R 150311Z JUN 18 FM COMNAVSURFOR SAN DIEGO CA TO ALNAVSURFOR INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC COMUSFLTFORCOM NORFOLK VA COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI CHNAVPERS WASHINGTON DC COMTHIRDFLT COMFOURTHFLT COMFIFTHFLT COMSIXTHFLT COMSEVENTHFLT COMNAVSURFLANT NORFOLK VA NETC PENSACOLA FL COMNECC LITTLE CREEK VA COMNECCPAC PEARL HARBOR HI COMNAVPERSCOM MILLINGTON TN SWOSCOLCOM NEWPORT RI NSTC GREAT LAKES IL USNA ANNAPOLIS MD COMNAVSURFPAC SAN DIEGO CA COMNAVSURFOR SAN DIEGO CA BT UNCLAS //N05771// MSGID/GENADMIN/COMNAVSURFOR SAN DIEGO CA/-/JUN// SUBJ/SURFACE WARFARE OFFICER CAREER PATH AND TRAINING CONTINUUM// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. This ALNAVSURFOR details the new Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) career path and training continuum and includes recent and immediate changes, as well as changes that will take time to implement. The intent of this career path is to develop the absolute best Commanding Officers (CO) who are proficient mariners, experienced warfighters and leaders of character. 2. FIRST DIVISION OFFICER TOUR. Upon commissioning, Ensigns will attend two courses to prepare them to drive ships and lead Sailors. The first course, the 9-week Basic Division Officer Course (BDOC), teaches mariner skills, electronic navigation, leadership, and division officer, engineering and maritime warfare fundamentals. The second course, Officer of the Deck (OOD) Phase I course, is a 6-week course that includes International Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) courses in Radar Operator, Electronic Chart Display and Information System-Navy (ECDIS-N), Automated Radar Plotting Aid (ARPA), and more than 100 hours of simulator training. An interim 4-week OOD course will commence in May 2019 and transition to the OOD Phase I course, slated for full implementation in 2021. Following successful completion of these two courses, an Ensign will report to their first warship, where their focus will be to qualify as OOD and Surface Warfare Officer (SWO). A Junior Officer can complete either a 30-month tour followed by a second 18-month sea tour or one single longer tour (SLT) of 48 months where they will fleet up to a second tour billet. COs are encouraged to identify top talent and best fit for the SLT. At the end of the first tour (or between fleeting up to a second tour assignment on the same ship and at a time which supports the ship's operational schedule), SWO qualified Junior Officers will attend the OOD Phase II course. Projected to start in 2021, this 3-week course will focus on STCW Bridge Resource Management (BRM), deliver heavy simulator reps and sets, and include a Go/No-Go assessment based on written testing and observed performance in the simulator. Upon passing the OOD Phase II course, Junior Officers will attend the 5-week Advanced Division Officer (ADOC) course at SWOS to reinforce /build on the core concepts from BDOC and the officer's recent fleet experience. An officer who cannot successfully complete either BDOC or the Go/No-Go assessment in the OOD Phase II course will be sent to a Probationary Officer Continuation or Re-designation (POCR) Board for possible re-designation, if selected by another community. Career Path Changes: - Lengthens the first tour to 30 months, with the option for a 48 month fleet-up SLT. Junior Officers will experience the entire OFRP and maximize their at-sea experience. - Addition of a 4-week (increasing to 6-week) OOD Phase I STCW certified course prior to reporting to their first warship. This baselines and better prepares Junior Officers to immediately contribute to a bridge watch team and accelerate their learning and competency. - Addition of a competency check, the first of 10 career milestone assessments. - Addition of a CO evaluation of the Junior Officer to certify that the officer has completed all mariner skills requirements and is ready to attend the OOD Phase II course (second career assessment). - Addition of a 3-week OOD Phase II course with a Go/No-Go assessment (third career assessment) and STCW-certified BRM. - Eliminates MCM/LCS/CVN 1st tour assignments. Notes: a. The OOD Phase I course will grow from and be informed by the results of the interim 4-week OOD course. We expect to have the interim OOD course online by mid-2019. Starting in May 2019, all SWO candidate Ensigns will attend OOD following BDOC. With the building of Mariner Skills Training Centers (MSTCs) in Norfolk and San Diego (currently projected to be completed by May 2021), this course will become OOD Phase I, grow to six weeks, and add the STCW courses on RADAR operator and ARPA. b. Tour length changes will be phased in depending on an officer's year group. Officers should contact their detailers to assess potential impacts to their current tour. c. Current MCM and LCS first tour DIVOs will be relieved by second tour DIVOs. 