MAYPORT, Fla. - Petty Officer 1st Class Brian Navarro, a native of Chula Vista, California, serves aboard one of the country’s most versatile combat ships, USS St. Louis, operating out of Mayport, Florida.
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| USS St. Louis (LCS 19) |
Navarro, a 2004 graduate of Hanks High School in El Paso, Texas, joined the Navy 13 years ago.
“I joined the Navy to start a new career,” said Navarro.
Today, Navarro relies upon skills and values similar to those found in Chula Vista to succeed in the military.
“Growing up my grandfather, Al Varrera, taught me to always be willing to learn,” said Navarro.
These lessons have helped Navarro while serving in the Navy.
St. Louis is a fast, optimally-manned, mission-tailored surface combatant that operates in near-shore and open-ocean environments, according to Navy officials. Littoral combat ships integrate with joint, combined, manned and unmanned teams to support forward-presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence missions around the globe.
Littoral combat ships are hybrid surface combatants that lead manned-unmanned teams using unmanned aerial systems like the Fire Scout and Expeditionary Ordnance Disposal forces unmanned underwater vehicles. They conduct forward and maritime security missions like the Secretary of Defense Oceania Maritime Security Initiative. The ships also strengthen partnerships through port visits in small island nations like Tahiti and Fiji due to their shallow-depth hull.
According to Navy officials, the path to becoming an LCS sailor is unique and challenging. The culmination of their 18-month training pipeline, sailors qualify on a virtual reality 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 on board.
With 90 percent of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to trained sailors and a strong Navy.
"Our mission remains timeless - to provide our fellow citizens with nothing less than the very best Navy: fully combat ready at all times, focused on warfighting excellence, and committed to superior leadership at every single level," said Adm. Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations. "This is our calling. And I cannot imagine a calling more worthy."
Serving in the Navy means Navarro is part of a team that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on strengthening alliances, modernizing capabilities, increasing capacities and maintaining military readiness in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“The Navy is important to national defense because we ensure the security of the seas,” said Navarro.
Navarro and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“I'm most proud of watching my junior sailors get promoted to higher pay grades,” said Navarro.
As Navarro and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“To me, serving in the Navy is about having job security,” said Navarro.
Navarro is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my mentors, Jamaul Rose and Andy Rodriguez, for mentoring me in my Navy career,” added Navarro.