MAY 8, 2015, SAN DIEGO (NNS) – Center for Surface Combat Systems (CSCS) Detachment West, who manages and operates Gunner’s Mate (GM) “C” school, hosted the GM Combat Systems Strategic Training Ratings Review (CSSTRR) at the Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Center (FLEASWTRACEN) April 28-30.
Twenty-five U.S. Navy commands and six ships, including USS Makin Island (LHD 8), USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108), USS Somerset (LPD 25), USS Cowpens (CG 63), USS Howard (DDG 83), and USS Princeton (CG 59), attended to discuss GM rating, “A,” “C,” and Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) awarding schools, shipboard training, maintenance activity support, and fleet concentration waterfront training. Representatives from fleet and training commands, as well as community mangers from the Navy Personnel Command, attended the event.
CSCS oversees 14 learning sites, including CSCS Det West, and is responsible for combat systems training across the rates of fire controlman, operations specialist, gunner’s mate, sonar technician, mineman, interior communications electrician, and electronics technician.
CSCS Det West’s Weapons Officer Lt. Kevin Irons, who coordinated the rating review, says that the data they accumulated will help shape the future of the GM rate.
“One of our main objectives was to start the improvement process of the GM rate training continuum,” Irons said. “We received stakeholder input regarding the current status of surface ship GM knowledge, proficiency and overall rating health. We then discussed incorporating new technologies, the need for more training at the senior level, and if there was any redundant training in the GM current pipeline that could be eliminated and/or moved so Sailors can arrive to the fleet quicker.”
Cmdr. Scott Noe, CSCS Det West’s officer-in-charge, says this three-day review was a great success.
“Key stakeholders came together and developed a long-term plan which includes technological advances and manning strategies while executing the required training,” Noe said. “Our results, and results from the other rating reviews, will be presented to leadership for resourcing via the Surface and Expeditionary Warfare Training Plan (SEWTP).
FLEASWTRACEN will host the next review, sonar technician surface rating, in late July. Details regarding the specifics of this review will be sent in an announcement message.
“These reviews are essential to the future of combat systems training,” Noe said.
The Center for Surface Combat Systems mission is to develop and deliver surface ship combat systems training to achieve surface warfare superiority. CSCS headquarters’ staff oversees 14 learning sites and provides almost 70,000 hours of curriculum for close to 700 courses a year to more than 40,000 Sailors. The training center uses a mix of blended learning comprised of instructor-led classes, hands-on labs, simulation and computer-based training.