3. SECOND DIVISION OFFICER TOUR. After completing the first sea tour, a Lieutenant junior grade (LTJG) will either report to their second warship for an 18-month tour or remain on their original ship for a SLT. This tour focuses on honing mariner skills, earning maritime warfare qualifications, and developing leadership skills. SWO qualified second tour division officers also have the option of applying for either early command of a MK VI Patrol Boat or the Warfare Tactics Instructor (WTI) program. In the WTI program, young officers receive advanced training in either Anti-Submarine Warfare/ Surface Warfare (ASW/SUW), Amphibious Warfare (AMW), or Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD), and starting in FY 19, Mine Warfare (MIW). COs should identify their top talent for early command and the WTI program. During the second division officer tour, a LTJG will receive their first and second Department Head (DH) looks. Career Path Changes: - Adjust second tours to 18 months. - Removes afloat staff tour option. Notes: a. Tour length changes will be phased in depending on the officer's year group. Officers should contact their detailers to assess potential impacts to their current tour. b. Tour lengths for SWO-N officers will remain 21 months for their first division officer tour and 28 months for their subsequent CVN nuclear tour. c. Including the WTI training, the total Division Officer tour(s) will remain 48 months. d. CVN billets will remain available for second tour DIVOs. 4. POST-DIVISION OFFICER TOUR. With the first two sea tours complete, a wide-variety of options become available. A Lieutenant (LT) may be assigned a post-division officer staff tour in either a destroyer squadron (DESRON) or an amphibious squadron (PHIBRON), graduate education, a shore command (e.g. Afloat Training group, Fleet or Type commander, SWOS), WTI training and follow-on production tour, various talent management opportunities (Fleet Scholar Education Program, NPS, etc), or seek options abroad. If not already selected, a LT will have their third DH look during this timeframe. Career Path Change: - Adds option for post-division officer DESRON or PHIBRON tour. Note: a. In addition to the options above, all WTIs may serve in a WTI production tour. 5. DEPARTMENT HEAD TRAINING. After selecting for DH and completing post-Division Officer tours, a LT will start the DH pipeline which occurs in two phases - Department Head training and Billet Specialty Training (BST). Department Head school, located at SWOS, is a rigorous 27-week training and assessment course designed to prepare a DH to fight the ship, drive the ship, lead a department, and manage programs. After graduating, officers will attend BST and a 1-3 month Combat Systems course in Dahlgren, VA which goes deeper into tactical and technical aspects of fighting the ship, is combat system baseline specific, and has full Combat Information Center mock ups to maximize training realism. Career Path Change: - Adds a competency check upon completion of the NSS portion of SWO DH course and is a graduation requirement (fourth career assessment). Note: a. As the Plans and Tactics Officer (PTO) program matures, this billet will eventually transition to a second tour only billet. 6. FIRST DEPARTMENT HEAD TOUR. Following DH training, officers will report to their first 18-month DH tour on their assigned warship. During this tour, DHs will focus on leading their department, qualifying Tactical Action Officer (TAO) and Engineering Officer of the Watch (EOOW) if not already qualified during their division officer tour, growing maritime skills proficiencies, and managing a wide variety of shipboard programs. Additionally, a DH will undergo an evaluation for command potential (fifth career assessment) where the CO assesses performance in a variety of shiphandling, navigation, and traffic management scenarios. This shipboard evaluation serves as a pre-requisite for the Command Qualification Assessment (CQA). Note: a. WEPS will continue to receive 18 month orders. AEGIS COs have flexibility to shape their wardroom and fleet up OPS, WEPS, or CHENG to Combat Systems Officer (CSO) or request a direct input CSO. b. COs will have flexibility to shape their wardoom by fleeting up first tour DH to PTO. c. SLT engineering officer tours (36 months) on select ships. 7. Upon completion of the first DH tour, officers will complete the CQA (sixth career assessment) at SWOS Newport. The CQA consists of written exams, a 45-minute high traffic density scenario in a ship handling simulator, and a tactical assessment. All assessments are performed by Post-Command Commanders and Captains. Passing the CQA is required to be eligible for consideration at the Surface Commander Command Screening Board. 