US Navy Civil Engineer Corps Collegiate Corner

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1 March 2018 Greetings Collegiates, You are almost halfway through the semester which means that Spring Break is coming up! If you were already commissioned and deployed with the Seabees, this would be an occasion for the battalion to celebrate with lots of great food and festivities. Unfortunately, since you aren t currently deployed with a battalion, many of you will have to make due with a trip to someplace boring and uneventful like Panama City Beach or South Padre Island. Take advantage of this time to decompress and blow off some steam. CEC officers work hard and play hard and there s nothing wrong with that! But, don t forget that you will soon be an officer in the world s greatest Navy. Make good decisions during Spring Break. Look out for your buddies. Set the example. As always, all of us on the CEC Accessions Team stand by to address any questions or comments you may have along the way. We look forward to you joining the ranks! - CEC Accessions Team LEADERSHIP TRAITS The United States Marine Corps is one of the most prestigious units of the American Armed Forces. Founded in 1775, its unique capability is to act as a task force in any situation in the world within days. Its most notable achievements were in the Pacific theatre of World War II, in particular, the battles of Guam, Okinawa, and Iwo Jima. The Marine Corps has a distinct identity within the US military as one of the best-led organizations with high esprit de corps. One of the reasons for this is its focus on leadership training and its adoption of 14 leadership traits that, for those who have been through Marine Corps training, will always be known by the acronym, JJ DID TIE BUCKLE. This month, we will discuss the second D in the acronym. 5. Decisiveness: Decisiveness means coming to a decision quickly and timeously. It is a quality that everyone can develop. Ed Lawler said, "Employees are most motivated to make a business successful when they understand and have ongoing information about it, have the power to make decisions and are rewarded according to its success." Below is some amplification from In Officer Candidates School, decisiveness will get you a passing grade and help you avoid some ridicule and pain for a short while. In combat, decisiveness saves lives and accomplishes the mission. Decisiveness is a crucial skill to develop, but it needs to achieve a balance between rashness (acting too quickly with too little data) and analysis paralysis needing all the facts to make the slightest decision. Decisiveness must be tempered by humility. Stubbornness in the face

2 of changing facts and an ever-evolving enemy can be suicidal. The key is agile decision-making. Develop methodical yet timely decisiveness and accept the need to change. Suggestions for Improvement Practice being positive in your actions instead of acting half-heartedly or changing your mind on an issue. CAREER FOCUS Navy and Marine Corps Rank Structure As an officer in the Civil Engineer Corps, you will find yourself working with members of multiple branches of service. There are numerous billets in the CEC where our officers report to, and/or lead, active duty personnel in the Marine Corps, Air Force and Army. It s important to understand the different ranks and titles within the branches, and be able to properly and respectfully address those service members you are surrounded by. Because of our shared history, Naval Officers work most closely with the United States Marine Corps. In fact, virtually all Marine Corps installations have a Navy CEC officer serving as the Public Works Officer tasked with overseeing all facilities management, planning and construction at the base. The Public Works Officer serves as the Staff Engineer for the Installation Commanding Officer, and advises him or her on all matters involving land, facilities and environmental matters. In some cases, Public Works staff may have numerous Marines in their chain of command, both junior and senior. Below is a chart displaying the enlisted ranks of both the Navy and Marine Corps.

3 In addition to the different ranks and insignias, please notice the paygrades, which run from left to right in order of seniority. A Private or Seaman Recruit would be considered an E-1 while a Master Gunnery Sergeant or Master Chief Petty Officer would be considered an E-9. CEC officers may find themselves leading any number of Marines or Sailors throughout their careers, so it is vital that we are familiar with this nomenclature. Below is a similar chart, focusing on the officer ranks of both the Navy and Marine Corps. Notice that unlike the enlisted personnel, Marine and Navy officers share rank insignia making it trickier to distinguish between the two in certain uniforms. As you spend more time working with members from each branch, you will hone your skills and be able to tell a Major from a Lieutenant Commander rather quickly and avoid any embarrassing situations. The Navy and Marine Corps are like siblings within the Department of the Navy family. Throughout your career as a Navy Officer, you will find yourself regularly interacting with Marines both enlisted and officer. The earlier you get a handle on the rank structure of each, the better off you will be. You DO NOT want to be the candidate that shows up to OCS and refers to your Master Sergeant Drill Instructor as a Gunnery Sergeant.

