Surface Warfare Officers School Unit (SWOSU) Great Lakes hosted a Limited Duty Officers (LDO)/Chief Warrant Officers (CWO) program highlighting opportunities and answering questions from over 100 Sailors interested in becoming LDO/CWOs in a two-session forum held March 30.

The forum, which was opened to all area commands, was designed 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.

"This event is a great opportunity to provide Sailors with what the Mustang LDO/CWO Association's community has to offer them," said Cmdr. Terrance Patterson, commanding officer at SWOSU Great Lakes. "Those that were interested in the program are able to ask questions, seek out mentors and start figuring out what if the program truly is for them, to see if this is something that they want to make their career,"

After enlisting in the Navy in 1982 and serving as an Electronics Technician, Capt. Mark Meskimen, commanding officer at Training Support Center Great Lakes, took the next step in 1993 when he was commissioned in the Limited Duty Officer (LDO) program.

"I think back to when I was applying for the LDO program and parts of what I said to the question of why I want to be an LDO," Meskimen said. "The Navy has provided me the greatest opportunities of my life. The best way that I can contribute to my continued success and to the Navy is by using my capabilities to the fullest, which can only be achieved as an LDO. This well respected program provides the ability to lead personnel all while having that technical skill that is required in these specialty jobs. This meeting is to inform and encourage 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 program is designed for senior leadership 1st Class or chief petty officers seeking a path for commissioning," said Lt. Aaron Gordon, chief engineer at SWOSU Great Lakes. "We pick up the first classes or chiefs on their technical rating so they become Limited Duty Officers or Chief Warrant Officers based on their technical abilities,"

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.

"We discussed the application process and other issues such as what things will make you a better candidate or will not make you a good candidate," said Chief Warrant Officer Hector Sandoval, CWO community manager at Bureau of Naval Personnel. "Participants were able to hear from the actual people who made it as opposed to merely reading it on a website. We shared when you need to prepare, what qualifications you need, and what type of evaluations do you need."

LDO/CWO community 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.

"Our goal was to communicate everything that is going on in our community, have all rumors dispelled and get a clear understanding of our new promotion system," said Cmdr. Ed Callahan, LDO/CWO community manager at Bureau of Naval Personnel. "The information contained in today's briefs is the most up to date and I hope I showed participants something new and useful that they would want."

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Training Support Center, Great Lakes, visit www.navy.mil/.