8. SECOND DEPARTMENT HEAD TOUR. Following CQA, second tour DHs have flexibility in follow-on tours. They may report to another warship as OPS, CSO, CHENG, or PTO or, as a second option, apply for early command of a Mine Countermeasure (MCM) ship or Patrol Coastal (PC). During this tour, DHs further hone their tactical, maritime, management, and leadership skills. Career Path Change: - Afloat staffs are not options for second tour DHs. These tours are shifted to post-DH which increases our level of experience on these critical afloat staffs and increases officer experience in ships. Note: a. Top performing DHs will continue to have early command opportunities of PCs and MCMs as second tour or Fleet up, or post-DH. 9. POST-DEPARTMENT HEAD TOURS. Many options are available for a post-DH LCDR. Afloat staff tours, graduate education, traditional shore tours, early command, or the WTI program are just some examples. The current time between DH and XO is 5.3 years. Through career path management, the time will reduce to 4.5 years by FY21 with the ultimate goal of 45 months +/- 3 months based on an officer's individual career timing and seniority. This will reduce the erosion of critical at-sea skills by decreasing time ashore prior to the start of the XO tour. CDR Command screening will occur during the post-DH tour timeframe. 10. COMMAND TRAINING. Following post-DH tours, those selected by the CDR Command Board will attend a 10-week Surface Commander's Course (SCC) at SWOS that focuses on maritime warfare, material readiness, and maritime skills and includes Senior Officer Ship Material Readiness Course (SOSMRC) and BRM. There is new assessment criteria (seventh career assessment) which will include a written exam on navigation, seamanship, ship-handling (NSS), Rules of the Road (RoR), and a medium-to-high traffic density scenario in the simulator. 11. EXECUTIVE OFFICER TOUR. Upon completion of SCC, a CDR will report as XO. The focus of the XO tour is to manage the ship, focusing on material and personnel readiness, damage control, training watch teams, and most importantly, supporting the CO. As a sitting XO, a CDR undergoes an Immediate Superior in Command (ISIC) evaluation (eighth career assessment). The ISIC assesses the XO aboard ship or at Fleet Concentration Center Navigation Seamanship and Ship-handling Trainers (NSSTs) on their proficiency to effectively and safely handle and navigate a ship and effectively lead a watch team as a potential CO. Passing this assessment is a pre-requisite to attending the Prospective Commanding Officer (PCO) course. ISIC / Type Commander (TYCOM) fleet up certification is still required. Career Path Change: - Adds the ISIC evaluation for sitting XOs. 12. Following an XO tour and successful ISIC assessment, a CDR attends the PCO course at SWOS Newport. During this 3-week course, they will conduct a Go/No-Go assessment (ninth career assessment) which consists of a written exam on NSS and RoR, and a 45-minute high traffic density scenario in the simulator. The 3-week PCO course is the only requirement prior to taking command. The time between XO and CO will not exceed 2 months, and the change of command will be determined by the ISIC, CO and PCO. 13. COMMANDING OFFICER TOUR. After successfully completing nine career assessments, multiple sea tours, training pipelines, and selecting ahead of peers at screening boards, a CDR reports to their ship as the CO. The CO will build upon their XO tour on the same ship; will know their ship and crew; and will have the competency, character and leadership to effectively command on day one. 14. POST-COMMAND TOURS. Following a CO tour, a CDR will serve in a variety of Post-Commander Command (PCC) tours, and select for O-6 and screen for Major Command. 15. MAJOR COMMAND TRAINING. After selecting for O-6 and Major Command, a CAPT will attend the 3-week Major Commander's Course (MCC) at SWOS Newport which will include a final career assessment (tenth career assessment). The assessment will consist of a written exam on NSS and ROR, and a 45-minute high traffic density scenario in the simulator. This assessment is projected to be in place in 2019. 16. A Surface Warfare Officer Career Training and Competency Continuum Brief is posted on the Pers-41 website and has been emailed to all COs. 17. Experience at sea in ships is the highest assignment priority for the SWO Community. We develop Commanding Officers who maintain an intense focus on winning, ready to sail over the horizon to face any challenge, and bring their team back stronger than when they left. That is the gold standard toward which we all must strive. We will OWN THE FIGHT! 18. VADM Brown sends.// BT #0001 NNNN