By Kayla Good, Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs
SAN DIEGO – A 1995 Sommerville High School
graduate and Boston native is serving in the U.S.
Navy as part of a crew working aboard one of the country’s most versatile
combat ships.
Chief Susan Bradley is a quartermaster and
a member of Crew 104,
also known as the Juggernauts, which serve aboard
littoral combat ships based in San Diego.
A Navy quartermaster is responsible for the safe navigation of the ship
“The voyage planning and traveling
is the best part of my job,” said Bradley. “A lot comes with being a chief and
I get to take care of my sailors as well.”
Bradley is part of a 53-person
crew, one of several crews that rotate between USS Freedom and USS
Fort Worth, as part of a unique crewing concept called “3-2-1,” where three
crews serve aboard two different littoral combat ships, one of which is
deployed. This innovative manning
concept allows the LCS to spend
more time forward deployed without overtaxing the crew, according to Navy
officials.
Designed to
defeat threats such as mines, quiet diesel submarines and fast surface craft,
the Freedom variant of littoral
combat ships are 388 feet
long and weigh nearly 3,400 tons fully loaded. Twin gas-turbine engines push
the ship through the water at more than 40 mph.
“It's a small command and it's kind of like being at the
Cheers bar in Boston, everyone knows your name,” said Bradley. “You get to know
everyone which helps us work well together.”
According to
Navy officials, the path to becoming an LCS sailor is a long one. Following an 18-month training pipeline,
sailors have to qualify on a simulator that is nearly identical to the ship. This intense and realistic training pipeline
allows sailors to execute their roles and responsibilities immediately upon
stepping onboard.
"Sailors that work aboard this platform are expected to
be capable of performing a variety of tasks to assist in the completion of the
LCS mission," said Capt. Warren R Buller, Commander, LCS Squadron One.
"The training that is required of our sailors is rigorous and difficult.
This ensures that they are mission ready to defend and protect America at all
times."
As a crewmember
aboard one of the Navy’s newest ships, Bradley explained they are
building a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes. Crewmembers know how
important it is for the Navy to develop new war fighting capabilities to
continue their success on the world’s oceans.
“Serving in the Navy is all
about freedom and defending the country,” added Smith. “I get to serve my
nation while passing on good traits to my children.”
Through
innovative planning, the design of systems, and crew requirements, the LCS
platform allows the fleet to increase forward presence and optimize its
personnel, improving the ability of the Navy to be where it matters, when it
matters.