Subscribe
More than 800 Sailors gathered at the Anchors Conference Center at Naval Base San Diego to take part in the annual Career Counselor and Career Development Symposiums, Sept. 18-21.
Aimed toward helping Navy Counselors (NC), the symposiums provided training on existing initiatives as well as current changes in the Navy.
“We wanted to bring the career counselor symposium back in a more compact form and combine it with the opportunity take part in briefs that we as career counselors need,” said Master Chief Navy Counselor Ryan Romes, Force Career Counselor, Commander, Naval Surface Force Pacific (COMNAVSURFPAC). “From the most experienced NC to the newest converted NC and the collateral duty career counselors, it’s a good way to come together and discuss policies and hash out any questions anyone may have.”
During the Career Development Symposium, Sailors were also given the opportunity to ask questions during a leadership panel Q&A. The panel included Adm. Bill Moran, Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Vice Adm. Robert Burke, Chief of Naval Personnel, Rear Adm. John Meier, Assistant Commander, Navy Personnel Command (PERS-4), Rear Adm. Karl Thomas, Director 21st Century Sailor Office (N17), Fleet Master Chief Russell Smith, Fleet Master Chief Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education, and Fleet Master Chief Susan Whitman, Commander Pacific Fleet.
The leadership panel Q&A was also livestreamed through the Navy Personnel Command website, giving Sailors around the world the opportunity to participate in the training.
Being that the NC rate is not open to incoming recruits, it is only after a Sailor applies and is then accepted that they will be given just four weeks to learn all Navy personnel and administrative procedures and policies.
Regional training is also provided throughout commands, but for Master Chief Navy Counselor Susan Garrow, Commander, Pacific Fleet Career Counselor, the ability to continuously train throughout the year is important.
“Regional training is just to reinforce what we already know and talk about new policies that are coming out,” said Garrow. “The reality is last year we dropped 44 NAVADMINS that in some way deal with career counselors. That’s why this is a really amazing opportunity to provide training from subject matter experts on what’s new and what’s changing in a way for career counselors to take it back to their command and explain it to their triad.”
NC1 Erik Johnson, who flew in from Oceana, Va. to attend the symposiums, said he believes understanding policies so Sailors’ careers are being managed correctly should be a priority for all career counselors.
“Any NC will tell you that we have to constantly train and develop our career development team because the Navy is always changing,” said Johnson. “We as NCs are on the forefront of that and this symposium and conference has really made that clear and has really helped me.”
was NC1 Tamara Mitchell, a first tour NC who also flew in from Oceana echoed Johnson’s emphasis on the importance of career counselor training.
“Coming here is like a breath of fresh air,” said Mitchell. “When you come here it helps revalidate the importance of your job. I’m very excited about the new changes because I feel like Sailors’ voices are being heard. We’re seeing the changes and updates, and at the rate they are happening, it’s really remarkable.”
Plans for next year’s symposiums are already in place and will be held in Norfolk, Va. Coordinators are also developing plans for future events in Japan.
For more information on Navy Personal Command, please visit: www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/pages/default.aspx
| Date Taken: | 09.21.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 09.22.2017 09:56 |
| Story ID: | 249231 |
| Location: | SAN DIEGO, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 70 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Navy Counselors Attend Career Symposiums, by PO2 Amanda Chavez, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
LEAVE A COMMENT