18 September 2006

NSCC ACTION LETTER 04-06

1. Purpose: To announce the new NSCC On-line Petty Officer Test Site. This site also provides a “new” Petty Officer First Class (PO1) test based on the PO1 Correspondence Course. This will eliminate the existing PO1 test. References (b) and (c) are no longer required and are considered cancelled upon receipt of this letter.

2. Discussion: In cooperation with ACTS Corporation, an on-line testing site for NSCC Petty Officer Third Class, Petty Officer Second Class, and Petty Officer First Class is now available. This system transfers the control of Petty Officer testing to the unit Commanding Officer versus the NHQ Representative. The system provides the unit CO two options: an “on-line” version or a “paper” version. Each exam is a randomly selected 100 question test for each registered cadet. Units with internet access at their drilling site will be able to permit a cadet to take the applicable test “on-line” with immediate results. A “paper test” option is available for those units without internet access at the drilling location. The unit CO can register a cadet and print out the applicable test at home or work. The test can then be administered at the upcoming drill. The CO at his/her convenience, logs onto the site, enters the answers and receives immediate results. An email will automatically be sent to the unit CO. This email notification is “proof” required for advancement to PO1.

Those units with “no” computer support/internet access within their unit, the current system of contacting the NHQ Representative for a Petty Officer Test will remain in place.

3. Action:

a. Add enclosure Unit Registration Procedures as Appendix (6) to ref (a) the Advancement and Training Manual.

b. Chapter Three, paragraph B, NSCC PO3 through PO1 Advancement Examination Guidelines, remove sentence: Proper accountability of exams and answer keys is the responsibility of the NHQ Representative.

c. Chapter Three, paragraph B-1(a), delete this paragraph. Re-letter (b) to (a); (c) to (b); (d) to (c).

1. (a) should read: Upon request provide unit commanding officer the appropriate randomly selected “paper test” rate exam.

2. (b) should read: Grade the exam and inform the unit commanding officer in writing of the results. This letter is required documentation when units submit cadets for advancement to Petty Officer First Class. If the cadet does not pass the exam they must wait 30 days. After 30 days a new randomly selected “paper test” will be forwarded

3. (c) reads the same.

d. Chapter Three, paragraph B-2(a) should read: Unit Commanding Officers with “no” computer/internet access within their unit, complete Advancement Examination form NSCTNG 014 and forward to the NHQ Representative to request Petty Officer Exams.

e. Unit CO’s please review encl (1), Unit Registration Procedures. These procedures are for unit access to the system “ONLY”.

f. After completing the Registration you may proceed to the on-line tutorial. Please read the instructions before proceeding to the actual test site. The tutorial provides detailed instruction on how to register a cadet for an exam. ALL links can be found via the Sea Cadet COMPASS Training Portal at http://compass.seacadets.org under the heading Cadet Advancement.

g. NHQ Representatives will be provided a “userid” for access to the testing site by NHQ. This will permit them to register a cadet for a PO test and grade the test for those units who do not have internet access. NHQ Representatives will also be given “permissions” within the system to view/monitor testing.

h. All troubleshooting issues will be emailed to sbunting@navyleague.org.

4. Cancellation. This letter is considered cancelled when updates have been included in ref (a).

THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME
WWW.SEACADETS.ORG