15 November 2004

NSCC ACTION LETTER 08-04

1. IAW ref (a), ref (b) was convened at the Fleet Antisubmarine Warfare Training Center (ASW Base Point Loma), San Diego, Ca. Meeting minutes have been separately distributed to all Regional Directors and Headquarters Representatives. Action items in this letter are a continuation of those resulting from the 1998 thru 2003 Regional Directors conferences, previously promulgated in refs (c) through (g). All refs (c) through (g) action items remain in effect. This year's action items having immediate, or near future impact on NSCC/NLCC policy and/or administrative procedure and requiring Unit CO's immediate attention, are as immediately follow in this paragraph and are being incorporated into updates of NSCC directives as appropriate.

1. Small Arms Safety And Training Policy Established. Creation of a Small Arms Training Policy for the NSCC was agreed to in the Regional Directors meeting of 2000, ref (e) refers. That policy is at encl (1) and is effective upon receipt. Credit for policy development goes to Recruit Training Command New England with LCDR Dave Carchia, RD 011, as COTC. Further as briefed during the 2004 Regional Director's conference, a committee headed by LCDR Jim Lukasiewicz, RD 041 has been established to implement for the NSCC an advanced summer training opportunity in small arms for cadets, and also to develop a national NSCC program in small arms training modeled after other youth programs currently in existence. This NSCC Small Arms Safety and Training Policy will be incorporated into updates of the Advancement and Training Manual and the Escort Officer Handbook.
   
   
2. "TWT" Acronym Being Replaced With Simply "Advanced Training". The Advancement and Training Manual currently carries "TWT" as an advancement requirement defined as 10 days. Summer and Winter Training generally falls into one of 3 broad categories; NLCC training, NSCC Recruit Training, and NSCC Advanced Training.  In practice advanced training evolutions as published in the summer and winter training schedules can run anywhere from 7 or 8 days to as much as 21 days.  The goal for advancement is to have cadets participate in advanced training evolutions as promulgated in the summer and winter training schedules even if under 10 days.  Current guidance for advancement requirement is “TWT”, five days of which must be continuous and cadets must make up an additional five days.  Cadet deposit and transportation costs, as well as the varying rigor of the training, reinforce that attendance regardless of days be the dominating criteria for advancement.  Accordingly, the new policy is that participation in “advanced training” meets the requirement for advancement regardless of number of days.  Advanced training are those training evolutions promulgated in the summer and winter training schedules, and in most cases will always be somewhere between 7 or 8 days and 14 days in length.  Cadets attending a published evolution less than 10 days do not need to make up the additional days to get a total of 10 days for advancement.  Cadets attending evolutions in excess of 10 days do not gain additional days which can be credited towards future advancement.  Advanced Training requirements are now evolution based and not days based.  Exceptions will be as noted in the summer and winter training schedules, if any.  Special circumstances and/or requests for special considerations should be referred to NHQ for resolution. This NSCC change will be incorporated into updates of the Advancement and Training Manual and carried in the Summer and Winter training schedules.
   
   
3. Ribbon Recognition For Honor Guard Training Established. Effective immediately, cadets who successfully complete Honor Guard training as published in the summer training schedules are authorized to wear the color guard ribbon with gold frame. This change is retroactive to include all cadets who have successfully completed any Honor Guard training as published in prior summer training schedules. This change will be incorporated into updates of the Awards Manual.
   
   
4. COTC Qualifications Established. Effectively immediately, COTC's minimum qualification standards are established as completion of the Officer Midshipman Study Guide, completion of OPD 101, and one year's experience in the NSCC/NLCC program. OPD 201 completion is very highly recommended as is previous escort duty at the particular training for which they wish to be COTC. These standards will be included in updates to the Advancement and Training Manual and Escort Officer's Handbook. They will also be included in the summer and winter training schedules as well as in COTC guidance. Exceptions must have NHQ approval.
   

1. Recruit Training Short Course Being Developed. NSCC Recruit training is ideally 14 days in length including day of arrival and day of departure. The Navy approved curriculum for Recruit Training has been 76 hours of lessons, and 30 hours of company commander, PT and testing time for a grand total of 106 hours which fits this 14 day model. In practice, non-school days over the holiday season, unavailability of berthing and/or messing or restricted times of availability due to active service component (our hosts) requirements, and instances of limited escort availability, all coupled with escalating costs, have led the NSCC to sponsor and schedule Recruit Training evolutions of less than 14 days. Additionally the U.S. Navy has modified its' recruit training requirements and changed its' course to reflect a lesser number of hours required for its' own graduates. Accordingly the NSCC, in concert with Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, has initiated action to develop a shorter course for Recruit Training (an alternate 9 day model) that still delivers the training required to satisfy Navy's requirements so that those cadets who go on to active duty still get E-3 directly upon USN RT completion vice E-2. If approved (as expected) these shorter courses will be offered more frequently along with the standard 14 day course in future training schedules.
   
