NAVAL STATION ROTA, Spain –
Detailers from Navy Personnel Command (PERS) 41, the code responsible for Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) job assignments, were hosted by Commander Task Force (CTF) 65 and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 60 for a development briefing in Rota, Spain, on May 8, 2019.
Capt. Derek Trinque, director and head of surface warfare assignments at PERS-41, led the presentation with the intent of ensuring all SWOs in attendance are given the most up-to-date information regarding their community. Topics discussed include graduate education opportunities, community pipeline changes, career milestone requirements, evaluation and board processes, and special programs.
“We can do a lot of our jobs over e-mail and phone, but there's no true substitute for getting face-to-face with our constituents, listening to their concerns, and helping them understand the detailing process,” said Trinque. “That requires human-to-human interaction, and I'm fortunate to have a team of professionals in PERS-41 who care so much about the Fleet.”
Traveling with Trinque were other staff members from PERS-41 who specialize in various areas and could assist those with questions about their community and career pipeline.
“I continue to encourage all SWOs to contact their detailers before they need orders, so that we can review the officer's record and talk through the types of recommendations they're likely to hear from us when it comes time to actually negotiate the next orders,” said Trinque.
The following day, detailers visited waterfront SWO commands for smaller group settings.
“We're extremely thankful for the opportunity to make it out to the Rota waterfront,” said Lt. Christina Carson, a PERS-41 detailer. “Detailing trips give us a great opportunity to personally engage with our officers, answer questions about career progression, and understand their concerns.”
“We are grateful the PERS-41 team made time to come out to [Forward-Deployed Naval Forces-Europe (FDNF-E)],” said Capt. Joseph Gagliano, deputy commodore of CTF 65. “Between the community update brief and the one-on-one detailer meetings, they really made a positive impact with our surface officers.”
SWOs from CTF 65 and DESRON 60 were able to meet with PERS-41 as well as several officers from the forward-deployed Arleigh Burke-class destroyers in port.
“It was great to visit Rota during this trip; the positions here are in very high demand, so we have teams of committed professionals on the ships and staffs in FDNF-E,” Trinque said. “I look forward to next year's visit.”
CTF 65 and DESRON 60, headquartered in Rota, oversee the forward-deployed forces of U.S. 6th Fleet’s area of operation in support of regional allies and partners as well as U.S. national security interests in Europe and Africa.
U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.
For more news and information from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, visit www.c6f.navy.mil.