New course to focus on fundamentals, self-assessment
By Philip Ewing - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Jul 20, 2008 11:06:15 EDT
After years of sending brand-new surface warfare ensigns straight to ships after graduation — rather than sending them to school first — the Navy is set to bring the schoolhouse to the waterfront.
Starting Aug. 4, the first ensigns are scheduled to report for a new introductory course after top commanders deemed ensigns were not "adequately prepared" to join the fleet after commissioning.
The new four-week course, managed by the Atlantic and Pacific afloat training groups, adds formal training for surface warfare officers who had been going straight to their first ships.
Naval Surface Force commander Vice Adm. D.C. Curtis called for the introductory course in early June, in a message that said "a large percentage of our newly reporting ensigns are not adequately prepared" to do their jobs when they report aboard their first ships.
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/07/navy_swos_071808w/
