SWSC Visits USS Wichita to Update Personnel Qualification Standards

Surface Warfare Schools Command (SWSC) recently marked a historic first by collaborating directly in person with the engineering department aboard the Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Wichita (LCS 13) to validate Personnel Qualification Standards (PQS).

SWSC’s Training Requirements and Management Directorate (N9) manages 81 PQS documents for surface warfare, covering damage control, navigation, seamanship, ship handling, and engineering. Rather than a sudden overhaul, the command maintains training readiness by reviewing these documents on a rolling three-year rotational basis, tackling about 30 standards annually.

While these updates are a routine part of maintaining fleet readiness, the direct, in-person collaboration with a visiting ship's crew in Newport represented a new and highly effective approach for the PQS team.

"This was historic. This is the first time in SWSC history this has ever occurred," said Denise Gorton, SWSC PQS manager, regarding the shipboard visit. "It is you guys out in the fleet, on the ships, on the waterfront every single day, training and executing these for your Sailors and your future leaders. To have that opportunity to meet in person was absolutely critical because you can ask the questions and get to know if a watch station or systems are relevant."

Revisions during the three-year cycle are critical when legacy systems are removed from a ship class or new systems are implemented, requiring SWSC to coordinate directly with Type Commanders (TYCOM) and fleet experts to update the requirements.

"We do not claim to be the SMEs, we do not claim to be content owners," Gorton said. "We're here to help update them in any capacity and we really stress that we take feedback from anyone at any level, with any kind of background. If you have something, share it, and we will adjudicate it through TYCOM."

Peg Quinn, a member of SWSC’s PQS support staff, emphasized that Sailors should take ownership of the material, noting that the PQS is ultimately "their document" and urging the fleet "to be active contributors and not to hesitate" when submitting feedback.

To continue this level of fleet engagement, SWSC is currently working to travel to fleet concentration areas for in-person workshops and also offers one-on-one virtual support to ships for off-cycle updates.

SWSC's mission is to ready sea-bound warriors to serve on surface combatants as officers, enlisted engineers, and enlisted navigation professionals in order to fulfill the Navy's mission to maintain global maritime superiority.

Legal Disclaimer:

EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.