U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy
Encyclopedia
The U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy provides education and training for senior and master chief petty officers. Most of the students are active-duty Navy personnel. The remaining students are from the Navy Reserve, Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and other nations' armed forces.
established the senior
and master chief petty officer
ranks in 1958, primarily as an incentive to retain E-7's beyond their 20-year mark. This move enjoyed some initial success. Although the chief petty officer
has always held a well-defined position of responsibility in the chain of command
, the roles of the senior and master chief petty officers have been the subject of considerable debate almost since their beginning days. It became apparent that senior and master chief petty officers received little additional responsibilities than what they had as chief petty officers. This resulted in a return of the old trend where many senior enlisted members left the Navy shortly after completing 20 years of service.
In 1979, the Chief of Naval Operations
took concrete steps to end that debate and stated that the Navy would expand the role of the senior and master chief petty officers. Their roles would no longer be that of senior technician
s; instead, their role would be that of mid-level management
. As a result of the CNO's policy, commands throughout the Navy appointed many senior and master chief petty officers to positions of greater responsibility. While some performed well in their expanded roles, others lacked the education and training needed to carry out their new managerial duties. To assist senior and master chief petty officers' transition from technicians to positions of middle managers, the Navy founded the Senior Enlisted Academy.
Opening ceremonies held on September 14, 1981, marked the beginning of an educational program which is unique among the Navy's many training schools and programs. On that day, the Navy's Senior Enlisted Academy opened its doors to its first class. This pilot class, consisting of 16 students, received and validated the nine-week curriculum containing a diverse mix of subjects such as communications skills, national security
affairs, Navy programs, and physical readiness training. Starting January 2005, the SEA seated 65 students per class and convened for 6 weeks.
Because of the SEA's success in preparing senior enlisted leaders for positions of greater responsibilities, graduation is now a requirement before assuming the positions of command master chief or chief of the boat.
The Senior Enlisted Academy offers resident and non-resident classes. The resident class is 6 weeks long. The non-resident class is two weeks long. There have been 136 resident and 19 non-resident classes as of February 24, 2007.
in Newport, RI in 1981. In August 1989, the Academy moved to its new facilities in Tomich Hall. This building contains the classrooms, office spaces, and berthing for 61 students. Tomich Hall pays tribute to Chief Watertender Peter Tomich who earned the Medal of Honor
for his actions on the USS Utah (AG-16), 7 December 1941, Pearl Harbor
, Hawaii. During the Japanese attack, the USS Utah sustained major damage. Realizing the inevitable fate of the ship, Chief Tomich returned to his post in the boiler room to evacuate his fireroom personnel and shut down the boilers before the Utah sank. His efforts resulted in the saving of many lives in his fireroom crew and throughout the ship. His gallant actions were in keeping with the precepts upon which the Senior Enlisted Academy has been built: "Leadership
by Example."
Mission
The mission of the United States Navy Senior Enlisted Academy is to strengthen senior enlisted commitment to professional excellence and mission accomplishment through education.History
CongressUnited States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
established the senior
Military rank
Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...
and master chief petty officer
Military rank
Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...
ranks in 1958, primarily as an incentive to retain E-7's beyond their 20-year mark. This move enjoyed some initial success. Although the chief petty officer
Chief Petty Officer
A chief petty officer is a senior non-commissioned officer in many navies and coast guards.-Canada:"Chief Petty Officer" refers to two ranks in the Canadian Navy...
has always held a well-defined position of responsibility in the chain of command
Chain of Command
Chain of Command may refer to:* Chain of command, in a military context, the line of authority and responsibility along which orders are passed* "Chain of Command" , the fifth episode of the first season of Beast Wars...
, the roles of the senior and master chief petty officers have been the subject of considerable debate almost since their beginning days. It became apparent that senior and master chief petty officers received little additional responsibilities than what they had as chief petty officers. This resulted in a return of the old trend where many senior enlisted members left the Navy shortly after completing 20 years of service.
In 1979, the Chief of Naval Operations
Chief of Naval Operations
The Chief of Naval Operations is a statutory office held by a four-star admiral in the United States Navy, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Navy. The office is a military adviser and deputy to the Secretary of the Navy...
took concrete steps to end that debate and stated that the Navy would expand the role of the senior and master chief petty officers. Their roles would no longer be that of senior technician
Technician
A technician is a worker in a field of technology who is proficient in the relevant skills and techniques, with a relatively practical understanding of the theoretical principles. Experienced technicians in a specific tool domain typically have intermediate understanding of theory and expert...
s; instead, their role would be that of mid-level management
Middle management
Middle management is a layer of management in an organization whose primary job responsibility is to monitor activities of subordinates while reporting to upper management....
. As a result of the CNO's policy, commands throughout the Navy appointed many senior and master chief petty officers to positions of greater responsibility. While some performed well in their expanded roles, others lacked the education and training needed to carry out their new managerial duties. To assist senior and master chief petty officers' transition from technicians to positions of middle managers, the Navy founded the Senior Enlisted Academy.
Opening ceremonies held on September 14, 1981, marked the beginning of an educational program which is unique among the Navy's many training schools and programs. On that day, the Navy's Senior Enlisted Academy opened its doors to its first class. This pilot class, consisting of 16 students, received and validated the nine-week curriculum containing a diverse mix of subjects such as communications skills, national security
National security
National security is the requirement to maintain the survival of the state through the use of economic, diplomacy, power projection and political power. The concept developed mostly in the United States of America after World War II...
affairs, Navy programs, and physical readiness training. Starting January 2005, the SEA seated 65 students per class and convened for 6 weeks.
Because of the SEA's success in preparing senior enlisted leaders for positions of greater responsibilities, graduation is now a requirement before assuming the positions of command master chief or chief of the boat.
The Senior Enlisted Academy offers resident and non-resident classes. The resident class is 6 weeks long. The non-resident class is two weeks long. There have been 136 resident and 19 non-resident classes as of February 24, 2007.
Facilities
The Senior Enlisted Academy began conducting its classes in facilities at the Center for War Gaming, Naval War CollegeNaval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
in Newport, RI in 1981. In August 1989, the Academy moved to its new facilities in Tomich Hall. This building contains the classrooms, office spaces, and berthing for 61 students. Tomich Hall pays tribute to Chief Watertender Peter Tomich who earned the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for his actions on the USS Utah (AG-16), 7 December 1941, Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
, Hawaii. During the Japanese attack, the USS Utah sustained major damage. Realizing the inevitable fate of the ship, Chief Tomich returned to his post in the boiler room to evacuate his fireroom personnel and shut down the boilers before the Utah sank. His efforts resulted in the saving of many lives in his fireroom crew and throughout the ship. His gallant actions were in keeping with the precepts upon which the Senior Enlisted Academy has been built: "Leadership
Leadership
Leadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...
by Example."
External links
- U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy official webpage