Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Donavan K Patubo | Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Starlyte Burdette, assigned to Naval Support Activity Naples...... read more read more
Five Sailors stationed onboard Naval Support Activity Naples Detachment (NSAND) Gaeta have proven they are fully competent and considered experts in all areas of their craft by earning their Small Craft Insignia (SCI), May 27.
Master-at-Arms 1st Class (MA1) Amber Pierce, MA1 Randy Smith, Master-at-Arms 2nd Class (MA2) Starlyte Burdette, MA2 Zachary Jensen, and MA2 Brandon Keip each qualified for the SCI through the formal qualification program which includes a written and oral examination as well as an underway evaluation.
“The process of getting the Small Craft Insignia in NSAND Gaeta is about seeing what knowledge the members have as coxswains,” said MA2 Austin Riley, who was tasked with getting the SCI program off the ground in NSAND Gaeta and training the Sailors. “The information we look for ranges from Navy history and navigation to boat maintenance and weapons. As a coxswain it’s easy to get caught up in a routine so it’s important to see that they maintain the knowledge that isn’t utilized every day.”
In order to earn their SCI, a Sailor must have achieved a high level of excellence and proficiency in small boat operations.This includes successfully demonstrating specific knowledge pertaining to watercraft Rules of the Road, navigation, charts and plotting, communication, engineering, emergency and casualty control procedures, force protection action responses, and tactical boat operations.
“The Small Craft Insignia is what distinguishes the wearer as a subject matter expert,” said Riley. “If you have a question about one of the boats or the job that a coxswain does, these are the people you would reach for.”
The road to earning the SCI is a long one. A Sailor must successfully complete the Shore Installation Management Basic Boat Coxswain course, qualify as a level 1 coxswain, attend a level 2 coxswain school, and log hundreds of hours on the waterfront. All of this is required just to be eligible for enrollment in the SCI program. Those who enroll in the program will have new challenges to overcome.
“For me the most challenging part was charting,” said Keip. “Due to the technology we use every day, charting with paper and tools is a skill that is easily lost when not used. MA2 Riley really helped me a lot with charting and had a lot of patience with me. Now I’m confident that if all electronics fail, I will be able to chart the course. Charting is really a valuable tool in the tool belt and I am very glad I honed my knowledge on that.”
Naval Support Activity (NSA) Naples Commanding Officer Capt. Todd Abrahamson presented the Sailors with their SCI pins during a formal pinning ceremony on board NSAND Gaeta.
"It is an honor to pin these Sailors with their Small Craft Insignia," said Abrahamson. "These five Sailors have accomplished something that's a first for Gaeta, and it is all due to their personal drive and motivation to be excellent. I am truly proud of what they have achieved and how they continue to set the standard."
These are the first five Sailors in Gaeta’s history to have earned their SCI pin, which was authorized for wear by both officers and enlisted service members on Oct. 23, 1970, at the close of the Vietnam War.
“It was extremely rewarding being able to display my knowledge and experience to the command and being able to attain a qualification that so few have the opportunity to attain,” said Keip. “Very few MAs get to become level 2 coxswains and very few of those level 2 coxswains get to earn the SCI. It is very humbling to be a part of an even smaller community in the Navy.”
NSAND Gaeta is already working to get a second group of Sailors eligible for the SCI program. This group will undoubtedly have the advantage of having five more subject matter experts to turn to.
“I’m glad I had the opportunity to get the SCI program up and running and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here,” said Riley. “These five stepped up to the plate and knocked it out of the park. Now it’s their turn to lead the pack and help others get their pin.”
NSA Naples is an operational ashore base that enables U.S., allied, and partner nation forces to be where they are needed, when they are needed to ensure security and stability in Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia.
For more news on NSA Naples, please follow us on Instagram @NSANaples and Facebook at facebook.com/NSANaples/.
| Date Taken: | 05.27.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 05.28.2020 08:33 |
| Story ID: | 370885 |
| Location: | NAPLES, IT |
| Web Views: | 654 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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