Newly-revised Basic Combat Skills Level I Course Available on Navy e-Learning

By John Pine, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Public Affairs

PORT HUENEME, Calif. (NNS) -- The First Naval Construction Division (1NCD) announced Jan. 9 the activation of the Basic Combat Skills (BCS) Level I online training course on Navy e-Learning (NeL) via Navy Knowledge On-Line (NKO).

This self-paced course includes six lessons that enable Seabees and Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) officers to learn combat skills or refresh their skill-sets. The lessons encompass the Naval Construction Force (NCF) and The Laws of Armed Conflict; Medical Procedures and Personal Hygiene; General Military Tactics; Field Communications; Force Protection; and Combat Equipment and Weapons.

"The official release of the BCS electronic training provides our Seabees another tool to attain critical mission skills and knowledge at the time that is convenient for them," said Capt. Stephanie Jones, 1NCD assistant chief of staff for training.

Construction Electrician 2nd Class Tex Mitchell, a and 31st Seabee Readiness Group military skills instructor, noted that the BCS course will increase the combat readiness for the entire NCF.

"This is a great course," said Mitchell. "The interactive learning environment prepares personnel new to the NCF for more advanced courses like BCS Level II and fire team leader."

Until its launch on NeL, the BCS course had only been available in an instructor-led classroom environment. Designed to enhance individual and team decision-making and combat effectiveness, the e-learning course supplies up-to-date information to Seabees using the latest technology.

Project manager, Chief Builder Petty Officer Jason Verneris, training specialist for the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Training Support Agency, stressed that it is vital to the the Seabee mission for personnel to stay abreast of the latest combat technology in order to ensure Seabees deploying around the world are prepared for present day challenges.

"The intent of this course is to allow the user to be able to train and become familiar with the NCF and its capabilities," said Verneris. "Navy e-Learning facilitates a self-paced interactive learning environment, anywhere - anytime."

This online training tool is designed to support personnel reporting to NCF commands and students attending the CEC Officer School (CECOS) Basic class, and "A" School courses. Each lesson takes an average of two to five hours to complete; upon successful completion of the six lesson assessments, the program generates a completion certificate and updates the member's Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART) and is reflected in the Fleet Training Management and Planning System (FLTMPS). The SMART update can take up to two weeks to appear while FLTMPS is generally updated nightly.

The BCS course includes hyperlinks to up-to-date references, a glossary, an acronym/definition list, and displays graphic images of commonly used forms and documents.

To enroll, visit https://wwwa.nko.navy.mil/portal/home/ and select the LEARNING tab> Navy e-Learning>Online Courses> Browse Categories> Department of the Navy (DON) Training> Naval Construction Force Training> Basic Combat Skills> Basic Combat Skills - Level I.

For more information about the First Naval Construction Division, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/1ncd/.