CNSF Signs New Surface Warfare Watchstander Proficiency Requirements Instruction

Photo By Petty Officer 3rd Class Colbey L Livingston | 180712-N-GX781-0106 CARIBBEAN SEA (July 12, 2018) Lt. Christopher Lee stands under instruction as the tactical action officer aboard the Whidbey Island-Class Dock Landing Ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44). The ship is on deployment supporting Southern Seas, which is an annual collaborative deployment in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility where a task group will deploy to conduct a variety of exercises and multinational exchanges to enhance interoperability, increase regional stability, and build and maintain regional relationships with countries throughout the region through joint, multinational and interagency exchanges and cooperation. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Colbey Livingston)  

CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES

11.28.2018

Courtesy Story

Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet

CORONADO – Vice Adm. Rich Brown, Commander, Naval Surface Force (CNSF), approved the new Surface Warfare Watchstander Proficiency Requirements Instruction, Nov. 13.

The purpose of the instruction is to establish minimum requirements for individuals to maintain proficiency in the Tactical Action Officer (TAO), Officer of the Deck (OOD), Combat Information Center Watch Officer (CICWO), Engineering Officer of the Watch (EOOW), Junior Officer of the Deck (JOOD), Conning Officer (CONN), and Combat Systems Officer of the Watch (CSOOW) watchstations.

The instruction, which is effective immediately, meets requirements set out in the U.S. Fleet Forces (USFF) Comprehensive Review.

Highlights of the instruction include the following:

• Watchstanders must stand minimum time requirements for designated watches to maintain proficiency. Exceeding maximum time period between watches requires a refresh to re-establish proficiency.

• Controlling stations have assigned periodicities of either one watch every 45 days (OOD, TAO, CICWO) or one watch every 30 days (CSOOW, EOOW).

• JOODs and CONNs are required to be graduates of Basic Division Officer Course (BDOC) and OOD phase I courses of instruction.

There are a few exceptions in the instruction, such as:
• Nuclear-qualified Surface Warfare Officers (SWO-N), while assigned to a CVN, are exempt from the Surface Warfare watchstanding proficiency requirements.

• Currently serving Chief Engineers are exempt from the Surface Warfare EOOW watchstanding proficiency requirements.

• Commanding Officers (COs) and Executive Officer (XOs) are exempt from watchstanding proficiency requirements.

• Pre-Commissioning Units are exempt from maintaining these proficiency requirements until the conclusion of Builder’s Trials.

The Fleetwide proficiency instruction is part of the foundation on which commanding officers can increase readiness and enhance the lethality of their warfighting teams. The full instruction can be found at this link. It is CAC-enabled. Use the email cert when prompted. https://cpf.navy.deps.mil/sites/cnsp/directives/1412.6.pdf

• Date Taken: 11.28.2018
• Date Posted: 11.28.2018 17:59
• Story ID: 301531
• Location: CALIFORNIA, US