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(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- A 2005 San Bernardino High School graduate and San Bernardino, California native provides key support as part of combat operations aboard future USS St. Louis, stationed at Naval Station Mayport, Florida.
Petty Officer 1st Class Andrew Orton serves as a fire controlman responsible for operating and maintaining complex radar and weapons systems.
Orton credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in San Bernardino.
“Growing up in my hometown gave me the drive and motivation to pursue my Navy career,” said Orton.
LCS is a fast, agile, mission-focused- platform designed for operation in near-shore environments yet capable of open-ocean operation. It is designed to defeat asymmetric “anti-access” threats such as mines, quiet diesel submarines and fast surface craft.
The ship’s technological benefits allow for swapping mission packages quickly, meaning sailors can support multiple missions, such as surface warfare, mine warfare, or anti-submarine warfare. Designed to defeat threats such as mines, quiet diesel submarines and fast surface craft, littoral combat ships are a bold departure from traditional Navy shipbuilding programs. The LCS sustainment strategy was developed to take into account the unique design and manning of LCS and its associated mission modules.
According to Navy officials, the path to becoming an LCS sailor is a long one. Following an 18-month training pipeline, sailors have to qualify on a 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 onboard.
Orton is now a part of a long-standing tradition of serving in the Navy our nation needs.
“My friend, Brian, was in the Navy,” said Orton. “He was always talking about how serving the good outweighed the bad, and I didn’t have direction so it seemed like a good idea at the time.”
Orton is part of a warfighting team that readily defends America at all times.
“My proudest accomplishment was making first class,” said Orton. “It gives you the chance to retire from the service.”
Orton is playing an important part in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“Our priorities center on people, capabilities and processes, and will be achieved by our focus on speed, value, results and partnerships,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. “Readiness, lethality and modernization are the requirements driving these priorities.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon capital assets, Orton and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes.
Serving in the Navy, Orton is learning about being a more respectable leader, sailor and person through handling numerous responsibilities.
“Serving in the Navy means job security,” said Orton. “It’s an exciting and unpredictable career.”
