Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Santiago Navarro | 220701-N-NY362-1004 PHILIPPINE SEA (July 1, 2002) Personnel Specialist Seaman Alex...... read more read more
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PHILIPPINE SEA –
A Loveland, Ohio native and 2020 Loveland High School graduate is serving aboard the U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54).
Alex Marcero is a Personnel Specialist or PS who works for the ship’s office on the Antietam, which is forward-deployed to Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan.
Personnel Specialists are the Navy’s administrative body. Some of their duties include managing paperwork for a command’s separating, transferring, and incoming personnel. They also maintain accountability of all personnel onboard a ship or shore unit through muster reports; these muster reports are turned in to the administrative office daily by every division onboard a ship.
“I like the customer service aspect of my rate and
the fact that I get to help people,” said Marcero. “It is also very fast paced, which makes days seem to go by quickly.”
Additionally, Personnel Specialists handle payroll for a command, which is reflected in Sailors’ monthly leave and earning statement. In the event of a pay issue, they make sure it gets corrected in a timely manner.
“Admin is important because a Sailor will be able to focus on their job and not their paycheck,” said Marcero. “If you’re squared away with your qualifications and pay, focusing on your job will be easier.”
Having been onboard the Antietam for about a year and a half, Marcero is well immersed in ship life outside the office. In addition to being a Personnel Specialist, he is also a master helmsman, which he does during ship evolutions such as replenishment-at-seas and sea-and-anchor.
“I like being a master helmsman because I enjoy doing something far out of my rate,” said Marcero. “You have to get the Captain’s trust to drive the ship 180 feet from another ship during a replenishment-at-sea.”
While he enjoys the challenge of taking on responsibilities outside the office, Marcero is conscious about his job and its importance to the ship.
“My rate is my primary responsibility and every else comes second,” said Marcero. “My job at the end of the day is to help Sailors.”
The Antietam returned to sea on May 19th after a ten month in-port period. The ship participated in a bilateral exercise from late May to early June with South Korea in the Philippine Sea as part of Carrier Strike Group 5, which includes the CSG 5 flagship USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65). The exercise tested the interoperability between the two nations.
Antietam participated in a photo exercise on June 12th, which included Reagan and Benfold, as well as other ships such as the carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and the USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62).
Antietam is attached to Commander, Task Force 70/ Carrier Strike Group 5 conducting underway operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
| Date Taken: | 07.01.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 08.02.2022 00:07 |
| Story ID: | 426175 |
| Location: | PHILIPPINE SEA |
| Web Views: | 172 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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