Sailor from the CNMI serves with US Navy in Japan

LT. CMDR. JACOB JOY/NAVY OFFICE OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH
(Lt. Jonathan Wilberscheid)

SASEBO, Japan—Lt. Jonathan Wilberscheid, a sailor from Saipan, Northern Marianas Islands who joined the U.S. Navy five years ago, now serves the Navy in Japan.

“I joined the Navy to serve, and to pay back the country for the opportunities I have had as a U.S. citizen,” said Wilberscheid. “I know people who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and I felt like I owed it to them to serve.”

Today, Wilberscheid serves as a Judge advocate general with Region Legal Office Western Pacific.

Skills and values learned in the Navy are similar to those found on Saipan.

“Growing up, I learned that it was important to own my mistakes,” said Wilberscheid.

According to Navy officials, Region Legal Office Western Pacific empowers forward-deployed U.S. and Allied Forces while providing superior support to military members and their families.

Wilberscheid serves in Japan as part of the Forward Deployed Naval Forces. These naval forces operate with allies and partners to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Service members in this region are part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, which has the largest area of responsibility in the world.

“As the largest force in our nation’s front line against revisionist actors, U.S. Pacific Fleet meets this great responsibility with strength, resolve and confidence,” said Adm. Samuel Paparo, U.S. Pacific Fleet commander. “Together with our joint and combined partner operations, we are positioned to defend—across all domains—any attempts to threaten our nation, our allies and partner’s security, freedom and wellbeing.”

As a member of the Navy, Wilberscheid is part of a world-class organization focused on maintaining maritime dominance, strengthening partnerships, increasing competitive warfighting capabilities and sustaining combat-ready forces in support of the National Defense Strategy.

“The Navy participates in national defense by keeping the sea lanes open for everyone,” said Wilberscheid. “Millions of people are lifted out of poverty due to open trade.”

As Wilberscheid and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the U.S. Navy.

“Being in the Navy means that I am a part of something bigger than myself,” said Wilberscheid. “I feel like I am doing my small part in the Navy to make the world safe.”

Wilberscheid is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.

“I would like to thank my friend, Jack, who helped me train to get into the Navy,” added Wilberscheid. “I would also like to thank Judge William Greenberg, who I worked for before joining. He recommended that I join the Judge Advocate General corps.”