Page 17 - Navy Journal 219

Hierarchy of Needs ...

capable participant. She/he should at this level be capable of keeping
independent watch at sea/harbour on board small ships (eg, PC, OPV, etc) and
shore establishments, top/sub-department officers on board frigates,
departmental officers on board PC, junior appointments in secondments, and
have preferably by now attended Junior Staff Course.

Next few years spanning 14-18 will be for fulfilment of ‘Unit (Level
Professional) Qualification’ needs when the officer is expected to mature
her/himself for unit level command and similar responsibilities through attaining
certain qualifications and experiences. The qualifications are to include
specialisation as mandatory while a Staff Course will be an important
stepping-stone. The experiences are to include employment at sea as HoD in PC
and later CO in PC, SEO/DLO/ASO in FF, staff officer at formation HQ and
NHQ, and mid-level appointments in secondments. On attaining these, the
individual might be fit and aspiring for higher qualifications and similar
responsibilities in a larger scope. By the middle of this level, she/he is expected
to be fit for the first of several upcoming selective promotions.
The next level spanning about 19-28 years is for attaining ‘Tactical
Qualification’ professional needs. It is very defining for any officer when she/he
becomes fit for tactical level (and similar) employments through seasoning as
CO of a larger platform like an OPV to subsequently command a frigate, CO of
shore establishments, and EO/LO/SO for others, and senior-level appointments
in secondments. She/he might also get exposure to higher military level policy
through planning, and execution of tactical/operational level military operations.
The individual might also have had attended War Course by this time. Having
completed Staff Course earlier will be essential at this level, as further
promotions will become more selective and competitive. Only about less than
half of the officers in the Navy might be fortunate to go past this level.

The next level for 29-32 years of service might be utilised for ‘Operational
Qualification’ needs when an officer is matured for employment as Director at
NHQ, CO of large shore establishments, Area Commander/Admin Authority in
some billets, head of organisation in secondments, etc. The individual is
expected to be involved with operational level military policy planning and
executions, management of higher/national level issues specific to her/his
expertise, etc. She/he is also expected to attend National Defence Course (or
equivalent) at this level.

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