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Navy Enlisted Advancement Exams Benefiting from Additional Senior Enlisted Experience
Story Number: NNS041015-05
Release Date: 10/17/2004 5:16:00 PM
By Senior Chief Journalist (SW/AW) Tom Updike, Naval Education and Training Professional Development and Technology Center Public Affairs
PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) -- The Navy has changed the enlisted examination development process to take advantage of the vast experience in each rating at the senior enlisted level.
Instead of one permanently assigned test writer for each rating, the Naval Education and Training Professional Development and Technology Center (NETPDTC) is hosting a group of chief petty officers for two-week temporary additional duty in Pensacola, Fla., to develop enlisted advancement exams.
"When you have one individual developing exams, my heart goes out to him or her because it is such a major undertaking," said Senior Chief Culinary Specialist (SW/AW) James Anderson. "As a group, we can better keep up with what the fleet needs to know," said the Culinary Specialist subject matter expert (SME) from the Center for Service Support in Athens, Ga.
A pilot program started early in 2004 to develop a process that would allow rating experts from the fleet to serve as exam writers. To get ready for the incoming teams, the NETPDTC staff developed training and computer systems to support the new process. The Hospital Corpsman and Utilitiesman ratings were the first to develop exams with visiting chief petty officers. By the end of the year, NETPDTC will have hosted nearly 30 ratings, to include the new Navy Diver and Explosive Ordnance Disposal job specialties, and plan to have hosted a conference for every rating in the Navy by late next summer.
NETPDTC worked with Fleet Forces Command and learning centers to get a good mix of experience from visiting exam writers.
"Everyone benefits due to the diversity of rating knowledge being represented," said Chief Culinary Specialist (SW/AW) Cesar Valencia, the Flag CPO for Commander, Naval Surface Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet. "We have a lot of experience here, and each group brings in fresh ideas to incorporate into future exams."
After arriving in Pensacola, the visiting group will review the current bank of questions for each paygrade in their rating. This review allows rating experts to update and groom the existing bank of exam questions before writing new test items.
"Our exam bank was among the largest at 4,000 questions, and it took 60-plus hours just to review it," said Senior Chief Musician William Chizek, the exam writer from the Armed Forces School of Music in Norfolk, Va. "Our test questions needed a massive overhauling that was simply too much for one person to do."
Each of the rating groups develop a test plan and outline for future exams, write as many as 1,500 new test questions, and review all references and the online Advancement Exam Strategy Guides. The exam conferences have been very productive, but require a solid commitment by the visiting SMEs.
NETPDTC is confident that the added experience and span of knowledge brought to the exam development conferences by the visiting experts will improve future exams. Additionally, chief petty officers are learning what a difficult mission an exam writer at NETPDTC truly has.
"It has made us all realize what an incredibly difficult job our former test writers have had," said Chizek.
According to NETPDTC's Command Master Chief, Master Chief Hull Technician (SW/AW) Norman Tilton, future enlisted exam processes and administrative functions will not change.
"I'm confident we will maintain the trust and confidence with enlisted Sailors as we improve our advancement exams, just as we have for the last 55 years. These recent changes will ensure that Sailors are tested on current rating knowledge and experience as the Navy adapts to new technologies."
Additional information about enlisted advancement exams can be found on the Navy Advancement Center's Web site at https://www.advancement.cnet.navy.mil.
For more news from around the fleet, visit the Navy NewsStand at www.news.navy.mil.
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