   
2. New Junior Petty Officer Development (JPD) Course Under Development. The US Navy has developed a Petty Officer Indoctrination Course to specifically aid newly appointed petty officers (PO3's) in developing their leadership skills as first line supervisors. In the NSCC a similar course of instruction has been identified as needed to help cadets newly appointed or aspiring to be appointed to NSCC PO3. Our current POLA curriculum may be completed anytime between E-3 and CPO. E-3 can not be attained until at least 6 months after completion of Recruit Training. Accordingly, there is a gap in availability of leadership training for cadets immediately graduating from Recruit Training and aspiring to quickly attain Petty Officer grade. The JPD course under development is intended to provide the Recruit Training graduate, the E-3 cadet, and newly appointed PO3 with enhanced abilities to carry out duties as an assistant or full squad leader commensurate with their change of responsibility from simply taking care of themselves to also taking care of cadets that they have been assigned to assist and supervise as first line supervisors. It will also help prepare them for summer training cadet staff assignments. The NSCC JPD course will borrow from the Navy course, incorporate what was learned from correspondence courses, and employ practical hands on and on the job training experiences for enhancement of leadership skills. After testing, the target completion date is late 2005.
   
   
3. PT Standards For NSCC To Remain Unchanged And Standards For The NLCC Being Adopted.  Existing NSCC Physical Readiness Test standards were reviewed and compared against the revised standards now contained in the updated President’s Challenge.  There will be no change to the current NSCC policy and standards.  However, the NLCC has no standards prescribed.  Effectively immediately, the NLCC standard will be generally the same as the NSCC but at the NLCC cadet’s particular age level.  Cadets are encouraged to meet the standards, but failure to meet the standards will not be a disqualifier for participation in the NLCC. There are no established requirements to meet these standards at this time.  The updated standards are at encl (2).  Please note that all NSCC standards remain at or below the 50^th percentile, and that percentiles for each test may vary.  NLCC standards are based on the existing NSCC standards, simply extended to the younger age groups. NLCC standards will be promulgated in updates to the Advancement and Training Manual.
   
   
4. BMR Recommended For Officers Not Having This Background. It is recommended that all NSCC Officers complete the Basic Military Requirements (BMR).
   
   
5. OPD 301 Under Review. Officer Professional Development Course 301 is being reviewed for probable update. NHQ Representative Northwest Capt John Payne is conducting this review and comparing the NSCC 301 with the newly developed Naval Reserve Officer Leadership Course available to all Naval Reserve Officers. As part of the review, development of a seminar module which focuses on best practices and practical experiences in dealing with problems is also being considered (modeled after a previous suggestion for an OPD 401 structured the same way). NSCC is targeting 2005 for results of the review and final decisions on the nature of the update.
   
   
6. NSCC Website To Include Sections For Public Relations Ideas, And Fund Raising Ideas. For public relations ideas and promotional material that can be adapted for unit use and downloaded go to resources.seacadets.org. Scroll down to Public Affairs and Promotional Materials on the left hand side of the screen. There you will find materials that can be adapted for specific units and their use….just fill in the blanks, download and reproduce and use. A similar site is soon to be available specifically targeting fund raising ideas. Anyone having ideas or programs that have worked well for them are encouraged to send your ideas to the to the Resources Page Administrator. All you have to do is, once again, go to resources.seacadets.org and click on "Communications" in the headline banner. Then click on "Feedback to the USNSCC Resources Page Administrator". Title your comment "Fund Raising Idea" and we will start collecting and posting at a new site successful ideas that have worked for units throughout the NSCC.
   
   
7. GENERAL NOTE FOR ALL HANDS. With federal funding to offset cadet and escort messing and berthing costs once again available for 2005, the NSCC continues to look for additional training opportunities to offer our growing numbers of NSCC/NLCC cadets. Specifically, expanded one week or two week (or even longer) summer training opportunities are desired. While military training onboard bases, stations, and ships, continues to be of first preference in accordance with our program goal of making cadets aware of the prestige of military careers and also to increase advancement potential for those who join, we are not restricted to only that training. Our other goals are:
   
   
   • Develop interest and skills in basic seamanship and seagoing skills.
   • Instill virtues of good citizenship and strong moral character and principles.
   • Demonstrate value of alcohol, drug and gang free lifestyle.

   One and two week training courses that support any of these goals are desired. If you have any ideas or recommendations, call NSCC NHQ Capt Nyland or 1SG Bunting. We need your help, and remember, messing and berthing will be covered and this applies to both NSCC and NLCC training.
   
   

8. DEFY Opportunities. DEFY stands for Drug Education For Youth. It is a program endorsed by the Navy and targets youth among Navy families; youth who are not at risk. This is a program designed for good kids, and to keep kids good! It is a 3 phase program starting with classroom learning, physical fitness and educational trips. Phase 2 is school year mentoring, interactive workshops and ends with out placement which is phase 3 and where the NSCC fits in. After initial training, students in DEFY are out placed into successful youth organizations including the NSCC. Others might be the Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts, Big Brother/Sister, and Young Marines. Information regarding the 2005 year program is still in development but soon to be promulgated. Once known (to include an adult training program in Reno) NSCC NHQ will forward details to each Regional Director. More to follow, but if you're really interested and wish more information now, you can call the DEFY Program Office directly at (202) 433-3113.

3. Refs (c) thru (g) remain in effect until all actions or changes are incorporated into relevant manuals. This action letter also remains in effect until incorporation of changes into relevant manuals

M.D. FORD

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