September 14, 2015 at 8:18 p.m.
St. Germain native keeping seas free in the Middle East
St. Germain native keeping seas free in the Middle East
By By Lieutenant Philip Fortnam-
Petty Officer 2nd Class Brett Mai is a Navy engineman and lives and works at a Navy base in Manama, Bahrain, where the Gladiator is based. Bahrain is a small island country situated near the western shores of the Arabian Gulf.
A Navy engineman is responsible for taking care of everything that has to do with an engine, like main propulsion engines, generators and anything that has an engine.
"We're always busy with our high operational tempo and the challenges of problem solving," said Mai.
The Gladiator was commissioned in 1994 and is the second Navy ship to bear this name. It is one of the Navy's 11 Avenger-class mine countermeasures ships that are designed to remove mines from vital waterways and harbors.
"My shipmates make this tour worthwhile," said Mai. "It's a small crew, so everyone gets to know everyone else."
The Gladiator is 224-feet long, 39-feet wide and displaces 1,312 tons of water. It is powered by four diesel engines and can reach speeds of more than 16 mph.
With approximately eight officers and 80 enlisted comprising the ship's company, jobs are highly varied which keeps the ship mission ready - this includes everything from washing dishes and preparing meals to handling weaponry and maintaining the propulsion system.
As a member of the crew, Mai and other Gladiator sailors know they are part of a forward-deployed naval forces team that is heavily relied upon to help protect and defend America on the world's oceans.
"I've been able to see the world and enjoyed every minute of it," said Mai.
In addition to the Gladiator, three other Avenger-class mine countermeasures ships are forward deployed in Bahrain along with 10 Cyclone-class coastal patrol ships.
The world is increasingly complex and crewmembers aboard the Gladiator, as well as the other forward-deployed naval vessels in Bahrain, assist with assuring international sea lines between the Middle East and Europe remain open and help protect against possible maritime threats.
As a sailor with numerous responsibilities, deployed half-way around the world away from friends and family back home, Mai said he is learning about himself as a leader, sailor and a person.
"I've become a better leader and more responsible since joining the Navy," said Mai.
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