Photo By Clinton Beaird | Lt. Brian 'Spud' Allen, is a P-8A Maritime Weapons and Tactics Instructor assigned to...... read more read more
Since its establishment in 2015, Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC) – one of five Navy warfighting development centers – has made significant positive impacts on Navy readiness by developing and delivering to the Fleet expert Warfare Tactics Instructors (WTIs), advanced tactical training, as well as refined and tested tactics, techniques and procedures. SMWDC WTIs are the premier experts at naval surface warfighting tactics, and they are creating, testing and teaching warfighting tactics to the Fleet.
In support of the WTI cadre ‘Warrior, Thinker, Teacher’ philosophy, SMWDC is committed to providing opportunities for WTIs to complete a graduate education program. SMWDC Commander, Rear Adm. Scott Robertson, is a strong advocate for graduate education and has supported granting SMWDC WTIs one day each week to pursue their degrees.
WTIs assigned to SMWDC and various commands around the Fleet fulfill the staffing and training requirements for various exercises (ranging from a few days to a few weeks underway) including Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training (SWATT) and the Submarine Commander’s Course (SCC). These exercises train our ships to master Air Warfare (AW), Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Surface Warfare (SUW), Mine Warfare (MIW), and Amphibious Warfare (AMW). Ashore, WTIs plan future exercises, manage and teach various courses, and develop doctrine for the Fleet. In spite of Fleet commitments, WTIs who want to are achieving post graduate education success.
Graduate degrees can be completed while on shore tours through traditional on-campus universities, through distance education and completion of online courses, and through tuition-free, off-campus options such as the Navy War College’s (NWC) Fleet Seminar Program (FSP). Many universities in the San Diego and Norfolk, Virginia fleet concentration areas offer on-campus or online graduate degree programs, as well as other universities located throughout the United States. The Department of Defense, Department of the Navy, and SMWDC do not endorse any specific universities or graduate education programs.
“While assigned to SMWDC I was able to complete my Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) through San Diego State University utilizing my GI Bill benefits,” said Lt. Jerry Kane, an AMW WTI assigned to SCD Operations department. “I attended school full time and finished the program in two years and SMWDC was incredibly supportive.”
Old Dominion University located in Norfolk, Va. offers distance learning and even recognizes those who graduated from Naval Nuclear Power Training Command by awarding credit hours toward completing the university’s distance learning Engineering Management graduate degree.
“While I was stationed at SMWDC, I was able to achieve a Master’s in Engineering Management through Old Dominion University,” said Lt. Erich Buss, an ASW/SUW WTI assigned to SCD Training department. “All of my classes were online so it was easy to work them around the SMWDC schedule. On occasion I was also able to take a full day off to complete my coursework which really helped.”
The University of Illinois has a distance-learning platform popular with those assigned to SMWDC SCD. The university offers online graduate degrees including the highly interactive MBA program and several engineering Master’s degrees. Live online lectures and group assignments allow students to network and learn from talented people living all over the world. I can personally attest to the program as I am enrolled in the university’s Gies College of Business, completing my MBA with a focus on innovation and leadership.
The recent requirement for officers commissioned in year group (YG) 15, and junior, to complete In-Residence Graduate Education (IRGE) prior to Major Command can be completed in a predominantly off-campus environment with few requirements. WTIs can fulfill these IRGE requirements through the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), NWC, or the Graduate Education Voucher (GEV).
“I am currently enrolled through the NPS Distance Learning program which allows me to earn an Executive Master of Business Administration degree” said Lt. Andrew Campos, an Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) WTI assigned to SMWDC HQ N5. “SMWDC has given me the flexibility to attend my Master’s program which is conducted via real-time video conference. I have supported three SWATTs, the creation of 13 publications, and countless Fleet outreach events while I have been in my production tour for 16 months. NPS supports me by allowing coordination with my professors to schedule exams around my underway support obligations.”
Lt. Solomon Lu (SMWDC ASW/SUW WTI) balanced being a WTI while concurrently attending NPS to receive his Systems Analysis Master’s degree, Undersea Warfare certificate, and Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) Phase 1. It is recommended that future students (FY 15 or newer) confer with their detailer to ensure individual graduate education plans will meet IRGE requirements. Many flexible options exist to support each WTI warfighter to obtain a graduate degree education and to complete JPME Phase 1.
Capt. Tim LaBenz assigned to PERS-41 as the Head Junior Officer Detailer, noted that many of the distance-learning opportunities available to officers also meet the Navy’s requirement for future milestones. Tuition-free, off-campus options such as the NWC Fleet Seminar Program or other virtual pursuits fulfill JPME Phase I requirements – needed before assuming O-5 Command at Sea. For many officers, leveraging a NWC FSP opportunity leads to a Master of Arts Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies with only a few additional electives.
“After working with Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center, SMWDC IAMD Division, and my detailers, I was able to apply to attend NWC for my Master of Arts Degree in Defense and Strategic Studies.” said LT Kathryn “Gilligan” Thomas, a dual-patched E-2 Hawkeye and IAMD WTI. “Following NWC I will be rolling directly into Department Head school on timeline. Not only was I able to contribute to the tactical readiness in the Fleet through my production tour at NAWDC, I am also able to complete a significant milestone needed in my Naval career.”
SMWDC’s main mission is to transform Fleet personnel into the greatest warfighters in the world and WTIs are the cornerstone of that transformation. By providing highly talented SWOs the opportunity to obtain their graduate education while at SMWDC, WTIs achieve the ‘Warriors, Thinkers, Teachers” ethos. SMWDC, with the support from Navy Personnel Command, affords many opportunities to those who join the WTI team. As a result, the tip of the spear will continue developing Combat Ready Ships and Battle-Minded Crews to execute and prevail in the high-end fight.
| Date Taken: | 11.21.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 11.21.2019 16:45 |
| Story ID: | 352846 |
| Location: | SAN DIEGO, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 119 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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