Center for Surface Combat Systems Unit (CSCSU) Great Lakes hosted a Limited Duty Officers (LDO)/Chief Warrant Officers (CWO) program highlighting opportunities and answering questions from Sailors interested in becoming LDOs/CWOs July 23.

The forum led by LDO/CWO Assignments Branch Head Cmdr. Kenny Allison was opened to all area commands and brought in members of the LDO and CDO community to familiarize Sailors with the options in career advancement as well as ensure a new generation of Navy leaders to become experts in their field as well as reliable and responsible managers.

“Our goal today is to provide Great Lakes Sailors information on the LDO and CWO program and try to recruit the best talent we have to fill those positions,” Allison said. “We are here to recruit our reliefs. This was an opportunity for officers to meet Sailors face-to-face to ask us questions about the program, explain the process and give them hands on mentorship as they prepare their packages for submission.”

CSCSU Great Lakes Commanding Officer Cmdr. Ricardo Enriquez enlisted in the U.S. Navy in September 1986, completed recruit training in Orlando, and was promoted through the ranks to senior chief petty officer before commissioning as an ensign under the limited duty officer (LDO) program in 1999.

“Today we had a great opportunity to educate and identify our future leaders and reliefs,” Enriquez said. “The event showed Sailors what the LDO/CWO community has to offer them. Becoming an LDO has provided me the greatest opportunities of my life. I hope that by sharing my experience as a LDO it encourages Sailors to be part of a community that can give more opportunities to effect changes in the Navy, as well as further advance their careers.”

The event was developed to educate Sailors on eligibility and prerequisites for the LDO/CWO program, benefits of having one or more mentors, application process and selection board procedures, as well as personal testimonials from former enlisted who acquired high-ranking positions through determination, expertise, desire to succeed and advance their careers.

“The LDO/CWO community as a whole plays an essential role in the Navy supporting the officer and enlisted community and the chief’s mess,” said Lt. J. Ray Norris, staff at CSCSU Great Lakes and organizer of the event. “So to have the opportunity to bring in the detailers themselves from Millington, Tennessee, to talk with the already commissioned LDO’s/CWO’s and the applicants that will potentially become commissioned officers is vital in showing what goes on behind the scenes in Millington. While we have a general idea of what goes in to the selection of orders and selection of LDO’s/CWO’s it really opens people’s eyes to see the real detail and it enables us to make sure we are tracking and doing the right things to get ourselves promoted while supporting the Navy.”

The LDO and CWO communities have designators in the surface, submarine, aviation, general series and staff corps communities and serve in a variety of leadership billets within their technical fields, ranging from division officer to commanding officer ashore.

It is made up of officers from more than 20 different career fields ranging from surface deck boatswain's, sub-surface engineers, aviation maintenance, nuclear, information professionals, and security officers. Each of the career fields has a discreet career path, promotional opportunity, and chance for command.

Capt. David Dwyer, commanding officer at Training Support Center Great Lakes, was present to assist in answering questions about the LDO/CWO program.

“Having the Surface LDO/CWO Branch Head – Cmdr. Kenny Allison and PERS 414B Detailer – Lt. Cmdr. Chris Smith onboard the Quarterdeck of the Navy was truly a pleasure,” Dwyer said. “CSCSU CO, Cmdr. Enriquez and his staff, especially Lt. Norris, did a great job hosting the event at the USS Whitehat.  The talent pool of LDO/CWO candidates and Sailors that are interested in the LDO/CWO program in Great Lakes is very impressive, and they showed-up in full strength to support this great event.”

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