By
Kayla Good, Navy Office of Community
Outreach
SAN DIEGO – A 2009 Smithson Valley High School
graduate and San Antonio, 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 1st Class Robin Inman
is
a gunner's mate
and a member of Commander, LCS Squadron One which supports both variants of littoral
combat ships based in San Diego.
A Navy gunner's mate is responsible for teaching anti-terrorism force protection.
“I like the amount of sailors I come in contact with,”
said Inman. “I like making a change in the fleet by providing them with the
knowledge they need to be successful aboard the ships.”
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 is a very motivating command,” said Inman. “There
is a lot of people with a lot of Navy knowledge that know how to get things
done and meet mission requirements.”
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, Inman 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.
“Serving in the Navy means
heritage to me,” added Inman. “I am proud to serve the country that has done so
much for me.”
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.