LCAC Community Offers Unique Career Opportunities
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS081207-16
Release Date: 12/7/2008 4:16:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Michael Starkey, Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group Public Affairs
USS IWO JIMA, At Sea (NNS) -- Transporting Marines and their vehicles from ship to shore is a vital operation for any amphibious assault ship. These key operations are made possible by the assault craft unit (ACU) landing craft air cushion (LCAC) community.
Joining the LCAC community can provide many exciting career opportunities for Sailors that they have not considered or never knew existed.
"Once someone decides they want to be in the LCAC community, the Sailor will need to have their record screened to ensure they are eligible," said Chief Machinist's Mate (SW/AW) Michael Waranis, craftmaster, ACU 4. "They would then have to contact the sea special program LCAC detailer and schedule a screening through either ACU-4 or ACU-5. The Sailor will also have to go through a physical in accordance with the Navy Manual of the Medical Department (MEDMAN). Completing all the prerequisites allows the Sailor to then apply for school billets with the LCAC detailer."
The LCAC is a versatile and powerful part of the Navy and Marine Corps team.
"We currently have LCACs attached to USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) and USS San Antonio (LPD 17) in support of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit and the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG)," said Chief Quartermaster (SW) Jerrod Morgan, senior navigator for ACU 4. "Our hovercrafts give the strike group commander the capability of supporting multiple missions from two amphibious platforms."
"Each craft is capable of carrying up to 70 tons of vehicles, equipment or supplies at a speed of up to 50 knots or 60 miles per hour," continued Morgan. "With the inclusion of a personnel transport module, a craft can carry up to 75 troops or 100 non-combatant personnel. The craft's speed, maneuvering capabilities and ability to land on more than 90 percent of the world's beaches have made the LCAC an essential piece in the overall success of the ESG."
There are currently two hovercraft assault craft units in the Navy. ACU 5 and its 36 craft are based out of Camp Pendleton, Calif., while also maintaining a permanent detachment in Sasebo, Japan. ACU 4 is based out of Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base in Virginia Beach, Va., and currently maintains 39 LCACs.
LCACs crews are composed entirely of enlisted Sailors, and the community is open to a wide variety of rates and ranks in the Navy.
"The craft consists of an all-enlisted crew," said Waranis. "The craftmaster is required to be an E-7 or above, and any rate in the Navy is eligible. The engineer is required to be an E5-E7, and the position is open to engineering surface rates such as machinist's mate, engineman, gas turbine systems mechanical/electrical, hull maintenance technician, and interior communication."
"The navigator source rates are operation specialist, quartermaster, aviation warfare systems operator, and electronics technician in the grades of E5 through E7," Waranis continued. "Loadmasters are boatswain's mates that are normally an E6 or E5, but is open from E4 through E7. The deck engineer position is open to any engineering surface rate but traditionally it tends to be gas turbine system technicians or hull technicians E1 through E5."
Since the crews are small, each Sailor is afforded a wealth of responsibility comparable to many key responsibilities held by entire ship's crew.
"I'm the craft engineer," said Chief Gas Turbine System Technician (Mechanical) (SW) Richard Scozzafava, craft engineer for ACU 4. "I maintain all of the engines, propulsion, lube oil and fuel oil quality management, and quality assurance over any work that is being conducted on the craft. While we are operating the craft, I'm the assistant operator, the chief engineer and the damage control assistant. Engineers learn how to operate the craft because, in the event that anything happens where I need to take over, I'm responsible for getting the craft back to shore."
The other crew members enjoy more responsibility as well.
"As a craftmaster, I have the same responsibilities as the commanding officer of a ship," said Waranis. "The same thing applies down the line. The loadmaster can refuse a load, and he's the deck department of the craft. My deck mechanic is basically the main propulsion assistant. My navigator performs the job of both an entire navigation and operations department. My engineer is the chief engineer and runs the entire engineering plant. It is a lot more authority and responsibility than most people ever enjoy at their pay grades on these crafts."
Everyone has their own reasons for choosing the LCAC community over traditional billets.
"How did I become involved in the community; it's pretty simple," said Quartermaster 1st Class (SW/AW) David Rader. "I saw one flying through the Chesapeake Bay one time while I was doing a weapons on-load of a guided-missile destroyer, and was intrigued. I asked my chief what it was and how to get the billet. Eventually, I chose the LCAC community as my next sea duty. It's a fun job with a lot of responsibility. I do all of the mission planning, perform collision avoidance with the use of radar, conduct all incoming and outgoing communications, and also direct the high speed navigation of the craft."
For more information on joining the LCAC community, contact a command career representative or detailer.
The Iwo Jima ESG is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Operations to conduct maritime security operations (MSO). MSO help develop security in the maritime environment. From security arises stability that results in global economic prosperity. MSO complement the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations and seek to disrupt violent extremists' use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons, or other material.
For more news from Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group, visit www.navy.mil/local/iwoesg/.
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