From Fleet and Family Support Center San Diego Public Affairs.
SAN DIEGO (NNS) — Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) San Diego offers a series of two-day seminars for Sailors and their families affected by the Enlisted Retention Board (ERB) with the next scheduled for Jan. 17-18 at Naval Base Coronado. The seminar is entitled “ERB…What Next? Seminar for Sailors and Spouses” and additional sessions are planned on a monthly basis through June.
“Our Sailors have amazing leadership skills, and they’ve already started to make their own transition plans. We’re just here to help ensure they are connected with all the resources that can help them meet their goals and the correct information on the benefits associated with their transition,” said Mary Kirby, FFSC San Diego director.
The first seminar was held Dec. 19 and 20 at Naval Base San Diego and 59 Sailors and spouses affected by the ERB were in attendance. Attendees received information about assistance and resources to help in the transition to the civilian workforce, managing stress, financial planning, and understanding transition benefits.
The seminar, also open to Sailors and spouses affected by Perform to Serve, consists of ten interactive modules addressing every aspect of the ERB transition process. In partnership with FFSC, representatives from Navy College, command career counselors, Veterans Affairs, TRICARE, Personal Property, Personnel Support Detachment, Human Resources Service Center, REBOOT, Navy Credentialing Opportunities On-Line, Employment Development Department, and other organizations attend to answer questions and provide the latest information on career services, networking, financial empowerment, transition benefits, stress management, and relocation information.
At the conclusion of the seminar’s first day, there is an evening resource fair with schools, employers, Reserve recruiters, placement agency representatives, and resource organizations connecting with separating Sailors and their spouses to provide brochures and individual consultations.
“FFSC will post information from each learning module online for downloading, as well as mailing material to deployed commands,” said Kirby, FFSC San Diego. “FFSC San Diego has planned seminars each month through at least June of 2012 and similar learning opportunities will be offered to those affected throughout Navy Region Southwest in conjunction with their local FFSCs.”
In addition to the ERB Seminar, a Shipmates to Workmates (S2W) Job Fair is being offered in San Diego Feb. 9. Attendees can meet with representative from commands including Commander, Naval Installations Command, Naval Air Systems, Naval Facilities Engineering Commad, Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Supply Systems Command, Office of Civilian Human Resources, and Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command to receive information about career opportunities and receive assistance with applications and resumes for open positions. S2W is a Navy-wide initiative consisting of a traveling road show and individualized support to help Sailors locate civilian employment options within the Department of the Navy, as well as assistance in easing their transition.
For more information, visit http://jobs.navair.navy.mil/SM2WM.
FFSC San Diego also added additional dates to the Transition Assistance Program classes for Sailors separating under ERB that cannot attend the regularly scheduled sessions or prefer to attend with other ERB Sailors.
“The content for Transition Assistance Program classes for ERB/PTS separating Sailors is not different than that of regular TAP classes, however students in these sessions can network with others being separated for the same reasons,” Kirby said.
FFSC San Diego offers implemented walk-in services each week for easy access to counseling for those affected by the stress of an ERB transition. All of these services are available to Sailors affected by Perform to Serve as well.
“These initiatives augment the traditional FFSC services available to all transitioning service members and their families,” said Kirby. “They include individualized consultations and workshops on finding federal and civilian employment, interview techniques, resume writing, and other career and financial readiness programs. We are here to be partners in transition for Sailors and families.”
For more information about ERB transition support, check out the NPC ERB transition support page at www.npc.navy.mil/boards/ERB/, contact the NPC customer service center at 1-866-U-ASK-NPC (1-866-827-5672), or email cscmailbox@navy.mil.
For more information about support services offered by FFSC San Diego, click here.
Facebook users can “like” the NRSW ERB Resources Facebook page to receive resource updates and job postings at www.facebook.com/NavyERB.