By
Kayla Good, Navy Office of Community
Outreach
SAN DIEGO – A 1994 Windsor High School
graduate and Windsor, Colorado native is serving
in the U.S. Navy as part of a team supporting one of the country’s most
versatile combat ships.
Chief Shannon Benikosky is a personnel specialist and a member of the logistics support team which supports both variants of littoral
combat ships based in San Diego.
A Navy personnel specialist is responsible for providing fleet
support to all Navy cash ships.
“I enjoy the traveling part of this job,” said Benikosky.
“It makes the job interesting and I get to meet new people.”
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 really like the dynamic between the civilians and
military members at this command,” said Benikosky. “We are a very cohesive unit
which gets the job done.”
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, Benikosky 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
doing my part by serving my country,” added Benikosky.
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.