period of time. Although you can use OJT informally,
you should also schedule it as part of your work center’s
in-rate training program.
Personnel Qualification Standards
The Navy’s Personnel Qualification standards (PQS)
program is part of training and qualifying new person-
nel. It is also used to cross-train and requalify experi-
enced personnel. The concept of standards for personnel
qualification is not new in the Navy. For many years,
various forms of qualification standards have been in
use.
Observing the performance of new technicians in
a division routine helps the supervisor decide when the
technicians are ready to stand a watch or work on equip-
ment alone. PQSs are very beneficial and are required
in a well-managed training program.
The success of the PQS program in your division
or work center depends on you, by your taking the
following five steps:
1. Maintain an adequate PQS reference library of
technical, procedural, and rate training manuals.
2. Manage effectively the overall division work-
center training program.
3. Have a program to prepare work-group supervi-
sors as PQS qualifiers. Supervise and assist
designated PQS qualifiers.
4. Have realistic individual qualification goals and
time limits.
5. Monitor individual qualification progress.
Formal Shipboard Training
The most difficult training to perform is that aboard
ship or in a busy maintenance shop. There are many
variables to consider when you attempt formal training
aboard ship. First, consider the preparation required
for presenting a formal class.
You should consider the following four factors when
you are preparing for a formal training session:
1. Class lesson plans: Are adequate up-to-date
lesson plans or instructor’s guides available? If lesson
plans (LPs) or instructor guides (IGs) are available, you
should carefidly screen them to ensure that they contain
the topics you want to present and all of the points you
want to emphasize-the need-to-know material. If LPs
or IGs are not available or are inadequate for your
needs, prepare new ones. Whenever you start to prepare
an LP or an IG, you should remember one important
point: Instructors are the experts; they should be fully
knowledgeable in the subject area. If you are hazy on
some areas, get out the books and refresh your memory.
Instructors who have not adequately prepared lose their
credibility when they falter or hesitate while covering
a subject. Figure 3-1 shows an example of a lesson plan
outline.
2. Class schedule: Can the presentation be sched-
uled at a time that will give maximum attendance?
Schedule formal class presentations as early in the day
as possible when people are rested and are ready to start
the day. They are most likely at that time to be in a
more-receptive mood than after they have already
worked a full day and are waiting for liberty call. There
are always interruptions to class schedules. By planning
in advance and ensuring that all persons attending are
aware of the schedule, you can minimize the effects of
outside events. Keep your training sessions short and
schedule them over a number of days. Trying to cover
too much material in 1 day may produce poor results
due to interruptions because of ship evolutions, loss
of interest because of the length of the class, or the
technical nature of material covered.
3. Class location: Is there a suitable location for the
training session? This is often a problem on small ships
since space is at a premium. At a shore station, training
rooms are usually available. An adequate space for a
classroom should be as comfortable as possible, well-
lighted, arranged so the entire class can see the instruc-
tor and vice versa, free from outside noise, capable of
seating the class personnel, and adequately equipped
with the necessary training devices.
3-18
