CNP Visits Port Hueneme Commands

PORT HUENEME, Calif. (NNS) -- Vice Adm. Scott Van Buskirk, Chief of Naval Personnel, visited the Engineering Duty Officer (EDO) School, the Center for Seabees and Facilities Engineering (CSFE) and the Naval Construction Training Center (NCTC) for familiarization tours as part of his visit to Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) April 29.

Capt. Thomas Brovarone, commanding officer of EDO School, and Capt. Kevin Brown, commanding officer of CSFE, welcomed Van Buskirk and provided an overview of the history and missions of their respective learning centers and sites.

"We had a great brief and tour for the admiral at both CSFE and NCTC Port Hueneme," said Brovarone. "He took an active interest in our staff and students and with how we meet our training mission. He is very supportive of our efforts to maintain a high quality of training and he was very forthcoming with the current and future budgetary challenges we face."

Van Buskirk was accompanied by Capt. Larry Vasquez, NBVC commanding officer and CNP Fleet Master Chief April Beldo, as they met with staff members of the CSFE learning centers. Cmdr. Scott Loeschke, NCTC commanding officer, escorted the admiral on a tour of the Construction Mechanic, Builder, Utilitiesman, and Steelworker training facilities. Course directors spent time engaging Van Buskirk in discussions and provided descriptions of the training process and equipment. The admiral spoke positively about the contributions of engineers and Seabees during the tour.

"The skills of our people form the foundation of our combat readiness," said Van Buskirk. "These are some of the commands responsible for preparing the world's finest maritime force, and these instructors consistently produce warfighters with the relevant skills that enable our force to take the fight to our enemy, no matter where that fight may be."

When asked by Van Buskirk what impact the Civil Service furloughs will have on Seabee training, Loeschke said they are working around possible furloughs.

"We'll work through it, but it will certainly impact us," Loeschke said. "We will shift our experts' schedules to make them available to meet fleet requirements."

During his tour of the Construction Mechanic laboratory, Van Buskirk asked Construction Mechanic 1st Class Chris Shaw how realistic the training equipment is.

"These are real engines," Shaw explained. "The idea is that if students touch every type of equipment we own in the fleet, they will have a baseline knowledge and ability to work on the engines in all of our vehicles when they leave here."

Fleet Master Chief Petty Officer April Beldo actively engaged NCTC instructors throughout the tour asking them about their responsibilities, assignments, and goals.

"The opportunity to see our Seabees producing and preparing for their mission is overwhelming," said Beldo, when asked what she thought about the Seabee training program. "It just makes me want to start my career all over again."

According to Vasquez, the visit to Port Hueneme for CNP and his Fleet Master Chief was important.

"It's great for leadership to come and see the professionalism and dedication of the Seabees, Vasquez said. "It's very important to understand the skills and knowledge Seabees bring to the fight. They are at the forefront of phase zero operations around the world. We just can't get enough Seabees."

CSFE is a Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) learning center designated for the development, maintenance, and delivery of course curriculum for the Naval Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC). CSFE manages training materials for the Civil Engineer Corps and Seabees and serves as headquarters for five subordinate learning sites that are responsible for providing technical and professional training for Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) Offices and Seabees. Seabees train jointly with Army and Air Force members during initial training, or "A" School for Builders, Construction Electricians, Construction Mechanics, Engineering Aides, Equipment Operators, and Utilitiesmen in accordance with an Interservice Training Requirements Organization (ITRO) agreement.

For more information on the Center for Seabees and Facilities Engineering, visit the CSFE website: https://www.netc.navy.mil/centers/csfe/.>
For more news from Naval Education and Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/cnet/.