Command Spouse Course marks 15th anniversary

NEWPORT, R.I. (NNS) -- The Command Spouse Leadership Course (CSLC) marked its 15th anniversary July 25 in Newport, R.I.

CSLC, which began in October of 1997, is a one-week course for spouses of first-time prospective commanding officers. Spouses of officers attending the Command Leadership Course (CLC) are invited to attend the CSLC, which is a complementary course that runs in conjunction with the CLC.

Both the CSLC and the CLC are conducted in Newport, R.I., and all related travel, lodging and meal costs are funded by the Navy for attendees. An average of 250 spouses attend CSLC each year.

"CSLC provides spouses of soon-to-be commanding officers (COs) with an in-depth program that enriches their knowledge of the choices and contributions they may make as a CO's spouse. It's an all-around win for the spouses, the COs and the Navy," said Capt. Michael Slotsky, director of Command Leadership School (CLS), which administers CSLC as part of its mission to "prepare the Leadership Triad and Command Support Team for their unique roles."

"CSLC was the vision of a group of flag spouses attending a Battlegroup Commander's Conference in 1995," said Slotsky. "Within a year, these spouses -- along with several spouses from various Navy communities and geographic locations -- developed the curriculum, and presented it at the 1996 conference as well as to the Chief of Naval Personnel. As a result, NAVADMIN 188/97 was released by Naval Message forming the course."

CSLC provides spouses with an awareness of leadership and management skills that can enhance positive contributions to the family, command and community environments. The course deals with issues likely to come up in connection with command responsibilities. It also provides ideas on ways to maintain communication links among the command, families, the community and service providers.

Spouses spend time during the course evaluating their own personal values and preferences. Each spouse then develops his or her own vision statement based on those values and preferences and, together with the prospective CO, develops a Command Tour Charter that aligns with each of their personal visions, according to Cmdr. John Pucciarelli, who is a CSLC instructor on Navy Organization and Navy Total Force, including discussions on Safe Harbor, Suicide Prevention, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response, and Diversity.

The course is taught by post command spouses contracted to the Navy and by CLS active duty instructors, such as Pucciarelli, who have previously been in command. Topics covered include Command Support Team Relationships; Values and Ethics; Social Media for Navy Families; and Individual Augmentee Family Support. Speakers can include the Chief of Naval Personnel, a clinical psychologist who co-instructs a Personal and Operational Stress Management module, a Navy chaplain who co-instructs a Crisis Management module and a retired Marine Corps major general who speaks about the Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society.

Spouses have provided positive feedback for the course, one describing it as "... more than I imagined! I not only had a wonderful week but also received tremendous information and knowledge, experienced stories, and advice." Another spouse said, "I found the course very helpful. I am much more likely to get engaged with my husband's command."

To mark the 15th anniversary of the course, the CSLC Steering Committee held a barbeque at the home of Rear Adm. and Mrs. John Christenson. Mrs. Christenson is the CSLC Steering Committee Flag Spouse Advisor.

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