Photos by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tom Gagnier
NORFOLK – A 1996 Athena High School graduate and Rochester, New York, native is serving in the U.S. Navy with Assault Craft Unit FOUR (ACU 4), one of the Navy’s most advanced amphibious warfare units.
Chief Petty Officer Adam Robinson is a hull technician (HT) with the group operating out of Virginia Beach, Virginia.
A Navy hull technician is responsible for structure of Navy vehicles.
“I like that I get to be a craft master, which means I can fly the craft, so I'm not just a typical HT anymore,” said Robinson.
Robinson credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in his hometown of Rochester.
“My hometown taught me to work together with everybody,” said Robinson.
ACU 4 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 4 operates landing craft, air cushion (LCAC) vehicles, which are specialized to transport personnel and equipment from surface ships to shore. The LCAC is a high-speed, over-the-beach craft capable of carrying a payload of more than 60 tons. The LCAC can be used to transport weapons systems, cargo and personnel of Marine assault units. Air cushion technology allows the vehicle to reach more than 70 percent of the world’s coastline, while only 15 percent of that coastline is accessible by conventional landing craft, according to Navy officials.
The exercises and real-world operations that ACU 4 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.
“I came to the unit as maintenance and worked with the right people to be able to learn how to pilot the craft,” said Robinson.
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.
"ACU 4 sailors and craft are the connector and where the rubber meets the sand between the Amphibious Ready Group and the fight,” said Capt. Erik Nilsson, ACU 4’s commanding officer. “The maintenance team is dedicated to ensuring the craft are ready at a moment's notice to engage in missions from high-end combat to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.”
Though there are many ways for a sailor to earn distinction in their command, community, and career, Robinson is most proud of being promoted to chief petty officer.
“I didn't think I would be able to make chief,” said Robinson. "Hull technicians didn't have a high success rate of making chief, but low and behold, it happened for me.”
While serving in the Navy may present many challenges, Robinson said he has found many great rewards in his service.
“The Navy has taught me the importance of communication,” said Robinson. "Any type of communication is important coming from up or down the chain of command and everyone has to know what's going on.”
“I like that I get to be a craft master, which means I can fly the craft, so I'm not just a typical HT anymore,” said Robinson.
Robinson credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in his hometown of Rochester.
“My hometown taught me to work together with everybody,” said Robinson.
ACU 4 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 4 operates landing craft, air cushion (LCAC) vehicles, which are specialized to transport personnel and equipment from surface ships to shore. The LCAC is a high-speed, over-the-beach craft capable of carrying a payload of more than 60 tons. The LCAC can be used to transport weapons systems, cargo and personnel of Marine assault units. Air cushion technology allows the vehicle to reach more than 70 percent of the world’s coastline, while only 15 percent of that coastline is accessible by conventional landing craft, according to Navy officials.
The exercises and real-world operations that ACU 4 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.
“I came to the unit as maintenance and worked with the right people to be able to learn how to pilot the craft,” said Robinson.
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.
"ACU 4 sailors and craft are the connector and where the rubber meets the sand between the Amphibious Ready Group and the fight,” said Capt. Erik Nilsson, ACU 4’s commanding officer. “The maintenance team is dedicated to ensuring the craft are ready at a moment's notice to engage in missions from high-end combat to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.”
Though there are many ways for a sailor to earn distinction in their command, community, and career, Robinson is most proud of being promoted to chief petty officer.
“I didn't think I would be able to make chief,” said Robinson. "Hull technicians didn't have a high success rate of making chief, but low and behold, it happened for me.”
While serving in the Navy may present many challenges, Robinson said he has found many great rewards in his service.
“The Navy has taught me the importance of communication,” said Robinson. "Any type of communication is important coming from up or down the chain of command and everyone has to know what's going on.”