JULY 7, 2017, GREAT LAKES (NNS) – Six Apprentice Technical Training (ATT) School students, operated by the Center for Surface Combat Systems Unit at Great Lakes, were named “Best of the Best” during their weekly ceremony 7 July.
Only one percent of the schoolhouse meets the requirements to be chosen to be “Best of the Best.” This week’s awardees were Seaman Andrew Moreno, Fireman Recruit Nicholas Wallace and Seaman Apprentice Jacob Metrejon, Robert Alegria, Michael Odonnell and Nathanael Cope.
“In addition to being at the top of their class, students need to excel in other areas,” said Fire Controlman Senior Chief Petty Officer Chris Perras, leading chief petty officer of ATT. “They need excellent uniform inspections results for 2 weeks, and they need to be nominated by their class counselors with a write-up of why they deserve to be awarded.”
On the day there is the final selection, the nominees gather in a room for a uniform inspection and a verbal test of Navy knowledge requirements history. Questions asked ranged from when the United States entered World War II to how many articles there are in the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Moreno was one of the students selected out of 15 nominees.
“ATT is not easy,” he said. “It took a lot of studying, attending open learning class and working with classmates. For me, my success in the class is attributed to tutoring opportunities during non-class hours and working with classmates. We all try and help each other out.”
Following the ceremony, ATT staff asks the students if they would like to volunteer to attend the following indoctrination class to give the new students a peer perspective.
“We find it effective because their students hear from those who have just taken the class instead of the chiefs and the officers,” Perras said.
Volunteers are eager to share their perspective. Wallace’s message will be that everyone at ATT is there to help; regardless of if it is your instructor, chief or another peer.
For the day I entered boot camp ‘one team one fight’ was drilled into my head,” he said. “I heard it a million times and I didn’t really grasp it until I got here. When you see one person fail, or one person get down, it really changes the mood and atmosphere of the team. We are brothers and sisters in the Navy and should take pride in the success of everyone. If one person makes a mistakes it affects everyone, if one person fails it is like the whole team fails. We should all make it our mission to help each other out.”
ATT School begins initial training for up to 120 students comprising eight different rates each week, prior to attending their “A” School.
The Computer Based Training (CBT) class is interactive, testing students in real-life situations that occur in the Fleet.
Training includes modules and labs that cover the theory of alternating current, and direct current, and, analog, digital and electro mechanics. Depending on the rate determines the length of the class and number of modules students are required to complete.
By Brian Walsh, Training Support Center Public Affairs