Sailors assigned to the Educational Services Office (ESO) advancement team aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) play a vital role in fostering the Navy's newest generation of enlisted leaders - administering semi-annual advancement exams.

"It is very challenging to coordinate the advancement exam underway," said Senior Chief Navy Counselor James Osborne, Truman's ESO leading chief petty officer. "We start this process almost a year in advance. Working together with the command chief's mess makes it a lot easier. They help us to coordinate all the different exam locations such as the mess decks, the chief's mess and wardrooms."

Teamwork is essential for the process of administering the exams. With an evolution this big it would be impossible for any single Sailor to get it done.

"All the Sailors on Harry S. Truman work hard so everybody makes a sacrifice. added Osbourne. "It's not just us as ESO. Everybody on the whole ship supports this evolution."

The chief petty officer selects have helped to administer the E-6 and E-5 exam as well, Osbourne explained. They relieve some of the burden from the proctors and the ESO team.

Even with these exams, normal routines must continue. None more important than feeding nearly 3,000 people.

"Supply has been a phenomenal help to us with things such as moving breakfast chow hours," added Osborne.

In preparing for the exams, there are a variety of ways those in the ESO advancement team help each other. Understanding how to maneuver e-mails, keeping a good work pace and effective file management is crucial. Being computer savvy definitely helps the team a lot.

"We all have access to each other's files so instead of being individuals, we help each other out to make sure everything is accurate," said Personnel Specialist 3rd Class Rafiq Munford. "Every day we give each other updates. Communication is our best friend."

The ESO advancement team plays a key role as far as Sailors' career development goes, added Munford. They understand the severity of their performance and take pride in their work.

"We single handedly affect people's careers," said Munford. "If we don't do our job right then Sailor's worksheets don't get sent off. They won't get their award points. Things like this can affect if they advance or not. It would be very hard to advance if we didn't do our job."

With the E-6 and E-5 exam completed, the E-4 exam is all that's left of the September 2017 advancement cycle.

"The whole ship has been extremely supportive," said Osbourne. "With that being said, it is a challenge but a good challenge. The goal is to create a comfortable environment for all of our test takers. The E-5 exam tests approximately 600 Sailors. We call it the Super Bowl of all the advancement exams."

E4-E6 exam results will be provided via Bureau of Naval Personnel Online to authorized command representatives prior to release of profile sheets and the full list of those advanced posted on All Hands Magazine. Truman is projected to administer approximately 1,367 Navy-wide advancement exams, Sept. 7-21.

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