Courtesy Photo | SAN DIEGO (August 31, 2020) - The Center for Surface Combat Systems’ (CSCS) Fleet...... read more read more
SAN DIEGO – The Center for Surface Combat Systems’ (CSCS) Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Center (FASW) and Mine Warfare Training Center (MWTC) are piloting a Naval Military Training (NMT) program to better prepare future warfighters and create a culture of excellence. The initial accession students attached to CSCS schoolhouses’ “A” and “C” Schools arrived in July and are currently going through vigorous training.
Capt. Brandon Bryan, commanding officer, FASW, explains why CSCS is adding this program to their curriculum.
“This is a joint initiative between CSCS and FASW / MWTC to shift the Training Support Centers’ NMT responsibilities to the learning sites and execute requirements contained in the Naval Education and Training Command’s Instruction 1500.11A,” he said. “Our goal is to ensure we build on the military training our students receive at boot camp to make them even more prepared to enter the fleet. A Sailor who has been challenged with time management, taught life skills, is confident on how to wear their uniform properly, and understands basic military customs will be able to focus on their primary duties and contribute more to their future command. As an added bonus, our staff is gaining leadership experience at the leading petty officer (LPO) and leading chief petty officer level so they will also be more experienced and effective when they return to the fleet.”
The NMT program focuses on many facets of an initial accession Sailor’s daily routine, including execution of colors, marching, personnel and barrack inspections, proper berthing cleanliness, and physical training. The Phase Program and Life Skills course are also integrated into the curriculum.
Currently, FASW is supporting 125 Sailors and MWTC is supporting 31, a total of 156 students.
Cmdr. Dawn Ricketts, commanding officer, MWTC, says this program benefits all.
“This will foster strong deck plate leaders among our staff and help prepare them to be future leaders at sea, as well as greatly enhance the level of mentorship the students receive,” she said. “By developing Sailors across all areas and not just focusing on classroom instruction, we can truly emulate a shipboard environment.”
Instructors Sonar Technician (Surface) 1st Class Tiffany Iaccarino and Sonar Technician (Surface) 2nd Class Egor Kireyevshupta are heavily involved in the program and emphasize in their classrooms that Sailors live by the following priorities: Ship, Shipmate, and Self.
“My objectives for the NMT Program is to take new accession Sailors from the highly structured boot camp mindset to one of personal accountability,” explained Iaccarino, who is also the NMT’s LPO. “The ultimate goal is to send Sailors to the fleet prepared to fulfill their duties and responsibilities with an elevated level of competence.”
Kireyevshupta utilizes many tools that mirror what his students will use aboard a ship including counseling chits and deck and liberty logs.
“My knowledge and hands-on approach will help prepare these Sailors for their first ship assignment and in turn, improve the training pipeline,” he said.
Implementing this pilot has come with its own set of challenges but FASW and MWTC are learning each day how to make this program an example for all commands to follow.
“Over the years, the culture drifted in a direction where accountability for military professionalism of junior Sailors fell heavily only on NMT instructors,” Iaccarino said. “Identifying this issue and shifting the culture has created some growing pains but personnel are being receptive and focusing on their students’ military bearing and their own professionalism. By applying this high standard of military bearing, professionalism, and training, we will be sending Sailors to the fleet who are not only eager to learn, but are also prepared to maintain their demeanor in high stress situations.”
According to many of the students, the program has been rewarding.
“The frequent musters and inspections made it difficult to manage time,” explained Seaman Derzhay Anastasia. “However, this program helps me build my time management and multitasking skills. The higher standards have made me prioritize my responsibilities to ‘A’ School, which I believe resulted in my high test scores. What I am learning will help shape me into a responsible and accountable leader.”
Seaman Ryan Jolly says the learning environment itself is his favorite aspect.
“We are able to study as much as we need to until we are confident in the material,” he explained. “This training is preparing me mentally for my next tour of duty.”
FASW and MWTC are seeing positive changes in and out of the classroom. They feel confident that this training is helping to prepare warfighters who will be ready to win the fight tonight.
“Every day, new accession Sailors are stepping up and correcting their peers, assuming leadership positions among their shipmates and elevating the standards of their peer groups,” Iaccarino said. “It’s been extremely motivating to me to see how hard these Sailors are working and how much they truly believe in the program and its effectiveness.”
CSCS is a global organization of professional military and civilian educators and support personnel focused on training the Surface Navy to fight and win. CSCS trains over 36,000 U.S. and Allied Sailors a year to operate, maintain and employ weapons, sensors, communications, combat systems and deck equipment of surface warships to build Combat Ready Ships with Battle Minded Crews.
For information on the Center for Surface Combat Systems, visit: https://www.public.navy.mil/netc/centers/cscs/.
Visit CSCS, FASW, MWTC on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Center-for-Surface-Combat-Systems/1480366868885239
https://www.facebook.com/fleaswtracen/
https://www.facebook.com/MWTCSD/
| Date Taken: | 09.22.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 09.22.2020 13:33 |
| Story ID: | 378388 |
| Location: | SAN DIEGO, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 245 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, CSCS Prepares Future Warfighters and Creates a Culture of Excellence, by Kimberly Lansdale, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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