Members of the Kazakhstan Navy visited Training Service Center (TSC) Great Lakes and toured Learning Sites (LS) Sept. 6-7.

The visit began with a visit with TSC's Capt. John Vliet, command officer, Cdr. Kevin Halfacre, executive officer, and Command Master Chief Jeffery Kirby.

"We are proud to give the Kazakhstan Navy the opportunity to observe the largest surface warfare technical training command in the entire U.S. Navy," Vliet said. "They got to see everything from a surface warfare perspective; lighting off engines, engineering functionalities, combat systems, radar and weapons systems. And, equally important, they were introduced to our 21st Sailor life-skills training that the young sailors receive. I'm always excited to demonstrate how we are able to continually send quality top notched Sailors to the fleet."

The purpose of the visit was to demonstrate the training used at TSC and LSs that provided 24-hour supervision, leadership, training and professional development of accession Sailors prior to their arrival to the Fleet. They also visited Recruit Training Command (RTC) to view how they transform civilians into basically trained Sailors.

At Surface Warfare Officers School Unit (SWOSU) Great Lakes, Cmdr. Eric Williams, commanding officer of SWOSU and Lt. Cdr. Preston Marshall, executive Officer of SWOSU and Machinist's Mate Master Chief Petty Officer Jose Lardizabal, senior enlisted advisor, led a tour of the training facilities of Basic Engineering Common Core (BECC).

"The Kazakhstan tour was an absolute pleasure," Williams said. "As commanding officer of SWOSU it is equally important that we display and share that the Navy is meeting the advances of the world through our commitment to the continuous training and development of our Sailors."

BECC balances Computer Based Training (CBT) training with hands-on training labs, instructor-led classroom training with realistic simulations creating an Integrated Learning Environment (ILE). They also visited the Purifier Lab, LPD 17 Maintainer Course, Engineman and Quartermaster Apprentice Schools.

"We are extremely proud of the work our staff does every day and the immense amount of improvements we have made in engineering enlisted training over the last few years," Marshall said. Partnering with foreign Navy's is a key component of our nations maritime strategy and forging bonds with other countries allows us to pass on the lessons learned we have gained during our mission of reinvestment in enlisted training."

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

Their visit concluded at the Operations Specialist 'A' School Ship's Self Defense System lab.

"We appreciate your great respect for fleet traditions," stated the members of the Kazakhstan Navy. "You not only focus on how to train recruits but how to inspire them to respect Navy core values and fleet traditions. We really liked the way and methods used to train sailors in A-schools and recruits at the RTC. We are interested in sending Kazakhstani sailors to attend some A &C schools along with sending our trainers to the Recruit Division Commander (RDC) C School. By gaining your experience we hope to build similar fleet traditions in the Kazakhstani Navy."

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