Souda Spotlight: Equipment Operator 2nd Class Jakob Wallis, Public Works Department

GREECE

05.05.2021

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Kelly M Agee 

U.S. Naval Support Activity Souda Bay

Equipment Operator 2nd Class Jakob Wallis, from Rhea County, Tenn., joined the Navy August 2016 and has been stationed at NSA Souda Bay since October 2020. Wallis said he joined the Navy because he wanted to explore the world and get an education. Wallis’ previous command was III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, Japan. Currently, he works in the Public Works Department's Transportation shop where he refuels boilers and generators and transfers people, equipment and supplies between NSA Souda Bay and the Marathi NATO Pier Facility.

What does a typical day look like in Transportation?

I get to work about 6:30 a.m. because that is just something that I’m used to doing, (from) being with the Marines. I’m the transportation shop supervisor and assign jobs to one local national and a Sailor. I’ll check my emails and see what jobs need to be done and at 8 a.m. we will start knocking out the jobs for the day. But also, a lot of our work does happen after hours or on the weekend.

Our job requests include moving people with their equipment from Marathi to Souda Bay or Souda Bay to Marathi to get to a ship or a plane. We also move supplies to Marathi. For example, when the USS Donald Cook was here we transported food and snacks to help increase their morale. Also, we refuel the generators and boilers. This is really important because the boiler for the Galley gives them hot water to do their food services; when we refuel the barracks they are able to have hot water; and also refueling the generators on Marathi helps the navigation equipment in Joint Tactical Operations Center for ships coming in.

What is your favorite thing about your job?

We get to drive a lot of equipment, I enjoy that. It is fun and relaxing to me. I also like that we help out a lot of people here. If there is no fuel in the barracks, the gym or Galley, there is no hot water. Knowing that I get to put the fuel in there feels good to be able to help them out.

How many different kinds of equipment are there?

Here at Souda Bay we have Bobcats, forklifts ranging from (4,000 lbs. to 20,000 lbs.), 7-ton stake trucks, fuel trucks, water trucks, buses, a dump truck, tractor trailers, and sweepers that we use to sweep the airfield to keep debris off the airfield to allow aircraft to come on and off the airfield safely.

What is your favorite vehicle you operate?

I have a license for 10 different types of vehicles. The most fun is the tractor trailer because it is challenging. Here the roads are really narrow and difficult to navigate because (the tractor trailers) are so big. Here there are a lot of back roads, so we don’t have the luxury of driving on a highway.

When you're not at work, what do you enjoy doing?

I like golfing. I started liking golf at my first command in Okinawa. I went golfing with one of my colleagues and he got me into it. I like it mainly because it takes a lot of skill, it’s not just something you jump in and do without skill. When I first started I did that and I was all over the place.

What is something you want Team Souda to know about Transportation?

We (Seabees) all work together. Next month we are going to be assisting the builders in exchanging downspouts on 30 buildings on Souda Bay. So we will be taking them up on lifts and helping them perform maintenance on the downspouts.

• Date Taken: 05.05.2021
• Date Posted: 05.05.2021 00:58
• Story ID: 395652
• Location: GR