Joint Base Mcguire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey –
Thirty U.S. Navy Sailors went through the Garden State Petty Officer Second Class Symposium, Aug. 15, 2019, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey.
The symposium was created to help develop mid-level leadership fundamentals among E-4’s and E-5’s in the Navy.
“The reason we put this together was we believe in that mid-level leadership,” said Hospital Corpsman Second Class Nathan Warner, Branch Health Clinic Earle Hospital. “We’re in that middle ground where we’re not a senior leader, but we’re also in charge of junior sailors below us and these are some leadership basics that we can develop now and progress with.”
Senior leaders spoke at the symposium on topics that included Navy correspondence, how to write awards packages and evaluations and Sailor 2025 Initiatives, to name a few. The discussions were intended to lead to a better understanding of each subject that they could use to help junior Sailors under their care. Sailors were able to ask questions and share their experiences with each other and the speakers during the symposium.
“The course was held last year but was limited to the staff that worked at Branch Health Clinic Earle and Branch Health Clinic Lakehurst, said Warner, “This year we opened it up to the whole state. We are hoping to get enough support to start hosting this symposium twice a year, as we think it is vital to develop mid-level leaders and foster networking opportunities. Our vision is to open this course up to all E-5's regardless of branch of service in the future.”
Attendees said they left with a greater understanding on both current and future Naval initiatives.