As the year comes to an end, it can be fun to look back and reflect on the many changes, events and successes of Training Support Center (TSC) Great Lakes and Learning Sites (LS) during 2016.

The students and staff of the commands have created a year that was memorable in many ways; too many to include in a single article.
Some of the more interesting nuggets from the year highlight the fact that in a year of change, those within the command continue to succeed in many ways.

This year saw leadership change at three locations in Great Lakes. Cmdr. David Dwyer, commanding officer of Surface Warfare Officers School Command Unit (SWOSU) Great Lakes, turned over command to Cmdr. Eric Williams; Cmdr. Scott Dancer relieved Cmdr. Gregory C. Ludwig as commanding officer of Center for Surface Combat Systems Unit (CSCSU) Great Lakes; and TSC Great Lakes said farewell to Capt. John B. Vliet when Capt. Mark A. Meskimen relieved him as commanding officer.

During the beginning of the year, Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Admiral Bill Moran announced in an all-Navy message, Jan. 6, that CSCSU and TSC earned the Retention Excellence Award (REA). TSC and CSCSU retention teams were two of more than 60 award winners from Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education (MPTE) commands.

Only commands that meet or exceed the CNO's' 21st Century Sailor guidelines from the previous fiscal year are selected for the retention excellence award.

Thirty-seven TSC, SWOSU, CSCSU, and Center for Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Diving (CEODD) Sailors pinned on the rank of chief petty officers (CPO) at Ross Theatre, Sept. 16.

Incoming Sailors are immersed in a new four-day LifeSkills Class that teaches them critical information they will need to know in order to have a successful Navy career.

Previously, Sailors arriving on board from boot camp were enrolled in student indoc before attending any rate-specific courses. Additional classes, such as intervention, were taught after a full day of indoc lessons. Now, LifeSkills covers all of the previous indoc-specific topics, as well as the additional intervention-based topics in a four-day, eight-hour learning block.

This year saw a number of foreign and domestic visits letting TSC and LS show and share successes in getting Sailors ready for the fleet.

Members of the Kazakhstan Navy, foreign students from the Naval Education and Training Security Assistance Field Activity (NETSAFA) Education, professionals from San Diego and Seattle who took part in the Educator Orientation Visit (EOV), and the commander of the Korean Navy's Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) were among those that visited throughout the year.

Members of TSC Great Lakes' Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions (CSADD) were named the 2016 Bob Feller Act of Valor Award winners "Peer-to-Peer" Shore for the U.S. Navy. The national recognition is given to Sailors who have worked together as a team to promote peer-to-peer mentorship and reduce Sailors' destructive decision-making and behavior.

In addition to the work that CSADD does, they are one of many of a long tradition of Sailors volunteering to better the lives of the community.
Command investigator Petty Officer 1st Class Andrew Eickholt volunteers as a responder for the American Red Cross' Disaster Action Team (DAT), providing food, water, shelter, financial, and other relief assistance to victims of fires, floods, tornadoes, and other natural disasters.

Throughout this summer Navy military training instructor (NMTI) Machinist Mate 2nd Class Jacob Branson led five volunteers to assist Beacon Place weekly. Navy volunteers assisted with the organization's summer lunch program, feeding and interacting with more than 150 Waukegan area youth.
TSC Sailors and students spent one morning each month reading books and answering questions from students at Forrestal Elementary School in Great Lakes as part of the reading buddies program.

More than 25 Sailors from Training Support Center Great Lakes teamed up with volunteers at Feed My Starving Children in Libertyville, Illinois, to help prepare meals for starving children around the world.

Sailors from SWOSU Great Lakes volunteered at the Naval Station Great Lakes Thrift Shop, located in Bldg. 26 and overseen by the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) Great Lakes, ensuring that the store stayed open to provide low-cost clothing, uniforms, household items and children's toys for military families, students and government civilian employees alike.

TSC students also lit up their grills for friendly barbeque competitions several times throughout the year to raise awareness among Sailors for sexual assault and suicide awareness and prevention.

Volunteering time goes both ways with the great relations that TSC and LS have with the community. This is no more apparent than how residents in the surrounding area open their hearts and homes to ensure Sailors who cannot travel home have a happy holiday.

More than 400 students at Training Support Center, Great Lakes were invited by more than 160 local hosts to their homes and the McHenry VFW Post 4600 to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal as part of the annual "Adopt A Sailor" program.

The past year's review, along with previous ones, is impressive. TSC and LS has created a long annual tradition of successes proving that as 2016 passes, the commands can look forward to great accomplishments in training, volunteerism and continued support with the surrounding community.

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