230920-N-QQ548-1055 MILLINGTON, Tenn. (September 20, 2023) Darryl Blackmon, deputy director for outreach and diversity, poses for a photo with international students from Manpower Personnel Training and Education at Commander, Navy Recruiting Command. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tyler Priestley)

Naval Education and Training Security Assistance Field Activity (NETSAFA) is the U.S. Navy’s agent for Navy education and training for international military students. Located at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, we coordinate and supply training support to international governments and international organizations. As a field activity of Naval Education and Training Command (NETC), we serve as a focal point for all Security Assistance and Security Cooperation education and training program issues, coordination and advice within the U.S. Navy.

NETSAFA is an integral part of Navy International Programs Office (Navy IPO), therefore we also work with and through the Navy IPO chain of command. We are responsible for partner training support first and foremost, and we will work to assure the best training support for our international customers through Navy, other government institution and organizations, and private industry. We must be advocates for our security assistance customers by interceding with those government institutions and private organizations that impact or have the potential to impact our customer training and training support capability.

NETSAFA NEWS

Division Officer Course: Training International Partners, Allies at SWOS

13 March 2020

From Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Derien Luce

The International Surface Warfare Division Officer (DIVO) course is one of four international courses offered by the Surface Warfare Officers School (SWOS) at Naval Station Newport, with the latest group of students set to graduate June 19.

The 16-week DIVO course enables international junior officers to execute with confidence the duties and responsibilities of a DIVO in the fleet. Other international courses offered at SWOS include International Combat Information Center Watch Officer, Joint Maritime Tactical Development, and International Surface Warfare Department Head Operations Specialty.

According to Lt. Lisa Swanson, a DIVO course instructor, the class prepares students for all aspects of maritime warfare.

“We cover a different topic each week,” said Swanson. “They get a chance to expand their view on different aspects of warfare such as air warfare, surface warfare, electronic warfare and undersea warfare.”

Swanson believes that combining partner navies in one classroom builds relationships that carry on long after course completion.

“It’s helpful to be in an international class because if everything turns the way we want, then at some point, we will all be in top ranks of our respective navies,” said Lt. j.g. Mareo Gongora of the Mexican navy and DIVO course student. “So maybe if we know each other, or had a good experience with someone from the same country from this course, then we already have a good relationship.”

Swanson agreed, saying she feels this course can help to build a sense of naval comradery.

“When they leave here, I want each student to take with them the interpersonal relationships they’ve made and understand that this goes beyond just being from different countries,” said Swanson. “It’s about the future and sharing the maritime domain to operate together effectively.”

Gongora added that being in a class with sailors from other nations is important for the continuation of learning and growing of all navies.

“I think it’s important to learn how things are done in other countries,” said Gongora. “You are able to learn that maybe what you’re doing isn’t wrong but it can be done better, and we should always be working towards being better.”

International training and education is managed by the Naval Education and Training Security Assistance Field Activity, serving as a focal point for all security assistance training program issues, coordination and advice within the U.S. Navy.

SWOS headquarters is located in Newport and oversees nine learning sites worldwide. Its mission is to ready sea bound Sailors to serve on surface combatants as officers, enlisted engineers, and enlisted navigation professionals to fulfill the Navy’s mission to maintain global maritime superiority.

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For more news from Naval Education and Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/.