perspective. I have seen more of the submarine force than the average surface Sailor. It gives you a real understanding of the different parts of the Navy. People will say the real Navy is on a small boy, or the ‘Silent Service’ or brown shoes. I have seen the whole picture. The Navy is what you make it. Once you sign the contract, you have to be here anyway, so make the best of it. The people make the place and it really helps to be around people you like.”
Every Sailor’s career is unique and some have more control over theirs than others, but all Sailors can choose how they respond to a situation. Fairfax shows us that strange or less exciting commands can be a chance to gain perspective and build character, while adventures on the high seas sometimes requires on-the-spot action to avoid disaster. In the end, the Navy really is whatever a Sailor decides to make it.
| Date Taken: | 01.07.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 12.30.2019 12:08 |
| Story ID: | 357618 |
| Location: | GROTON, US |
| Web Views: | 15 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Around the World and Back: EM2 Fairfax’s Story, by PO2 Tristan Lotz, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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