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    CENSECFOR’s Elite Instructors for 2018

    VIRGINIA BEACH, VA, UNITED STATES

    12.07.2018

    Story by Darryl Orrell 

    Center for Security Forces

    The Center for Security Forces announced its top Sailors who represent the best of the best as the command’s 2018 Instructors of the Year, Dec. 7.

    Aviation Structural Mechanic 1st Class Thomas Bloss and Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Michael Coyne were chosen as the mid-grade and junior instructors of the year.

    “Being selected as instructor of the year has proven to myself that not only can I have success in the Navy, but also a great future when I retire,” said Bloss.

    “I am honored to have been selected as Instructor of the Year,” said Coyne. “I know there many other outstanding instructors throughout the Center for Security Forces domain and I am thrilled to have been recognized.”

    The instructor of the year program is designed to recognize those Sailors and Marines who demonstrate teaching mastery and leadership excellence for the past year.

    Bloss recalled that his most memorable experience as an instructor goes back to when he first reported for duty. He is assigned to CENSECFOR Detachment North Island where he teaches the Navy’s “Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape” (SERE) course.

    “I started an intense and challenging process called Instructor Under Training for over 3 months to become a High Risk Instructor,” said Bloss. “The biggest thing I remember is failing to pass my final scenario board. It required me to remain humble and reassert my study tactics. I realized that sometimes you come up short in life but as long as you keep the faith, you can pick yourself up, try again, and ultimately succeed at anything you want to in life.”

    Coyne, who also serves as an instructor at CENSECFOR Detachment North Island, recalled his most memorable experience was teaching his first lesson.

    “I was intimidated to teach a 1.5-hour long lesson in front of 62 Sailors and Marines,” said Coyne. “I am proud that I continue to have the opportunity to teach the important and lifesaving tactics, techniques, and procedures that the SERE course has to offer.”

    SERE is a 12-day code of conduct course designed to teach students the skills necessary to survive and evade capture. But if captured, to resist exploitation and if possible, to escape capture and return home with honor.

    “Take the challenge of doing something different than your typical rated job and go be a Navy instructor,” said Bloss, offering advice to Sailors in the fleet. “You don't instantly become an instructor; it takes practice and believing in yourself. If you take time to prepare and put that custom touch on your lessons, you will have much success as an instructor.”

    Bloss and Coyne both shared their next career milestone where Bloss is working to become a limited duty officer and Coyne is working to advance to the rank of E-6.

    “I personally thanked my mentor after I found out that I earned every instructor award at this schoolhouse,” said Bloss. “He inspired me to do things right and become the best instructor I could possibly be. He has inspired me to lead Sailors to the highest degree so that the job is done to the highest level and every Sailor is given the proper tools and knowledge to succeed.”

    “I was fortunate to have Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Jared Whitefield, last year’s instructor of the year recipient, as my leading petty officer,” said Coyne. “His enthusiasm and passion for teaching are contagious.”

    The team at the Center for Security Forces teaches advanced and specialized skills to more than 23,000 students each year. It has 14 training locations across the United States and around the world where training breeds confidence.

    For more information about the Center for Security Forces, visit www.public.navy.mil/netc/centers/csf or follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/censecfor.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 12.07.2018
    Date Posted: 12.07.2018 14:57
    Story ID: 302623
    Location: VIRGINIA BEACH, VA, US

    Web Views: 159
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN