Congressional aides and members of the Federal Executive Board visited Training Support Center (TSC) Great Lakes, Surface Warfare Officer Unit (SWOSU) Great Lakes and Center for Surface Combat Systems Unit (CSCSU) Great Lakes Aug. 16.

The purpose of the visit was to familiarize them to the training used at the commands that provided 24-hour supervision, leadership, training and mentorship of Sailors.

“I am proud of the work our Sailors do in training students for their future in the Navy.” said Capt. Mark Meskimen, commanding officer at TSC Great Lakes. “The Life Skills curriculum is an important first step in these young Sailors lives, some of whom have transitioned directly from high school to the Navy; not having much knowledge of these skills.”

The day began with a tour of the student indoctrination’s Life Skills training. Sailors arriving on board from boot camp attend the training before any rate-specific courses. Subjects taught in the course cover sexual assault intervention, military pay and entitlements, healthy relationships, navigating stress, operations security, banking and financial management service, and responsible alcohol use.

“I think the tour is beneficial to our local congressional staff to come and see and learn all the great things that are happening at Training Support Center, Surface Warfare Officer School Unit and Center for Surface Combat Systems Great Lakes,” said Ann Watkins, deputy director for Chicago Federal Executive Board. “For example, the Life Skills course is something that we all should have and the fact that this is being provided as a benefit to the Sailors is really important helping create good citizens. It was very nice having interaction with the Sailors to meet the people that are protecting us and the sacrifice that they are making is greatly appreciated.”

At SWOSU Great Lakes, command leadership led a tour of the training facilities of Basic Engineering Common Core (BECC). 

BECC is a 13-day course where students learn engineering principals and theory. It balances Computer Based Training CBT training with hands-on training labs, instructor-led classroom training. They also visited the SICLOS Lab, and Purifier Lab and LPD 17 Maintainer Course where students gain knowledge and skills to maintain engineering control systems in the fleet.

"An excellent opportunity to showcase SWOSU Great Lakes Staff, curriculum, labs and students in their learning environment,” said Cmdr. Terrance Patterson, commanding officer of SWOSU Great Lakes. “We are teaching the 2047 Sailor today, every new accession student walking through our school house could stay Navy for 30-years. We understand that the Sailors we are training now are literally our reliefs and Warfighters."

The visit continued at the galley for lunch with Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions (CSADD). CSADD Sailors promote positive choices and develop leadership through organizing local social networks, facilitating discussion, producing visual messages, promoting community involvement and hosting recreational events.

Their tour concluded at Center for Surface Combat Systems Unit (CSCSU) Great Lakes at the Gunner's Mate “A” School's Fire Arms Training Simulator and Electronics Technician/Fire Controlman “A” school T1 RADAR partial task trainer.

“I always enjoy showcasing to guests our stellar instructors as they professionally train students as Boatswain's Mates, Operations Specialists, PACT Seamen, Gunner's Mates, Fire Controlmen, Electronics Technicians, and Interior Communication Electricians, before sending them to follow-on schools, ships or demanding Fleet assignments," said Cmdr. Ricardo G. Enriquez, commanding officer of CSCSU Great Lakes. "This visit enables us to provide a look into how we are leveraging technology to stay current with the needs of today's fleet sailors while being responsible stewards in today's fiscally constrained environment.”

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