• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

NETC up and Running; CNET Disestablished

Navy NewStand

Story Number: NNS030407-17
Release Date: 4/8/2003 4:09:00 AM

By Darlene Goodwin, Naval Education and Training Command Public Affairs

PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) -- The Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) was established in mid-March 2003 in Pensacola, Fla., to oversee Naval education and training. Concurrently, "CNET," or the Chief of Naval Education and Training, was disestablished.

As part of the Navy's ongoing "revolution in training," sweeping changes in the headquarters mission and organization were key to achieving desired upgrades in mission effectiveness and overall efficiency.

"The Navy's training revolution is moving full speed ahead," said Vice Adm. Alfred G. Harms Jr., commander, NETC. "This is definitely not 'business as usual.' We are actively making important improvements in the structures, processes and policies that drive our Navy's individual education and training efforts.

"Making substantive, enduring change is very challenging in any organization, and particularly so when working with such a large and complex organization as the United States Navy. However, in order to remain relevant in a highly technical and rapidly changing world, curricula content, teaching methodologies and learning delivery systems all need significant improvement.

"We knew we had to challenge every assumption and review everything from our individual schoolhouses to the primary headquarters in order to affect meaningful change that would both improve Sailor performance and fleet readiness. Although not yet complete, most of the revolution's major muscle movements are either in effect or are planned for implementation in the coming months. Navy education and training will never be the same, and our long-term commitment to this course of action will ensure that our Navy remains the best-trained, best-educated and best performing in the world."

According to Harms, over the past 30 years, the former CNET headquarters had gradually assumed a greater role in managing local training administration issues, which could have been handled more efficiently at commands more closely connected to the fleet.

"NETC is getting out of the execution-level business and is being realigned to focus specifically on strategy, policy and resource issues," explained Harms. "It will function as an Echelon II headquarters reporting directly to the Chief of Naval Operations, and will interface with a number of intermediate commands directly responsible for administering training and education programs at the fleet level. NETC and its subordinate commands now comprise an organizational structure which will implement training and education policy and programs more effectively and more efficiently."

NETC staff members are in the process of completing the functional and physical aspects of converting the command, although not every change will be immediate.

NETC Chief of Staff, Capt. Ferdinand L. Salomon, said the functional and physical changes would occur much more quickly than the cultural change.

"Some of what we are doing within Naval education and training is restructuring, some involves realignment, but all of it is revolutionary," said Salomon. "For the Navy and the civilian community who are so accustomed to the former 'CNET,' this change is significant. When people start routinely calling us NETC (instead of CNET), and when they automatically look for our phone numbers under NETC in the phonebook, that's when we'll know we've turned the corner."

The NETC claimancy is responsible for the individual education and training of all Navy and many joint personnel, both officer and enlisted. NETC oversees a network of programs extending from coast to coast, to overseas facilities and to ships at sea.

NETC activities are staffed by approximately 22,000 military and civilian personnel at more than 190 facilities worldwide. Each day, an average of nearly 40,000 officer, enlisted, and civilian government employees train in more than 3,600 different courses offered through NETC.

"As we face a most challenging time for our Navy and nation, I find it very rewarding to be involved in our Navy's revolution in training," said Harms. "NETC is fully engaged in implementing the best possible learning environment for the magnificent men and women who choose to serve their country as Sailors in our great Navy. One glance at current world events reveals the tremendous importance of the work we're doing. "