By Lt. Brian Coon, Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command
NORFOLK, Va. – Petty Officer 2nd Class James Slegona, a native of Pine Bush, New York, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to a Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) unit operating out of Norfolk, Virginia.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Chief Erica Gardner |
Slegona graduated in 2016 from Pine Bush Central High School.
“Walking into the Navy recruiting office, and enlisting in the Navy was one of the best decisions of my life,” said Slegona. “It definitely was a leap and the unknown was a bit scary, but I’ve never looked back.”
Today, Slegona serves as a hull maintenance technician, assigned to Assault Craft Unit Four (ACU) 4.
Crew members of ACU 4 serve onboard LCACs, which provide fast, over-the-horizon movement of combat troops and equipment. The Navy’s LCACs are manned by entirely enlisted crews and are at the heart of the amphibious warfare mission. LCACs are primarily used for transporting, ship-to-shore and across the beach, personnel, weapons, equipment, and cargo of the assault elements of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force.
As a hull maintenance technician on an LCAC, Slegona maintains the inflated hull, which is inflated by lift fans, a critical mechanism allowing the LCACs to hover two to four inches over the water.
“Capable of carrying a 60-75 ton payload, the hull is a particularly important aspect to a LCAC,” said Slegona. “I also specialize in aluminum welding, which is considered the most difficult metal to weld.”
Most recently, ACU 4 deployed as part of the USS Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group in support of the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. Slegona and his ACU 4 crew members maintained maritime security and stability, and contributed to Operation Allies Refuge missions and earned the rigorous enlisted surface warfare qualification.
“Because of the Navy I’ve had the opportunity to visit 28 countries, have deployed twice and have been part of six underway periods,” said Slegona. “I’m incredibly proud of all that I’ve been able to accomplish and I’m honored that leadership granted me a meritorious advancement. However, I owe all my successes to my family— my father’s tough love and my mother’s hard-charging attitude.”
As they look to the future, ACU 4 remains prepared to support contingency missions, provide crisis response and increase joint security cooperation. Slegona and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the U.S. Navy.
“I love my work and want to continue to gaining more technical expertise,” said Slegona. “You control your own destiny in the military— the harder you work, the more you learn.”