4 ****SAFETY BRIEF**** SPRING BREAK Make this year's spring break memorable by having fun and helping yourself, your friends, and others stay safe and healthy. Limit alcohol. If drinking alcohol is part of your break, remember that it can impair your judgment and actions. Alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes kill someone every 31 minutes and non-fatally injure someone every two minutes. Don't drink and drive. There are plenty of non-alcoholic alternatives. Be active. You've probably been sitting most of the year working at the computer, studying, or in class. During the break, take the opportunity to start a fitness program. Do a variety of fun activities like walking, dancing, playing volleyball, swimming, and more. It doesn't need to be hard to be beneficial. Avoid injury by starting any new activity slowly. Be active for at least 2½ hours a week. Include activities that raise your breathing and heart rates and that strengthen your muscles. Plan a successful trip. If you are going on a trip, be prepared. Are vaccinations required? Are there special food requirements where you are head, destination paperwork (National Park reservations, passports, visas), or other things you need to consider ahead of time? If you are taking medications, do you have enough for the trip? Know what's happening en route or at your travel destination. Protect yourself. Love is all around, and so are sexually transmitted diseases. The only 100% sure way to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancy is by not having sex. If you choose to have sex, using latex condoms and having a monogamous, uninfected partner may help lower your risk. Women are more likely to be victims of sexual violence than men. Women who experience both sexual and physical abuse are significantly more likely to have sexually transmitted diseases. Take precautions and avoid situations or persons that may place you at risk for harm. Watch your step. There may be temptations on your break that involve different or high-risk activity. Think twice before putting yourself at risk for injury. Be sure to use appropriate safety gear before venturing out, such as seat belts, life vests, or knee pads. Remember that unintentional injuries kill more Americans in their first three decades of life than any other cause of death. In fact, injuries (both unintentional and those caused by acts of violence) are among the top ten killers for Americans of all ages.

5 Protect your eyes. If you wear contact lenses, practice healthy wear and care tips, even when you re on vacation. Carry a spare pair of glasses and contact lens supplies with you so you can take out your contacts safely when you need to. Remove contacts before swimming, as exposing contact lenses to water can lead to painful, sometimes blinding eye infections. Always take your contacts out before bed, even if you re up late or traveling. Sleeping in contact lenses has been linked to serious eye infections. Know the ropes. When swimming and boating, know what's expected and what you can do to prevent injury or death for yourself and others. Know how to swim. Wear your life jacket while boating. Avoid alcoholic beverages while boating. Complete a boating education course. Participate in the vessel safety check program. Protect yourself from the sun. After a cold winter, it's tempting to stay in the hot sun all day. Although getting a little sun can have some benefits, excessive and unprotected sun exposure can result in premature aging, changes in skin texture, and skin cancer. Always wear sunscreen with at least SPF 15. For eye protection, wear wraparound sunglasses that provide 100 percent UV ray protection. Eat healthy. Having fun takes energy and fuel. Be sure to eat a variety of foods, including plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grain products. Also include low-fat dairy products, lean meats, poultry, fish, and legumes. Drink lots of water and go easy on the salt, sugar, alcohol, and saturated fat. Good nutrition should be part of an overall healthy lifestyle, including regular physical activity, not smoking, and stress management. Be smoke-free. Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke. Just 20 minutes after smoking that last cigarette, your body begins a series of positive changes that continue for years. Quitting is one of the best things you can do for yourself and others. Remember, very soon you will be an officer in the CEC. You won t just be getting these briefs, but you ll be GIVING them to those you lead. Parents from throughout the country will be entrusting their sons and daughters to you. They will be looking to you to set the example for smart/safe decision making. START PRACTICING NOW!

6 ACCESSIONS TEAM CONTACT INFORMATION North Accessions South Accessions (interim) West Accessions LT Pete Deiuliis LT Aaron Kulp LT Drew Descary (847) (901) (619) Deputy Accessions Officer Community Manager LT Aaron Kulp CDR Kent Simodynes (901) (901)