(Photo provided)

A 2003 Goshen High School graduate and Goshen-native is serving overseas with Coastal Patrol Squadron 1, living and working at a Navy base in Manama, Bahrain.

Petty Officer 1st Class Eric Cutright is a Navy counselor with the Bahrain-based unit. Bahrain is a small island country situated near the western shores of the Arabian Gulf.

A Navy counselor helps sailors to reenlist and provide information on all Navy programs.

“I get to inform sailors about their careers and provide assistance with whatever career intensions they may have,” said Cutright. “One of the best thing about my job is telling sailors about information I didn’t necessarily know until later on in my career.”

The PC Squadron 1’s mission is to conduct coastal patrol, maritime security operations, high-v alue unit protection, maritime infrastructure protection, maritime interception operations and special operations support in support of C5F objectives. The Cyclone-class are ideal platforms for littoral operations, bridging the gap between inshore and open ocean operational environments and are well suited to operate with other Navy and Coast Guard assets in support of theater security cooperation objectives.

The Coastal Patrol ships in the squadron are each 179 feet long, 25 feet-wide and are powered by four diesel engines and can reach speeds of more than 40 mph. Their armament is made up of eight total machine guns and two grenade launchers: two MK 38 25mm machine guns, four .50 caliber machine guns, two M60 machine guns and two MK 19 40mm automatic grenade launchers.

With approximately four officers and 25 enlisted comprising each 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 squadron, Cutright and other PC Squadron 1 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.

“This is my first duty station as an Navy counselor. Being out here allows me to really invest in my new rating,” said Cutright.

In addition to Cyclone-class coastal patrol ships, two Avenger-class mine countermeasures ships are also forward deployed in Bahrain.

The world is increasingly complex and squadron members with PC Squadron 1, as well as the other forward-deployed naval units 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 halfway around the world away from friends and family back home, Cutright said he is learning about himself as a leader, sailor and a person.

“That thing that makes our country great is our people.,” said Cutright. “We all come from different backgrounds, yet we’re still being able to all work together.”