CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - A 2010 Mesa Verde High School graduate and Citrus Heights, native provides key support as part of combat operations aboard future USS Billings, stationed at Naval Station Mayport, Florida.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Anthony Galvan serves as a mineman responsible for daily scheduling of operations.

Galvan credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Citrus Heights.

“Growing up in my hometown, my parents taught me the value of respect,” said Galvan. "Everything in the Navy is about respect.”

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.

Galvan is now a part of a long-standing tradition of serving in the Navy our nation needs.

“Joining the Navy gave me the opportunity to make something of myself,” said Galvan.

Galvan is part of a warfighting team that readily defends America at all times.

“Serving in the Navy has allowed me to travel and see the world,” said Galvan.

Galvan 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, Galvan and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes.

Serving in the Navy, Galvan is learning about being a more respectable leader, sailor and person through handling numerous responsibilities.

“Serving in the Navy means everything,” said Galvan. "It gives me a means to life for myself, a way to keep myself going."