Alfred Alicto, a member of the Military Sealift Command (MSC) Inspector General (IG) team based in Guam, stood up a fiber-optic cable repair class at Ship Support Unit Guam, July 30.

One of Alicto’s students, Chief Information System Technician Sean Harty, assigned to the submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40), said the training’s needed because only qualified Sailors can work on fiber-optic cables, and right now Guam has a shortage of qualified personnel.

“Mr. Alicto’s class is important because it will qualify Sailors to work on both tactical and commercial fiber: tactical fiber has military applications, while commercial fiber is used by computer servers to communicate with switches and networks,” said Harty.

Basically, the computer systems on Frank Cable cannot function without fiber-optic cable.

Before becoming an MSC IG inspection team member Alicto, 68, who retired from the Navy as an electronics technician (ET) first class, taught fiber-optic cable repair, troubleshooting and design at Guam Community College.

Currently the class is on-the-job training, but Alicto, who earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Electronic Engineering Technology from the University of Chapman while in the service, intends to have his course accredited by the Electronics Technicians Association-International (ETA).

Once accredited, Alicto will be able to award ETA certificates for fiber-optic cable repair to Sailors who successfully complete his two week course of class room and laboratory work. These certificates are recognized by the Navy, allow Sailors to troubleshoot and install fiber-optic cable, and are good for four years.

Civilians commonly pay $1,500 for a similar course. Since this is a collateral duty for Alicto, Sailors will be charged nothing. Sailors will have to pay a modest sum to obtain their certificates from the ETA.

Alicto said he enjoys teaching. “Most of my career composite wise is over thirty years of teaching college, high school, junior high, elementary, junior college, and graduate school in some cases,” said Alicto.

Alicto explained why both the Navy and MSC chain of commands approved his course.

“Since I support the ships and submarines here, that’s part of the support, to help train the guys here. Because they need fiber-optic training, I just happen to be a fiber-optic expert,” said Alicto.

The training is open to all Sailors and civilian mariners assigned to the submarine tenders and submarines homeported in Guam. The first week all the students were Sailors assigned to the submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40).

Information System Technician 3rd Class La' Derlynn Griffin said, “I think the class was pretty interesting, and I actually really do want to learn this because I know we have a lot of fiber on Frank Cable, and not too many people who actually know how to deal with it.”

Once Alicto’s course is accredited it will save the Navy the expense of hiring civilian contractors to provide the same training at a much greater cost.

And unlike civilian contractors, who leave Guam once they’ve given their training, Alicto will remain to answer any questions his students might have.

Another of Alicto’s students, Information System Technician 3rd Class Jared Vega, described him this way: “He's funny. He's fantastic. He's a good instructor. Has a lot of knowledge.”

When asked why he had not retired Alicto laughed and said, “The money’s good. And they gave me a tax break and a pay raise, so I can’t turn that down. And it helps me buy toys.”

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