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The endless pursuit of the qualification is one of the major pillars of our nation’s naval force, with the crossed cutlasses and bow waves worn on a Sailor’s chest signifying to all that they have been “Forged by the Sea.”
The ESWS program educates and qualifies Sailors in all aspects of shipboard operations, resulting in well-rounded and proficient Sailors capable of completing any shipboard task required of them.
The enlisted Sailors aboard the Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) are embracing this challenge while on their 2018 regularly scheduled deployment and utilizing their time to complete the qualification’s robust requirements.
Sailors are required to complete a core Personnel Qualification Standard (PQS) and ship-specific PQS, which is a document utilized Navywide to ensure thorough training procedures and uniform standards are followed. When completed, they take a written exam, do departmental walkthroughs and stand two oral boards to prove their knowledge.
“The ESWS program is a vital part of creating versatile Sailors who can help Oak Hill achieve any mission,” said Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Alfred Edwards, the ship’s assistant ESWS coordinator.
The ESWS pin symbolizes Sailor’s proficiency in their professional skillset, known as a rate, and their commitment to learn and understand all rates on Oak Hill and how each rate contributes to the smooth operation of the ship.
“It is a way to show that you care, that you are part of the team and understand how the ship operates,” said Edwards. “This is our home as well as our workplace. Earning ESWS is another way to show that Sailors understand the different warfare areas.”
ESWS is a requirement of all Oak Hill Sailors, with 30 months given to new arrivals to earn the designation. Sailors work hard to find time to balance the requirements in rate and the robust expectations of the program.
“I am relieved to have my pin,” said Operations Specialist 3rd Class Skyler Dunford, a recent ESWS qualifier. “It was a long time coming, and there were a lot of long nights studying to achieve this goal. Balancing my watch schedule and daily requirements on top of ESWS was challenging. I am happy that I was able to pull it off. It proves my knowledge of the ship’s operations not only to myself but to my peers as well.”
Some Sailors find the two oral boards the toughest part of earning their pin. The first is an initial screening with the petty officers first class from each division to prove their worthiness to face questions from the salty chief petty officers--the most senior technical experts on the ship.
“The board process is nerve wracking,” said Dunford. “Fortunately, the training and guidance from everyone on board paid off, and I learned a lot from the one-on-one training from the subject matter experts aboard.”
Confidently answering the ship’s senior leaders’ questions about their area of expertise and successfully displaying competency not only shows to the deck leaders the Sailors’ worth but also raises the confidence of those who qualify.
“The boards are stressful, but worth it,” said Edwards. “Many Sailors proudly wear their Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist qualification pin.”
Sailors are using deployment to their advantage to complete the qualification. With deployment halfway over, boards are scheduled weekly to accommodate the motivated Sailors.
Oak Hill is part of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and is currently deployed in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations conducting naval operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe and Africa to enhance capability and interoperability with our allies and partners in the region.
The Iwo Jima ARG embarks the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit and includes the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), the transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21), Oak Hill, Fleet Surgical Team 4 and 8, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28, Tactical Air Control Squadron 22, components of Naval Beach Group 2 and the embarked staff of commander, Amphibious Squadron 4.
| Date Taken: | 05.23.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 05.25.2018 11:02 |
| Story ID: | 278463 |
| Location: | MEDITERRANEAN SEA |
| Web Views: | 126 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Oak Hill Forges Surface Warriors on Deployment, by Jessica Dowell, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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