Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Tyler Preston | 151010-N-AX638-131 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Oct. 10, 2015) Sailors attach the loader assembly...... read more read more
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GULF OF OMAN - They’re members of an elite rating; you can’t enlist as one. You don’t see them every day, and you hear about them even less. They’re highly trained technicians, experts in the repair, maintenance, operation and employment of weapons. They’re the Fire Controlmen, our last line of defense...
I am a fire controlman; a petty officer of the United States Navy, my work is the operation and maintenance of the weapons aboard the fighting ships of the Navy.
“Whenever anyone hears ‘Fire Controlman’ they immediately assume that we are a brother rate to Damage Control,” said Fire Controlman 2nd Class Joshua Sazzman.
“But we don’t put out fires; we’re the ones who get to push the ‘fire’ button.”
According to Sazzman, FCs conduct daily checks of the magazine temperatures to verify that the ammunition is being kept at a relatively cool temperature. They also do daily system operability tests to ensure that the ship’s defense weapons are ready and running properly. Then they check the maintenance schedule for upkeep on the weapons systems and conduct divisional training over watch standing stations.
Sazzman said FCs stand four six-hour rotating watches. These watches make up the ship’s primary defense against any hostile air targets. They are point defense weapons coordinator, CIWS remote-controlled station operator, NATO radar set consol, and firing officer consol operators.
To do this, I must have a thorough knowledge of the work of an electronics technician, machinist's mate, gunner's mate, machinery repairman, operations specialist, and engineman.
Fire Controlman 2nd Class Neil Matteson said that the FC job is important, as is the level of knowledge and trust each FC must have.
“We all need to trust in the personnel around us to complete the tasks needed to perform the job,” said Matteson.
“There are different types of FCs and all are very different,” said Sazzman. “I am a CIWS Phalanx Close-In Weapons System) tech, but we also have NATO Sea Sparrow techs, radar techs and ACDS (Advanced Combat Direction System) techs. Each type has their specialty, but we are all family. Everyone has each other’s back.”
My aim in life is to know my job; to know everything that pertains to practical gunnery and ordnance. As long as there is any operation or piece of equipment I do not fully understand, my job is not complete.
“There is always something to be learned, or an ability to be taught to someone,” said Matteson.
“Everyone wants to be knowledgeable in the other systems so we can help each other out,” added Sazzman. “We train through major maintenance evolutions and different CSTT (Combat systems training team) scenarios. It helps provide more junior FCs with a common knowledge.”
FCs all go to the same “A” school, but the “C” schools are split by system, said Sazzman.
“I got lucky and got to choose my “C” school, but more recently it’s been needs of the Navy and availability,” said Sazzman. “More times than not, “C” school is required. There are very few FCs who hit the fleet as a ‘quad zero’ technician.”
The FC Apprentice Technical Training (ATT) Tech Core and “A” school are roughly a year in Great Lakes. “C” schools vary from two months to over a year long, depending on the NEC, Sazzman said. The “C” school he attended was eight months long.
In the event of war, I must be prepared for any emergency. I must be capable of and competent to fill my station, or perform any operation in the weapons department of my ship; to assume command of, spot, or control the fire of any battery.
“I love being able to work on something that I actually get to see being used,” said Sazzman. “Getting to fix and clean and find out what’s wrong with CIWS is by far the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.”
“I work on radars, but when it’s time for the missile defense systems to be uploaded or downloaded, it’s crunch time,” said Matteson. “It’s an all hands evolution. There are a lot of moving parts for the upload and download of these systems, and to be a part of this with no casualties or mishaps, it becomes a great experience.”
In addition to being competent to perform any operation, I will strive to know my maintenance duties so well that I may maintain the battle efficiency of my ship, even on a darkened ship, under enemy fire.
“All in all the defense of the ship is there to protect the ship so that we onboard can survive to fight for the freedoms we are given,” said Matteson. “It allows the ship to perform the missions and capabilities that are assigned to her and to protect the nation we all love to live in…AMERICA.”
“Pushing the button doesn’t compare to standing near the mount and watching it fire,” Sazzman said. “Standing next to it shakes your entire body inside and out, but sitting behind the button and actually getting to fire gives me a sense of accomplishment and responsibility. I know that the
amount of hours we put into it are effective.”
This to the end … that the ship may fight as long as she is afloat!
| Date Taken: | 02.01.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 02.05.2016 06:01 |
| Story ID: | 188004 |
| Location: | GULF OF OMAN, AT SEA |
| Web Views: | 674 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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