This year's chief petty officer exam may be over, but that doesn't mean training stops when the call sounds for pencils down.

For first class petty officers in Navy Region Singapore, their leadership and development training continues through the CPO 365 program. CPO 365 was established to ensure these lessons were being taught not just during the chief selection season, but all year round.

The CPO 365 program was initiated in 2010 and is a yearlong cycle. It fosters team building, community service and describes the expectations and accountability that come with donning chief petty officer anchors. All first class petty officers participate in the program regardless of being eligible for advancement to the rank of E-7.

"CPO 365 provides all first class petty officers with the opportunity for consistent, year-round professional development," said Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Mike Stevens, in a recent statement on the program. "Developing effective leaders does not happen in a few short weeks. It is a continuous and never-ending process. CPO 365 is the single sustained method we will use to train, build and develop chief petty officers."

There are two phases that make up the CPO 365 program. Phase 1 starts after the chief petty officer pinning ceremony and runs until the next year's selection results are announced. Phase 2 begins with the announcement of chief petty officer selectees on a given year and concludes the day of the pinning ceremony.

Being entirely mentorship based, Sailors ranks E-7 through E-9 manage command CPO 365 programs. Training topics include Navy heritage, Navy policies and procedures, equal opportunity guidance, sponsorship and indoctrination, Fleet and Family Service Center programs, career development boards, and physical fitness and nutrition.

"When I came into the Navy, I felt there was little professional development guidance going down the ranks," said Chief Logistics Specialist Fernando Putchie, one of the coordinators of CPO 365 in Navy Region Singapore. "With mentorship and direction from this program, we're showing our Sailors not only how to succeed professionally, but personally as well."

For Sailors participating in the program at Navy Region Singapore, a majority of the training takes place in the classroom, along with community relations projects and team building exercises such as sports and fundraisers. All events are designed to teach management, teamwork, and communication among all Sailors with a goal of preparing service members to become chief petty officers and senior enlisted leaders.

"CPO 365 needs to challenge first class petty officers physically and intellectually, to hone the basic tenets of teamwork, time management and tenacity throughout the year," said Stevens. "To continue the time-honored ties connecting the legacy of those who went before us, to the inspirational potential of those who will lead the next generation of Sailors, we are ensuring the legacy of excellence remains strong and true."

As first class petty officers in Navy Region Singapore eagerly await test results, training is still in effect. For some, it may be their last year as a student in CPO 365. For others, it's another peg on their journey in becoming a chief petty officer.

"All of the meetings, the mentorship, the team building exercises, it's to help them be ready for the next step in their careers and their lives," said Putchie. "CPO 365 is an important part of getting these future leaders ready for when the training wheels come off and the anchors go on. They'll be ready and they'll lead our Navy in the right direction."

RESOURCES:
* MCPON GUIDANCE MEMORANDUM (MGM) #2014 - 01

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