USS Topeka Hosts Pro Mixed Martial Arts Athletes

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Destinyy Reed | SANTA RITA, Guam (Feb. 25, 2020) Chief of the Boat Senior Chief Matthew Zwan, assigned to the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Topeka (SSN 754), from Garden Grove, Calif., explains the external components of the boat to Brandon Vera, an athlete with One Championship and former U.S. Air Force veteran, during a United Services Organization (USO) tour. Topeka is one of four forward-deployed submarines assigned to Commander, Submarine Squadron Fifteen out of Polaris Point, Naval Base Guam. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Destinyy Reed)  

SANTA RITA, GUAM

02.25.2020

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Destinyy Reed 

Commander, Submarine Squadron 15

SANTA RITA, Guam (Feb. 25, 2020) – Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Topeka (SSN 754) hosted members of the One Championship mixed martial arts group at Naval Base Guam, Feb. 25.

The mixed martial artists, who came to Guam as part of a United Services Organization (USO) tour, jumped at the opportunity to tour the submarine.

Chief of the boat Senior Chief Matthew Zwan, a native of Garden Grove, California, greeted the athletes upon their arrival and spoke to them about the importance of their visit to Topeka.

“I’m excited that USS Topeka had the opportunity to showcase a forward-deployed submarine to the group,” said Zwan. “Tours like this give our Sailors a chance to talk about their careers and lives as submariners to a group of individuals who they may not otherwise have a chance to interact with.”

Yeoman (Submarine) 1st Class Victor Vazquez, the leading Yeoman onboard Topeka, led the tour and discussed the capabilities of the submarine as they walked topside before heading into the submarine’s control room, living quarters, torpedo room, machinery room and mess decks.

“Being able to explain the different capabilities and readiness aspects of our submarines to the athletes was something I enjoyed,” said Vazquez. “I hope we were able to teach them something new about submarines that they can take with them in future endeavors.”

The athletes posed for photographs with members of the Topeka crew before leaving the pier.

“I am grateful for the time that we had to tour USS Topeka today,” said Brandon Vera, an athlete with One Championship and U.S. Air Force veteran. “Being able to see a submarine up close and personal was something I was will always remember and be thankful for. Getting a glimpse at the personal sacrifices our brothers and sisters have to make in service to our country is an amazing awakening.”

Topeka is assigned to Commander, Submarine Squadron Fifteen, which is located at Polaris Point, Naval Base Guam in Apra Harbor, Guam, and consists of four Los Angeles-class fast attack submarines. The CSS-15 staff is responsible for providing training, material and personnel readiness support to these commands. Also based out of Naval Base Guam are submarine tenders USS Frank Cable (AS 40) and USS Emory S. Land (AS 39). The submarines and tenders are maintained as part of the U.S. Navy's forward-deployed submarine force and are readily capable of meeting global operational requirements.

For more news from Commander, Submarine Squadron 15, visit our official CSS-15 website at http://www.csp.navy.mil/css15 and our official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SubmarineSquadron15/.

Are you interested in taking orders to Guam? Want to learn more about the duty station and life on our island? For more information, check out the ‘Go Guam!’ website at http://www.csp.navy.mil/go-guam/ and download the ‘1st Fifteen’ checklist.

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• Date Taken: 02.25.2020
• Date Posted: 02.25.2020 20:04
• Story ID: 363896
• Location: SANTA RITA, GU
• Hometown: GARDEN GROVE, CA, US