Boatswain’s Mate Chief Petty Officer Jesus Hernandez has served each one in all his 19 years within the U.S Navy on destroyers and cruisers. Although no stranger to standing watch on a smaller ship, Hernandez famous some important variations throughout his first deployment on an LCS. The assigning of watches which might be sometimes reserved for officers are additionally assigned to senior enlisted Sailors.
“I stand Junior Officer of the Deck,” mentioned Hernandez. “On this deck it’s a mix of Quartermaster of the Watch, Boatswain’s Mate of the Watch and the whole lot else that comes with being a JOOD. An LCS is totally totally different from every other ship I’ve been on.”
Hernandez defined that on ships with a standard watch configuration there can be a minimal of three officers on the bridge at one time, every with a really particular function to fill.
“On the Cellular, plenty of duties and capabilities are mixed into one watch,” continued Hernandez. “Which suggests a for much longer and intensive coaching pipeline to get certified.”
To face JOOD on Cellular, Hernandez took programs to learn to drive the ship in addition to tips on how to function the ship’s navigation system. Because the ship’s Deck Main Chief Petty Officer, Hernandez stands his watches and carries out his duties in anchoring evolutions, flight deck evolutions, small boat operations, and search and rescue operations.
Lt. Calvin Davies, navigator for Cellular, stands watch as Officer of the Deck and can be nicely acquainted with the consolidation of watch positions.
“After I’m standing watch on the bridge, I’m the OOD, the helmsman and the conning officer all wrapped up into one,” mentioned Davies.
When not on the bridge, Davies serves because the authorized officer, the coaching officer, and is the pinnacle of the ship’s administration division.
“It’s nice that my foremost billet because the ship’s navigator goes hand-in-hand with my watch standing,” mentioned Davies. “Exterior of that, I’m continuously contemplating what perspective I must method one thing. From a authorized officer’s perspective? Or a coaching officer’s?”
Assuming a number of and diverse tasks extends to Cellular’s junior enlisted as nicely. As an example, Sonar Technician (Floor) 2nd Class Michelle Venegas, from Phoenix, Ariz., stands watch as a lookout on the bridge wings.
“I’ve plenty of skilled satisfaction in being a lookout for the ship,” mentioned Venegas. “We’re the ‘watchful eye’ for the crew. It’s vital that the remainder of the group on the bridge has a visible of what’s on the market exterior of what the radars can inform them.”
When not scanning the horizon for floor contacts, Venegas is the supervisor for her work heart, the command’s coaching petty officer, the secretary for the Junior Enlisted Affiliation and administrator of official correspondence for the whole crew.
Whether or not it’s plotting the ship’s course, signaling to a helicopter throughout flight quarters or compiling a coaching report, Sailors aboard Cellular are supporting the wants of the ship and one another which, in flip, helps the mission.
“Serving on an LCS has actually proven me what a Sailor is able to,” mentioned Hernandez. “It’s been thrilling to see how we are able to work collectively and sync as much as get the job achieved.”
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