SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- USS Freedom (LCS 1) continued a scheduled, four-month milestone maintenance period July 28. Every new ship conducts a post-shakedown availability (PSA) which is designed to harness results of a thorough test and evaluation period and pave the way to operational employment by the U.S. Navy. During the availability, contractors repair or improve the design of the ship in preparation for final contractor trials. "In dry-dock the contractors can better focus on our water jets…