By
Petty Officer 3rd Class Abigail Rader, Navy
Public Affairs Support Element
SAN DIEGO – A 1999 Rushville Consolidated High
School graduate and Rushville, Indiana 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 Christopher Monroe
is
a yeoman and
a member of Commander, LCS Squadron One
which supports
both variants of littoral combat ships
based in San Diego.
As a Navy yeoman he is the
administrative
leading petty officer for the mission package detachment. He is responsible
for the administrative needs for all the LCS mission package detachments..
“I love the interaction with people I get with my job,”
said Monroe. “You get to learn about your people, and get face to face
interaction. I'm a big people person.”
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.
“I love the different aspect of the Navy that this
command is,” said Monroe. “It's a completely different environment than I've
ever been in. There are many different facets involved.”
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, Monroe 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 is my life,”
added Monroe. “It's freedom, it's helping others, it's serving your country.
The Navy is my everything.”
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.