Basic Supply Officer Course Reviewed by Fleet Experts

NEWPORT, R.I. (NNS) -- The Center for Service Support (CSS) and Navy Supply Corps School (NSCS) welcomed logistics experts from around the Fleet Feb. 27-March 8 for a Human Performance Requirements Review (HPRR) of the Basic Qualification Course (BQC) for Supply Corps Officers at the schoolhouse at Naval Station Newport.

Forty subject-matter experts, military and civilian, conducted the comprehensive revalidation and review of the course the one module at a time to ensure the right people were bringing the right expertise to the decision-making process.

"I believe the fleet gave some valuable feedback and suggestions on improving the curriculum that we teach our students," said Lt. Cmdr. Bob Kovack, the school's academic director. "The teamwork involving the Fleet, CSS and NSCS was awesome, and the integration of these key players will pay dividends for the future of the Supply Corps."

The 20-week BQC covers retail operations with Navy Cash, disbursing management, food service management, leadership management, and supply management.

"Fleet participation was diverse," said Dave Ledoux, an instructional systems specialists assigned to the basic course. "The working groups were encouraged to report any issues they felt were warranted. The pace was reasonable, and everyone had a chance to speak."

The HPRR process helps Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) learning centers produce quality training that best meets current and future fleet requirements by allowing fleet stakeholders and customers to thoroughly examine curriculum, lesson plans, lesson objectives, equipment, classroom instruction, and other course documents. HPRR participants may also sit in classrooms to observe training first-hand.

Among the major recommendations made to the course were the distribution of Navy Cash information throughout all retail management modules, permanent inclusion of the Fleet familiarization evolution (known as the saltwater trip), and the incorporation of the of the Fleet's newest Food Service Management software.

Another major takeaway from the event was the sense of pride and satisfaction the Fleet representatives had had for the developers of the course and the instructors who currently teach it.

"There were many factors that contributed to the success of the HPPR, but I would say that the instructors and the staff at NSCS are the real reason behind its success," said Ledoux.

The group, as a whole, discussed saltwater trip, agreeing that the event provides priceless experience for new Supply Corps officers as they prepare to assume their duties in the fleet.

"Codifying the saltwater trip to achieve more and position within the training terminal objectives to ensure maximum impact on the Supply Corps student was as important takeaway," said Cmdr. Timothy Nicholls, CSS operations officer.

Each recommendation or suggestion is captured by way of an action chit, which are tracked by NSCS and CSS during the event and in the following days, weeks and months as updates are made to the curriculum.

The HPRR manual and process information, as well as active HPRR tracking data, are available via the NETC N74 Navy Knowledge Online (NKO) page.

"At this point, the chits will be reviewed by the Supply Corps School staff and separated into items that can be handled internally and those that need approval from the curriculum control authority, CSS," Ledoux explained. "The progress of the action chits will be posted on NKO within 30 days from the end of the HPRR. Though all the comments are being reviewed, I feel that retaining the saltwater trip is the most important item."

The CSS, located at Naval Station Newport, R.I, is dedicated to providing Sailors in the administration, logistics and media communities the knowledge and skills to support the fleet's warfighting mission.

Human Performance Requirements Reviews ensure Navy training remains current and relevant ensuring the professional growth of Sailors. That growth is one of the aims of the 21st Century Sailor and Marine initiative which consolidates a set of objectives and policies, new and existing, to maximize Sailor and Marine personal readiness, build resiliency and hone the most combat-effective force in the history of the Department of the Navy.

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