A group of 35 chief petty officer (CPO) selectees from Naval Air Station Pensacola visited the Navy Advancement Center (NAC) Aug. 22 as part of their transition training from petty officer first class to CPO.

The Commanding Officer of the Naval Education and Training Professional Development Center (NETPDC), Capt. Lee Newton, kicked off the program by stressing the impact the chief selectees will have on their Sailors.

"I'm standing here today as the commanding officer of NETPDC because I had good chiefs to lead and inspire me as a petty officer early in my career," said Newton. "As chiefs, you are charged with leading by example and shaping the fleet of the future."

Newton's chiefs, senior chiefs and master chiefs at the NAC serve as military exam leaders, and provided the NAS Pensacola chief selectees detailed insight into the exam and advancement process -- including construction, preparation and factors that combine for a Sailor's final multiple score.

Chief Air Traffic Controller (select) Leonor Ortegacruz, instructor at the Naval Air Technical Training Center, said as a chief she will be counted on to know the details of the advancement process.

"As we go through the transition process, the selectees are learning to think from a different perspective, not focused on ourselves, but focused on taking care of all Sailors -- our fellow chiefs, our Sailors and our community," said Ortegacruz. "Without an understanding of everything that goes into the advancement process, a Sailor can fail to advance or a career can become stalled, so the time spent today at the advancement center is exceptionally beneficial."

Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman James Hill, NAC military exam leader, coordinated the visit by the selectees and hopes they will consider returning as exam subject matter experts (SMEs) after they pin-on their chief's anchors.

"We depend on our fleet SMEs to determine the content of the E-4 to E-7 rating advancement exams," said Hill. "They've been given the details of the advancement center and process today in their selectee training, but they can build on that knowledge by returning for a few weeks and playing a vital role in the exam construction process, and also taking that increased knowledge back to the fleet."

NETPDC, located at Saufley Field Pensacola, provides products and services that enable and enhance education, training, career development, and personnel advancement throughout the Navy. Primary elements of the command include the Navy Advancement Center, Navy Voluntary Education and the Resources Management Department.

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