Navy first and second class petty officer selectees soon will begin a new system of leadership training held by their parent commands, the U.S. Naval Education and Training Command announced last week.
Local commands will schedule, conduct and record the advancement training, which could mean fewer class cancellations, better access to instructors and less travel for training, Navy officials said.
Selectees must take a first phase of training before testing and a second phase of leadership training after being promoted to their new rank but before their pay increases.
The Navy said the change was meant to dovetail with other recent changes in training and to tap the expertise of sailors who know and work with selectees.
"One major difference is that instead of the students attending classes at the Center for Personal and Professional Development … we are leveraging the talent of the best and brightest sailors in the fleet, who will have more direct impact and the opportunity to develop and mentor the future leaders of the Navy," said Master Chief Gretchen Boals, command master chief of the Virginia Beach, Va.-based CPPD.
Selectees often have difficulty scheduling the training necessary to advance, said Chief Petty Officer Christopher Alford, a career counselor at Sasebo Naval Base, Japan. "I think the biggest benefit [will be] not holding somebody back from taking the test," Alford said.
Sailors also will be able to go directly to trainers with questions or concerns, he said.
The new leadership course for first class petty officer selectees will be required beginning with the February and March 2009 advancement examinations. Sailors who pass the first class advancement test must complete phases one and two of the new leadership training by the end of August, officials said.
After that, all first class selectees must complete the first phase before putting on their new rank and the second phase before they get their first pay increase.
The new second class leadership course will be required for second class selectees beginning in August. Sailors who pass the August-September advancement tests must complete phases one and two of the new leadership training by February 2010.
All subsequent second class selectees must complete the first phase before frocking and the second phase before the first pay increment of that exam cycle.
The CPPD will turn over the responsibility for testing to command master chiefs and chief’s mess but will keep personnel on hand over the transition to provide help, the Naval Education and Training Command said.
Details about the unit training are available under the leadership tab at Navy Knowledge Online.
