Chief of Naval Personnel Attends OCS Graduation

By Lt. Brandon Walker, Officer Training Command Newport Public Affairs

NAVAL STATION NEWPORT, R. I. (NNS) -- The Chief of Naval Personnel (CNP) visited Officer Training Command Newport (OTCN) to review the graduation of newly commissioned officers of Officer Candidate School (OCS), June 27.

Vice Adm. Bill F. Moran commissioned 32 new ensigns during the OCS graduation at the Capt. Howard N. Kay Hall aboard Naval Station Newport.

Before introducing CNP, Capt. Kevin McGowan, commander of OTCN, told the newly commissioned officers the commission carries with it a great burden of responsibility.

"This is a call to great deeds of service. This is no small affair-it is a lifelong promise and we are honored to be here to bear witness to it," said McGowan.

Moran thanked the hundreds of friends and family members in attendance for their support and he looked encouragingly to the future.

"This class is joining a Navy at the front end of a maritime decade, if not a maritime century," said Moran.

He also emphasized the forward nature of a modern Navy with forces deployed around the globe, affirming that, "All are poised to act if called upon, and many of you will be joining them shortly."

Moran then stressed his confidence in the graduates' own readiness, assuring them that, "This ceremony and the solemn oath you're about to take are a sign of the faith your country has in you, faith that you'll answer the bell when your number is called."

He next prepared the candidates to take the oath of office by highlighting its meaning and purpose. "It is about swearing allegiance to an idea, to principles on a piece of paper, conceived by great men who saw a better world than one ruled by kings and despots."

After these remarks, Moran led the class in the recitation of the oath followed by the traditional tossing of their covers in the air. The class then received their first salutes from their drill instructor, Marine Gunnery Sgt. Sebastiano Siino and their Class Chief Petty Officer, Chief Naval Aircrewman James Davis.

"I enjoyed that Vice Adm. Moran had a lot of insight on the training we went through and the obstacles we had to overcome." said Ensign Kristoffer Abonal, a newly commissioned Intelligence Officer from Los Angeles, Calif., who will now report to Dam Neck, Va. for follow on training.

Ensign Eric Providakes agreed with his fellow graduate saying, "The speech was very motivating, it created a drive to succeed."

OTC is overseen by the Naval Service Training Command (NSTC), headquartered at Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois. NSTC manages all initial Navy officer and enlisted accessions training except for the U.S. Naval Academy.

OTC conducts five officer accession training schools and is located on board Naval Station Newport. The five schools consist of Officer Candidate School (OCS); the Officer Development School; Direct Commission Officer Indoctrination School; Limited Duty Officer and Chief Warrant Officer Academy and the Seaman-to-Admiral school. The Officer Staff, Recruit Division Commanders and U.S. Marine Corps Drill Instructors also provide training assistance for these schools, especially with the academic and physical training of the candidates and students.

The mission of OTC is to develop civilians and fleet sailors into newly commissioned officers morally, mentally, and physically and imbue them with the highest ideals of honor, courage, and commitment in order to prepare graduates for service in the fleet as Naval officers.

NSTC also oversees the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps at more than 160 colleges and universities, and Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps and Navy National Defense Cadet Corps citizenship development programs at more than 600 high schools worldwide.

NSTC is also ultimately in charge of Recruit Training Command, the Navy's only boot camp, also located at Naval Station Great Lakes.