Career success for logistics ratings Sailors top-priority for CSS

NEWPORT, R.I. – Center for Service Support (CSS) instructional systems specialists,

training managers, program analysts and fleet subject-matter experts have been busy this

fiscal year building or rebuilding basic professional development tools to better equip

Sailors in the logistics ratings.

From personnel qualification standards (PQS) to course reviews, rate training manuals

and curriculum development, new and updated processes and products are now paving

the way for better-trained logistics specialists, culinary specialists and ship’s servicemen

serving the fleet and the supply community.

To ensure all products created or reviewed by CSS are in line with the needs of the Navy,

CSS’ senior-enlisted training managers work in partnership with their peers in the Fleet.

The training managers and CSS program analysts facilitate weeklong development

conferences in Fleet concentration areas, such as Norfolk, San Diego and Mayport, Fla.,

bringing together 10 to 15 technical experts who are on the deckplates supporting the

warfighter.

“The development conferences are great examples of how CSS is collaborating with

subject-matter experts to ensure the professional development tools produced become

essential tools for every Sailor’s toolbox,” said Capt. Bernie Dunn, CSS commanding

officer. “Bottom line is that these products must have real value to the Sailor and the

Fleet. CSS is working to ensure they do.”

Personnel Qualification Standards (PQS)

Among the first of these conferences for PQS development took place in 2009, in

preparation for the merging of the postal clerk and storekeeper ratings into the logistics

specialists rating. At the onset of the merger, Oct. 1, 2009, CSS simultaneously launched

the deckplate-approved PQS for the new rating. PQS for SHs became available in June

2010. The CSs were the only CSS-supported rating who formerly had PQS available, but

CSS training managers have reviewed and updated the qualification booklets in order to

keep them in step with the Fleet. The PQS booklets are scheduled to be reviewed every

two years.

“These new qualifications standards reflect what is necessary to be successful in the

fleet,” said Richard Price, the CSS PQS manager. “As technology, requirements and

ratings change, we will continue to update PQS to help the 21st-Century Sailor stay

current and relevant.”

The PQS program ensures personnel demonstrate required competencies prior to

performing specific duties.  PQS delineates the minimum knowledge and skill sets an

individual must demonstrate before standing watches or performing other specific duties.

It is an integral part of the development of Sailors with the right knowledge, skills, and

abilities.

The electronic-only versions of the PQS booklets are available on Navy Knowledge

Online (NKO) via the Navy PQS link found on the Quick Links tab on the left side of the

main page. From the Navy PQS page, Sailors should follow the PQS 43200 Series and

43500 Series links on the left side.

Non-Resident Training Courses

In addition to the PQS booklets, CSS training managers and Fleet technical experts have

also been busy updating rate training manuals (RTMs). Formally known as non-resident

training courses, or NRTCs, these manuals have traditionally been the fountains of

knowledge Sailors sought for as everyday references and for studying for rating exams.

In recent years, RTMs took a back seat during the turn-of-the-century Revolution in

Training. Rating mergers and emerging technology, however, prompted CSS to get back

to the basics and breathe new life into these professional development tools.

Five logistic ratings RTMs are due out this calendar year: Logistics Specialists – Postal,

Logistics Specialist – Supply, Culinary Specialist, Enlisted Aide, and Ship’s Serviceman.

Like PQS, the RTMs will be available electronically via NKO.

Learning and Development Roadmaps

Also available on NKO are the Learning and Development Roadmaps, or LaDRs

(pronounced “ladders”). The LaDRs were designed to align a Sailor’s required skills

with his or her career goals. Each LaDR offers Sailors an overview of what is required

for progression from E-1 to E-9 and can be used by leaders during career development

boards to provide a navigable, rate-specific guide.

“Sailors at all levels should familiarize themselves with their assigned LaDR and seek

guidance from their chain of command,” said Chris Leahy, CSS LaDR program manager

and retired chief petty officer. “Chief petty officers should ensure they are using the

LaDRs, also referred to as roadmaps, to counsel their Sailors formally through career

development boards and informally through day-to-day interactions. The ultimate

responsibility, however, lies with the individual Sailor who should use the roadmap as a

career guide.”

CSS training managers review the Roadmaps on a regular basis. The review requirement

for the LaDRs is annually, but if necessary, the training managers can update as required

if something changes within the year. Fleet feedback is vital to the proper maintenance

for all of the professional development tools mentioned here.

LaDRs also highlight a wide variety of education opportunities, including tuition

assistance, Navy College Program for Afloat College Education (NCPACE), rating-

relevant degrees, and scholarship programs, as well as certification and licenses

supported through the Navy Credentialing Opportunities On-line (COOL) and United

Services Military Apprenticeship Program (USMAP). More on COOL can be found at

www.cool.navy.mil; and USMAP, https://usmap.cnet.navy.mil/.

For more information about LaDRs, review OPNAV Instruction 1500.77 and visit the

NKO LaDRs page at https://www.nko.navy.mil. The LaDRs can be found under the

career management tab.

Formal Course Reviews

In addition to the development of the above-mentioned career development tools, CSS is

also currently conducting formal course reviews on the advanced courses taught in San

Diego and Norfolk in order to update the curriculum to comply with current training

requirements and to standardize training offered on both coasts. More specifically,

curriculum developers, instructional systems specialists and training managers conducted

formal course reviews for all three logistics rating “A” schools as well as hazardous

material, independent postal clerk and the barber training.

Course reviews are quality-assurance assesments that look at instructor performance and

planning, student control, and curriculum as well as equipment, resources and records.

The thorough inspections are conducted by curriculum developers and training managers,

who get into the courses’ minute details to ensure courses are meeting the needs and

expectations of the Navy as well as our customers. As our training managers work hand-

in-hand with their peers in the Fleet, they stay in touch with what Sailors need to know to

succeed in their respective ratings. The training managers bring this collaboration to the

course reviews.

According to Vicky Spencer, CSS’s learning standards officer, the CSS curriculum

development team recently combined the former storekeeper (SK) and postal clerk (PC)

courses to form one intergrated learning environment in Meridian. The addition to the SK

portion included five modules of training that will prepare the logistic specialist for postal

duties and responsibilities.

As mentioned above, the development of all the professional development tools includes

CSS, its stakeholders and Fleet subject-matter experts.

Seeking Your Feedback

“CSS lives every day by its mission to provide Sailors with the knowledge and skills

necessary to support the warfighter,” said Capt. Stephanie Miller, CSS director of

training. “To do this, we must plan, develop and maintain our training and infrastructure

and deliver training and the professional development tools to fulfill this mission. We

cannot do this without the support and feedback from the fleet. We welcome all feedback

as we focus on the basics required for Sailors in the logistics ratings. We are here to

support you.”

To contact CSS logistics ratings management, call CSCS (SW) Scott Spencer at 401-841-

1565, LSCS (SW/AW) Ron Taylor at 401-841-1172, CSC (SS) Ken Hollar at 401-841-

1089, or SHC (SW) Lorenzo Tingson at 401-841-1162. E-mail addresses and feedback

avenues available on CSS and rating-specific NKO pages.