Thursday, May 03, 2012

Civilian Leaders See Firsthand How Sailors, Marines are Trained for Success


By Steve Vanderwerff, Naval Education and Training Command Public Affairs

PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) -- Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC) hosted 39 civilian leaders of the Secretary of Defense's Joint Civilian Orientation Conference (JCOC) for a tour April 27, highlighting how the Navy trains Sailors and Marines to become aircraft mechanics and technicians.

Rear Adm. Don Quinn, commander, Naval Education and Training Command (NETC), accompanied the group during their tour of NATTC.

"As always, our young Sailors and Marines at the Naval Air Technical Training Center stole the show. They impressed these civilian leaders from the start, and showed them why our training is our asymmetric advantage. The combination of superb people and leading-edge training gives our maritime forces the capability to respond quickly to crises and win in combat," said Quinn. "The technical expertise gained, combined with developed critical thinking skills, gives our Sailors and Marines the ability to defeat known threats, and deal with those that are unexpected. While at the training center, JCOC visitors experienced firsthand the training that goes into preparing our newest Sailors, enabling them to fulfill their role in defending our nation.

"At NATTC and throughout the NETC domain, we use blended learning solutions which combine instructor-led classes, hands-on labs, simulation, interactive courseware, and computer-based training to give our graduates the tools they need to succeed."

The JCOC program is sponsored by the Secretary of Defense to provide civilian public opinion leaders greater knowledge of the military and national defense issues. JCOC is the oldest existing Department of Defense outreach program, having been held more than 80 times since its inception in 1948. The group visiting NATTC included leadership from various universities, county and city elected officials from several communities across the nation, as well as national and regional civic leaders, and representatives from professional athletic teams, and various news and entertainment media.

"What we hope is that the members of the JCOC will learn more about the Department of Defense," said Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs for Community and Public Outreach René Bardorf. "Each day we've visited individual branches of the military. We want to educate them about the uniqueness of the human side of each of the services. We'll show them the capabilities, but we want them to return to their communities and be empowered to take action to help our service members as they re-integrate after a decade of war, back into their communities. We hope the experience will then cause them to take action to help us to transition our service members into employment opportunities, education opportunities and improve their wellness over the time their back in their communities, and for the rest of their lives."

While at NATTC, the group was shown how air traffic controllers are taught to safely direct incoming and outgoing aircraft at both shore facilities and aboard ships. A portion of the tour included how Sailors are taught electro-hydraulics in the Aviation Electrician's Mate A-School, as part of the maintenance and repair aircraft.

They also saw how students are taught to maintain and build aviation ordnance, including bombs and missiles. They wrapped up their tour with a visit to the learning center's aircraft engine lab, where Sailors are taught how to maintain and repair fixed-wing and rotary aircraft engines.

When they return to their communities, JCOC group members are encouraged to share their knowledge within their spheres of influence.

"As president of the State Chamber of Oklahoma, part of my job is to not only meet other people around the country and those we have business connections with, but to also recognize and realize the impact the military has on our economy, which we recently did a study on," said Fred Morgan, president and chief executive officer, State Chamber of Oklahoma. "Being a part of the JCOC and seeing the military in the real world allows me to put it into context, which is very important to me and my organization."

Morgan says he was very impressed by the training that the Sailors receive at NATTC and the skills they have to support the Maritime Strategy.

"We went to a very modern computer training lab, and I wish all schools were using that type of system in our public schools," said Morgan. "I was amazed by the level of education and the quality of these young Sailors. It gives you hope in this generation of young adults."

NATTC graduates approximately 15,000 Navy and Marine students each year. The largest part of this student body is comprised of enlisted personnel attending "A" schools designed to provide them with the knowledge and skill levels required to perform as technicians at the apprentice level.

Advanced schools provide higher level technical knowledge for senior petty officers, and specialty schools offer specific skills not particular to any one rating, such as airman apprentice training, maintenance, personal financial management and shipboard aircraft firefighting. NATTC also conducts technical training for officers in aviation fuels, carrier air traffic control center operations, aircraft launch and recovery equipment, shipboard aircraft fire fighting and amphibious air traffic control center operations.

"It's important that the people who are part of JCOC have a better understanding of how we develop the youth of our nation and the payback the youth get from their time in service," said Capt. Terry Burt, commanding officer, Center for Naval Air Technical Training Center. "The feedback I got from group members was that it rounded out their experience. They were able to see a variety of operational type training over the last few days and were impressed by the various levels of training, from initial boot camp to taking them to the next step which is initial skills training, which is primarily what we do here in Pensacola before they go out to the operational units."

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