ARABIAN GULF - More than 20 junior Surface Warfare Officers (SWO) attended a career path brief aboard Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), Sept. 17.

Capt. Bret Cooper, lead SWO detailer from PERS-41, led the brief along with Lt. Cmdr. Chris Carroll and Lt. Brice Crowley, where they covered the new changes coming to the junior officer's career paths.

"Right now the SWO career path is like a ladder," said Cooper, "There is only one way up. We are switching to something that resembles a jungle gym more so than a ladder. We don't care how they get to the top, we just care that they get there and that they know they have options."

The goal of the changes within the SWO community career paths is to keep talented officers in the Navy and expand retention rates by offering officers the option to personalize their career plans.

Allowing officers the opportunity to customize the way they progress in their careers allots them the freedom to achieve professional and personal goals therefor increasing their chances of staying in the Navy. According to Cooper, retention rates have increased to 40 percent over the past four years.

"It is not just about numbers," said Cooper. "We are shifting mentality by keeping the most talented people, there for creating a stronger SWO community."

Ens. Meagan Barron said she feels like the surface warfare community is the heart and soul of the Navy. She is currently working on her warfare pin in order to become a SWO.

"I plan on being in the Navy for many years, but before the brief I was nervous because I didn't think it was possible for me to accomplish all of the goals and dreams I have as an officer as well as in my personal life," said Barron. "With the new changes, it's motivating and comforting to know that the Navy is willing to work with us as much as they can to keep the good officers in and take care of us."

One of the new pilot programs that are being tested allows SWOs take time off the Navy to attend college as a full-time student. Participants retain a portion of their pay and return to the Navy once they have completed their degree. Currently there are two officers in this program who start as full-time students at Yale and Dartmouth in the fall.

Another option available is the Secretary of the Navy Industry Program where officers transfer to the civilian sector for a year to gain varied professional experiences. There are 400 quotas for this program, and companies participating include Google, ESPN, Facebook, and Amazon.

"The job is never the same on any given day, and the challenges you face really help you grow as an officer, leader, and more importantly a person," said Barron. "I have friends in every branch of the military and I feel that in comparison, we have way more options than anyone else."

Essex is the flagship for the Essex Amphibious Ready Group and, with the embarked 15th MEU, is deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.

For more news from USS Essex (LHD 2), visit www.navy.mil/.