USS Tulsa (LCS 16) Sailor in the Spotlight – Mineman 3rd Class Salvador Gallardo

by Petty Officer 3rd Class Richard Cho

27 September 2021 GUAM -- APRA HARBOR, Guam – An Ingleside, Texas, native and 2019 Ingleside High School graduate is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard the deployed Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Tulsa (LCS 16).

Petty Officer 3rd Class Salvador Gallardo joined the Navy as a Mineman shortly after graduating high school and is now a member of the Blue Crew aboard the Tulsa.

“My older sister, was in the Navy, and I definitely knew I wanted to continue on with the family tradition,” said Gallardo. “She also told me about the benefits of being in the military, the opportunity to travel the world, gain experience, while also providing a chance to pursue higher education, which is certainly something that peaked my interest.”

With guidance from his sister and sheer determination, Gallardo was able to come into the service better prepared.

“My sister explained that the military experience is dictated by the attitude I go into it with and that maintaining a positive approach and open mind was the best way to enjoy the military lifestyle,” said Gallardo. “Taking this to heart has allowed me to open myself up to a diverse group of people and make the best of my time thus far in the Navy.”

Now, Gallardo performs his duties of maintaining the weapons aboard the ship including the small arms, cruise served weapons, and magazines. All of this done while obtaining his Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS) and winning Junior Sailor of the Quarter (JSOQ). Talk about an overachiever!

Gallardo has goals to continue to excel, both in the Navy and beyond. He is working toward obtaining his air warfare qualification and building his experience for promotion to the next rank. His dream duty stations have him serving as a recruit division commander at Great Lakes, training new Navy Sailors at boot camp, or serving overseas in Bahrain. Gallardo wants to continue his higher education, aiming to get a bachelor’s degree from a school in his home state, such as Texas A&M or University of Texas.

Tulsa has a crew size of approximately 110 Sailors, including crew and the "Blackjacks" aviation detachment of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21. LCS is a highly maneuverable, lethal, and adaptable ship designed to support surface warfare missions, anti-submarine, and focused mine countermeasures. The Independence-variant LCS implements new technology and the capability to support current and future missions, from deep water to the shores.

Under Destroyer Squadron 7 and supporting Commander, Task Force (CTF) 76/Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7, Tulsa is on a rotational deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations for security and stability in the region, and to work alongside allied and partner navies to provide maritime security and stability, key pillars of a free and open Indo-Pacific.