Spotlight on Service: Petty Officer Kayla Green

BRADENTON – Petty Officer Kayla Green, a Bradenton native, has been an Electrician’s Mate in the U.S. Navy for two years. Green is serving on her first deployment on USS Bataan, a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship deployed in the U.S. Navy 6th Fleet Area of Responsibility, which includes Europe and Africa. Bataan departed from Naval Station Norfolk for an eight-month deployment February 8.

The deployment is part of a regular rotation of forces to support maritime security operations, provide crisis response capability, and increase theater security cooperation and forward naval presence in the U.S Navy's 5th and 6th Fleet AOR.

“I like my job because of the feeling of accomplishment I have when I fix something,” said Green.

Since deployed, Bataan has conducted two rescues at sea. On March 8 Bataan rescued two Turkish mariners from their sinking cargo ship in the Aegean Sea.

On June 6, Bataan rescued 282 migrants in the Mediterranean Sea after their small vessel sank. Bataan brought them onboard the ship, providing medical attention to the many needing it, and provided food, water and temporary shelter.

Bataan then transferred 277 of the migrants to the Armed Forces of Malta offshore patrol vessel P61, and another five persons were medical evacuated to Malta June 7, 2014.