Members of the Brazilian Navy visited Training Support Center (TSC) Great Lakes and toured learning sites (LS), Apr. 24.

Vice Adm. Antonio Fenando Garcez Faria, director of Navy training; Cmdr. Manoel Pinho, commander of Instruction Center Almirante Alexandrino (CIAA) Technical Training Center; and Cmdr. Fabio Casaes, commander of Basic Training Center, for the Brazilian Navy, met with TSC's Commanding Officer Capt. Mark Meskimen, Executive Officer Cmdr. Kevin Halfacre, and Command Master Chief Randy Reid.

The purpose of the meeting was to demonstrate the training used at TSC and LS that provides 24-hour supervision, leadership, training and professional development of accession Sailors prior to their arrival to the fleet.

"I think it is very important that we continually share information with our allies on how we both conduct training," Meskimen said. "This information sharing reaps rewards on both sides in striving to make training the most efficient and effective it can be. Everyone wants to improve and this is one of the means to make that happen."

Following a visit to the Center for Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Diving (CEODD), where they viewed student training in the basics of in-water procedures, aquatic adaptabilities and water comfort, Garcez arrived at Surface Warfare Officers School Unit (SWOSU) Great Lakes, where he toured the training facilities of Basic Engineering Common Core (BECC).

"It's always an honor to host VIPs of other countries or navies," said Cmdr. Eric Williams, commanding officer of SWOSU. "Showcasing our facilities, training technologies and techniques is always a great opportunity, but I'm committed to the belief that our true strength and capabilities as warfighters lie within my staff members' leadership development and ownership in mission. They find ways each day, to not just teach our new Sailors, but to also inspire them to do right (good decision making-procedural compliance) and be better."

BECC balances computer-based training (CBT), hands-on training labs, instructor-led classroom training, and realistic simulations, creating an integrated learning environment (ILE). They also visited the LPD 17 Maintainer Course where students gain knowledge and skills to maintain engineering control systems in the fleet.

At Center for Surface Combat Systems Unit (CSCSU), Garcez toured Gunner's Mate "A" School's Fire Arms Training Simulator and Electronics Technician/Fire Controlman "A" school T1 RADAR partial task trainer.

"We were honored to present some examples of the training that Center for Surface Combat Systems delivers to Vice Adm. Garcez and accompanying staff from the Brazilian Navy," said Cmdr. Scott Dancer, commanding officer of CSCSU. "It was a unique opportunity to interact and help open lines of communications and relations at our level. We welcome opportunities to showcase our training facilities and staff."

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