By
Petty Officer 3rd Class Abigail Rader,
Navy Public Affairs Support Element
SAN DIEGO – A 2004 Rancho Verde High School
graduate and Perris, California
native
is serving in the U.S. Navy as part of a crew working aboard one of the
country’s newest and most versatile combat ships.
Petty
Officer 2nd Class Michelle Foronda is a culinary specialist
and a member of a crew who serve aboard
littoral combat ships based in San Diego.
A Navy culinary specialist is responsible for the providing nutritious meals to the
sailors aboard the ships.
“I get to work with a lot of
different people and different personalities,” said Foronda. “I love that the
job stays so diverse.”
Foronda is part of a 53-person
crew, one of several crews that rotate between USS Independence and
USS Coronado, 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
Independence variant of littoral combat ships are 419 feet long and weigh
nearly 3,100 tons fully loaded. Twin gas turbine engines push the ships through
the water at more than 40 mph.
“I like that I'm still doing admin work,” said Foronda.
“I started off as a deck seaman, but was also in charge of supplies and admin
work, and I'm glad I got to continue that here.”
According the
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, Foronda 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 means that I'm able to give back to my country,” added Foronda. “The majority of my
family is in the Navy, and I'm proud to be able to serve with them as well.”
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.