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By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jeff Atherton
Navy Public Affairs Support Element East
NORFOLK, Va. – Three newly commissioned ensigns participated in a virtual ship handling competition at the Surface Warfare Officer School (SWOS) detachment in Norfolk Nov. 16.
During the competition, Ensigns Daniel Minter, Carson Talley and Ryan Landeen, the three top ship handlers in a class of 70 newly commissioned officers, were tasked with placing a ship pierside in Norfolk.
The sailors wore conning officer virtual environment (COVE) headsets, which simulated the pilothouse of the virtual ship they handled.
Rear Adm. (sel) Brad Williamson, Capt. John Cordle and Capt. Pete Pagano judged the competition, which was held at the end of the eight-week basic division officer course (BDOC) and prepares newly commissioned ensigns for life at sea as division officers (DIVO).
“The course is grounded in basic fundamentals and gives the sailors the knowledge, skills and abilities to be successful division officers at sea,” said Lt. Cmdr. Les Sobol, officer in charge of the course.
The class, which began Oct. 1, is the first BDOC. In addition to ship handling skills, the sailors also learned other DIVO fundamentals including basic seamanship, navigation, engineering, maritime warfare, anti-terrorism force protection and damage control.
“This course has given me great starter information,” said Ensign Daniel Minter. “I will be better prepared when I get to my ship and I will not be going in completely blind.”
The course is designed to be the first stop for newly commissioned Ensigns prior to reporting to their ships.
“When the sailors leave this course and get to the fleet, they will be able to make an immediate impact upon arrival to the ship,” said Sobol.
The participants’ level of knowledge and skill impressed Williamson.
“One of the sailors participating today has never been underway before and he is driving as if he had been doing it for awhile already,” said Sobol. “Investing in these ensigns will pay back tenfold because they will be able to make an immediate impact when they get to their ship.”
Talley, the winner of the first BDOC ship handling competition, is scheduled to report to guided-missile destroyer USS Stout (DDG 55) upon graduation from the course Nov. 30.
“The three competitors did outstanding and I would take any of them with me on my next underway period,” said Williamson. “Ensign Talley drove the ship like a true professional and Stout is lucky to have him.”
| Date Taken: | 11.20.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 11.20.2012 15:27 |
| Story ID: | 98172 |
| Location: | NORFOLK, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 234 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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