By
Kayla Good, Navy Office of Community
Outreach
SAN DIEGO – A 1995 Garey High School
graduate and Pomona, California 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 1st Class Rafael Garcia
is
a logistics specialist
and a member of the Logistics Support Team
which supports
both variants of littoral combat ships
based in San Diego.
As a Navy logistics specialist he is the assistant to the leading petty
officer and is in charge of administrative tasks for the command.
“I like working with a diverse group of people,” said
Garcia. “You get to work with people from so many different backgrounds that
it's really interesting to work here.”
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.
“This division is really family oriented,” said Garcia.
“Everyone really looks after each other and works well together. You know that everyone
cares about each other.”
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, Garcia 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.
“I originally joined the Navy for the education
opportunities but after being in for 14 years, it has become a much bigger
picture,” added Garcia. “Knowing that no matter how menial the task, I am making a difference
in the military. It’s an honor to support this cause.”
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.