Sailors aboard the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) prepare for their future as leaders by attending the Petty Officer Selectee Leadership Course (POSLC).
POSLC prepares Sailors to perform at their next higher pay-grade through instruction from senior leaders in motivation, stress management, deck-plate leadership, communication and other topics.
“This training is important because advancement not only comes with increased pay, but the level of responsibilities and expectations increase as well,” said Senior Chief Intelligence Specialist Stacey Stewart, George Washington’s intelligence department leading chief petty officer. “POSLC gives Sailors the tools they need to be prepared to lead a work center, division or department.”
Senior leadership, consisting of petty officer 1st class and above, provide insight to Sailors in the seaman, and petty officers 3rd class and 2nd class ranks who are ready to assume responsibilities of their next pay-grade.
“The course is facilitated so that it encourages a dialogue in the classroom,” said Stewart. “The facilitators share personal experiences to help give the junior personnel a better understanding of what they can expect as leaders.”
The curriculum taught during POSLC is a standardized Navy-wide course downloaded from Navy Knowledge Online.
“The hands-on and practical exercises presented during the course help Sailors when they have to mentor or support their personnel with their issues,” said Stewart.
Coordinating with each department for prospective leaders and finding a location on the busy warship can be difficult during the ship’s patrol. The course is planned around drills and ship-wide training.
“Reserving a location to hold the training is the most difficult, especially when you have to train every pay-grade,” said Stewart. “If we prepare in advance and reserve a space, it isn’t too bad. It usually takes us two weeks to train about 500 to 800 Sailors.”
Sailors receive a certificate at the end of POSLC proving that they successfully completed the course, but the knowledge and experience they gain for their future endeavors is far more valuable.
“I took back a lot with me,” said Richards. “The exercises we did gave me a better idea of what I can expect and what I can do to help those I will lead.”
The course is not only beneficial to the selectees; it helps Sailors motivate their juniors to become prospective leaders.
“Hopefully the Sailors leave the course motivated with a few new leadership tools to help them lead the fine young men and women in our great Navy,” said Stewart.
George Washington and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing 5, provide a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interest of the U.S. and its allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
[mappress] Press Release, October 21, 2013