Courtesy Photo | Sailors and United States Naval Community College (USNCC) staff participate in the...... read more read more
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. - The United States Naval Community College (USNCC) served as an initial sponsor for the inaugural National Capital Region Empower 2025 Symposium for First Class Petty Officers at Joint Base Andrews, March 20-21.
USNCC engaged with over 200 participants in the region’s first-of-its-kind conference, which aimed to train Sailors in diverse areas to enhance their leadership and pathways to advancement. The event was also streamed on social media, garnering over 27,000 views.
USNCC staff, including Director of Enrollment Alphonso Garrett, provided information about the institutions 's mission, partnerships consortium, and educational opportunities. The goal was to deliver awareness on how USNCC encourages the enlisted fleet to sustain warfighter development through self-learning.
“Attending the First Class Petty Officers Symposium was a great opportunity for USNCC to gain exposure to a critical group of Sailors from a wide range of rates and commands. Sharing the mission and goals of USNCC with the audience, as well as fielding questions, helps USNCC impact the fleet,” said Garrett. “With the support of these instrumental leaders, we can drive fleet-wide impact and continue to forge readiness through education.”
A committee of 12 members worked for months on preparation, collaborating across multiple channels to host this forum. Panels, presentations, and guest speakers provided guidance on the roles and expectations of petty officers, key milestones, and chief petty officer board package requirements.
“We wanted to build and embrace leadership and enhance the toolbox on being better. The goal here was to gain more knowledge, network, and learn from each other,” said Yeoman 1st Class Christa Gutierrez-Rattler, Empower 2025 committee member, assigned to U.S. Fleet Cyber Command. “The committee has been planning and preparing for this event from past six-eight months. The week of event everything and everyone came together to bring the vision to life.”
Emphasizing the importance of education as a force enabler, USNCC was invited to engage the crowd.
“I believe higher education is very important for service members. When Sailors can see opportunities for education and career development, it makes the goal feel that much more attainable,” said Chief Aviation Machinist's Mate Angelica Owens of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 53 and Empower 2025 committee member. “Regardless of why you joined the Navy, your service will end at some point, whether after one enlistment or following a 30-plus year career. Higher education prepares you for success while serving and after the Navy.”
Owens and her team also wanted this to be an experience where leaders of all ranks could reflect and gain insight driving growth.
“This event was important to me because mentoring and developing people is my passion. My everyday experiences make it clear that there are many areas where we, as leaders, can do a better job of preparing first classes to lead,” said Owens. “The goal was to provide basic training and skills to enhance their knowledge in order to better equip our first classes to lead and succeed.”
Leaders supplied a platform to discuss the assortment of skills gained throughout their careers and to reach service members across the fleet.
“It brings so much joy and happiness to see the first classes that travel from all over to attend and bring their knowledge,” said Gutierrez-Rattler. “This event was worth every effort we put into it. I am beyond proud to be a part of this committee and look forward to building and growing this in the future.”
USNCC provides education programs to active-duty enlisted Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen as well as Coast Guard Reservists with no minimum time-in-service requirements. Founded in 2019, the college is dedicated to enhancing operational readiness, supporting warfighting advantage, and empowering lifelong learning for the maritime services.
The institution now offers 16 full-funded associate degrees and 19 professional certificates with no out-of-pocket costs or tuition assistance (TA) funding required. Students can continue studying at the undergraduate level, obtaining an advanced degree at partner institutions, using built-in undergraduate pathways and alternative funding sources such as TA.
USNCC is currently accepting applications for all available programs for the 2025-2026 academic year.
To learn more about USNCC or apply for available programs, visit www.usncc.edu.
Watch the Empower 2025 event here, https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1APvKDtf8N/
| Date Taken: | 03.21.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 04.04.2025 12:23 |
| Story ID: | 494584 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 64 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, USNCC Builds Fleet Strength with Navy’s Next Generation of Leaders, by CPO Stacy Atkinsricks, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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