By
Kayla Good Navy Office of Community
Outreach
SAN DIEGO – A 1998 Andress High School
graduate and El Paso, Texas native is serving
in the U.S. Navy as part of a team supporting one of the country’s most
versatile combat ships.
Petty
Officer 2nd Class Joe Martinez
is
a master at arms
and a member of Commander, LCS Squadron One which supports both variants of littoral
combat ships based in San Diego.
As a Navy master at arms he
is responsible for teaching Between the Lifelines course which is focused on
anti-terrorism force protection.
“I enjoy teaching because you leave an everlasting
impression on people. You know you are passing along your skillset to protect
vital assets,” said Martinez.
The LCS platform has a unique manning 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, littoral combat ships are a bold departure from
traditional Navy shipbuilding programs. The LCS sustainment strategy was
developed to take into account the unique design and manning of LCS and its
associated mission modules.
“The support I have gotten from this chain of command
has been great,” said Martinez. “They have been supportive since the day I
checked in.”
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 service
member supporting the LCS mission, Martinez explained they are building a legacy
that will last beyond their lifetimes. Sailors know how important it is for the
Navy to develop new war fighting capabilities to continue their success on the
world’s oceans.
“The Navy really does instills
the values of honor, courage and commitment,” added Martinez.
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.