GREAT LAKES, Ill. –
Rear Adm. Robert Nowakowski, Deputy Commander, Navy Recruiting Command and Deputy Commander, Naval Education and Training Command toured Training Support Center (TSC), Surface Warfare Engineering School Command (SWESC) and Center for Surface Combat Systems Unit (CSCSU) Great Lakes Feb. 26.
The tour began with a visit with TSC Great Lakes Triad discussing the command’s indoctrination’s Life Skills training. Sailors arriving on board from boot camp attend the indoctrination training before any rate-specific courses. Subjects taught in the course cover sexual assault intervention, military pay and entitlements, healthy relationships, navigating stress, operations security, banking and financial management service, and responsible alcohol use. Navy Military Training Instructors at TSC also continue the Sailorization process by helping the students hone training learned in boot camp applying skills they need to become a well-rounded Sailor
At SWESC Great Lakes Nowakowski was shown the training facilities of Basic Engineering Common Core (BECC) and Engineman “C” School.
“We were proud to showcase how SWOSU Great Lakes trains students for the Fleet,” said SWESC Great Lakes Commanding Officer Cmdr. Shawn Gibson. “He was able to see the technology we use in our classrooms and labs and most importantly, the saw the professionalism and pride our instructors’ project every day to make sure the students receive the training they need to be successful.”
BECC balances Interactive Courseware with hands-on labs, instructor-led classroom training with realistic simulations creating an Integrated Learning Environment. They also visited the Purifier Lab and LPD 17 Maintainer Course where students gain knowledge and skills to maintain and repair diesel engines in the fleet.
AT CSCSU Great Lakes the tour began at Boatswain's Mate 'A' School and continued on to the Operations Specialist “A” School’s new Ready, Relevant Learning modernized training classroom and the Voyage Management System (VMS) lab.
“It was an honor to personally listen to and observe several highly-skilled instructors that have implemented modernized training first-hand in one of our Navy's most cutting-edge learning environments," Nowakowski said. "The schools are employing state-of-the-art technologies to Sailors so that they are ready to operate their equipment the day they report to the Fleet, our ultimate customer. It is critical that we continue to become better, faster and more effective to win in today's near peer competitive environment. To say 'I am impressed' at our level of instruction is an under-statement."