By
Kayla Good, Navy Office of Community
Outreach
SAN DIEGO – A 2007 Xiaoyuan High School,
China graduate and San Diego 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 Shuying Yu
is
a logistics specialist
and a member of the Logistics Support Team
which supports
both variants of littoral combat ships
based in San Diego.
A Navy logistics specialist is responsible for supporting
littoral combat ships with all operations and supply as well as paperwork for
all financial and budget aspects.
“You meet a lot of different people who are really nice
in this job,” said Yu. “The job is challenging but I enjoy tackling it.”
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.
“Everyone is so supportive here,” said Yu. “This chain
of command takes care of its people, not just in our careers but our personal
life as well.”
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, Yu 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 that I can support the country
while protecting not only my family, but everyone else,” added Yu.
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.