Training Support Center (TSC) Great Lakes, Surface Warfare Officer Unit (SWOSU) Great Lakes and Center for Surface Combat Systems Unit (CSCSU) Great Lakes hosted an Educator Orientation Visit (EOV) for San Diego area educators May 9.

The purpose of the visit was to demonstrate the training used at TSC, SWOSU and CSCSU that provided 24-hour supervision, leadership, training and professional development of accession Sailors prior to their arrival to the Fleet.

“Our main goal is to provide Navy awareness to the educator’s communities that are located within our recruiting district to help them understand the benefits of students exploring careers in the Navy, or any armed service branch,” said Erin Abram, education service specialist for Navy Recruiting District San Diego. “It opens their eyes to what is available in career and education paths. This tour we visited Training Support Center, the Learning Sites and Recruit Training Command. The educators were able to see where their students will be going immediately after high school graduation. For that reason, I feel that this is one of the best tours out of all the tours available.”

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.

“It was nice to see that the Navy implements life skills into the program,” said Juan Morante, college career counselor at Woodbridge High School, Irvine, Calif. “It is gratifying to us because a lot of times we worry about these students. Yes, for many, they are going to start making money for the first time. Knowing that they will be educated on budgeting, investments, credit and smart ways to spend their money is a big weight off our shoulders when helping them in their career choice to join the Navy.”

Their next stop was 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.

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.

“The biggest reason I am here is to gain the knowledge of what happens after boot camp,” Morante said. “I find that a lot of our students are intimidated by recruiters on campus. Students would come to me and ask what if I want to join the Navy. All I would know is that they would have to go to boot camp and refer them to a recruiter for more information. That would push them off a bit from continuing for information on Navy service. So, being able to see the Navy schools in detail will allow me to tell our students what to expect. Seeing what Sailors go through in their individual schools is like getting a college education if you think about it.”

The visit concluded 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.

“Having the opportunity to show high school educators what the Navy is all about is invaluable,” said Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Sunni Gallegos, recruiter at Navy Recruiting Station Santa Ana, Calif. “A lot of times it is difficult to explain what happens after boot camp. Bringing them to Great Lakes allows them to see that there is more to Navy service than just the physical part of it. They get to see the large number of career paths a Sailor can take. They also get to see that our best Sailors use the best curriculum, utilizing cutting edge technology to train students in a career that they can use in the Navy or out if they choose not to stay in the Navy.”

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