Photos by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tom Gagnier
NORFOLK – A 2005 Galveston Ball High School graduate and Galveston, Texas, native is serving in the U.S. Navy with Assault Craft Unit TWO (ACU 2), one of the Navy’s most advanced amphibious warfare units.
Petty Officer 1st Class Jess Lister is a quartermaster with the group operating out of Virginia Beach, Virginia.
A Navy quartermaster is responsible for safety and navigation of the landing craft.
“My job allows me to navigate craft from one place in the world to another,” said Lister. "I know how fast it will take and what direction we are going."
Lister credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in his hometown of Galveston.
“My hometown taught me not to take things too seriously but also there are times that you need to be serious,” said Lister.
ACU 2 is one of the components of Naval Beach Group TWO (NBG 2).
Commissioned in 1948, just after World War II, NBG 2 trains and equips military forces for deployment overseas. Sailors with NBG 2 serve a vital role in the Navy our nation needs by ensuring that amphibious operations remain ready to defend and protect America at all times.
ACU 2 operates landing craft, which are specialized to transport personnel and equipment from surface ships to shore. The LCU is a displacement craft capable of carrying a payload of more than 170 tons. The LCU can be used to transport weapons systems, cargo and personnel of Marine assault units. The current LCU fleet has been in naval service since the late 1960s. Gun mounts on the craft can support .50 Cal machine guns, M240 machine guns, and 40mm grenade launchers.
The exercises and real-world operations that ACU 2 sailors participate in include evacuation of American citizens from a hostile territory, delivery of food and medical supplies after a natural disaster, and many other tasks that involve movement from ships off-shore to the beach, according to Navy officials.
“This command completes some very interesting missions and underways that someone in the general Navy doesn't get to experience,” said Lister. "We get a chance to really help out like when we aided in hurricane relief."
Jobs are highly specialized and keep each part of the command running smoothly, according to Navy officials. The jobs range from operating boats to maintaining engines and handling weaponry.
"The Sailors, Chiefs, and Officers of Assault Craft Unit 2 work in conjunction with other Naval Beach Group elements to grant our Amphibious Ships heavy lift and over-the-horizon, extended-duration ship-to-shore movement with the Landing Craft Utility and Maritime Pre-positioning Force boats,” said Cmdr. Thomas Mays, commanding officer, Assault Craft Unit 2. “We are proud to do our part in the Navy-Marine Corps team to project power or provide sustained assistance as needed around the world."
ACU 2 operates landing craft, which are specialized to transport personnel and equipment from surface ships to shore. The LCU is a displacement craft capable of carrying a payload of more than 170 tons. The LCU can be used to transport weapons systems, cargo and personnel of Marine assault units. The current LCU fleet has been in naval service since the late 1960s. Gun mounts on the craft can support .50 Cal machine guns, M240 machine guns, and 40mm grenade launchers.
The exercises and real-world operations that ACU 2 sailors participate in include evacuation of American citizens from a hostile territory, delivery of food and medical supplies after a natural disaster, and many other tasks that involve movement from ships off-shore to the beach, according to Navy officials.
“This command completes some very interesting missions and underways that someone in the general Navy doesn't get to experience,” said Lister. "We get a chance to really help out like when we aided in hurricane relief."
Jobs are highly specialized and keep each part of the command running smoothly, according to Navy officials. The jobs range from operating boats to maintaining engines and handling weaponry.
"The Sailors, Chiefs, and Officers of Assault Craft Unit 2 work in conjunction with other Naval Beach Group elements to grant our Amphibious Ships heavy lift and over-the-horizon, extended-duration ship-to-shore movement with the Landing Craft Utility and Maritime Pre-positioning Force boats,” said Cmdr. Thomas Mays, commanding officer, Assault Craft Unit 2. “We are proud to do our part in the Navy-Marine Corps team to project power or provide sustained assistance as needed around the world."
Though there are many ways for a sailor to earn distinction in their command, community, and career, Lister is most proud of participating in the evacuation of Americans from Beirut.
“It was a last-minute thing so we didn't have the most time to plan,” said Lister. "We had to do a lot of on-the-fly problem-solving."
While serving in the Navy may present many challenges, Lister said he has found many great rewards.
“The Navy has taught me that no matter the task, do the best that I can,” said Lister.
“It was a last-minute thing so we didn't have the most time to plan,” said Lister. "We had to do a lot of on-the-fly problem-solving."
While serving in the Navy may present many challenges, Lister said he has found many great rewards.
“The Navy has taught me that no matter the task, do the best that I can,” said Lister.