Last modified Thu., January 04, 2007 - 02:24 PM
Originally created Thursday, January 4, 2007

Warfare development: a new paradigm

By Lt.j.g. Scott Greer, VP-45 PAO

Capt. Sean Buck, commanding officer of CPRW-11 and Rear Adm. Brian Prindle, commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Group cut the ribbon to the new Warfare Development Center. Photo by Lt.j.g. Scott Greer

On Oct. 1, the P-3 squadrons of Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing Eleven (CPRW-11) unified their maintenance departments into single a Consolidated Maintenance Organization (CMO). With a renewed focus on warfare primacy, professional development, and leadership excellence, the resulting squadrons were completely restructured.

Central to the new construct was the creation of a transformational Warfare Development Department (WDD) charged with positional training along with tactical standardization and innovation. Three department heads supported by nine junior officer instructor pilots and tactical coordinators lead the new department. Tactics are developed or refined through close coordination with VP-30 and CPRW-11's Weapons Training Units, detailed post-mission reconstruction/analysis, and feedback of lessons learned to aircrew.

Training is managed through the creation of positional warfare development tracks. Enlisted aircrew remain in their respective training tracks until qualified whereas junior officers serve in either an intermediate or advanced training track. Intermediate training occurs during the first three months a junior officer is in a squadron. Advanced training is conducted after the first year culminating in a demanding oral review board and in-flight evaluation.

On Sept. 22, Rear Adm. Brian Prindle, commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Group, Capt. Sean Buck, commanding officer (CO) of CPRW-11, Cmdr. Mark Turner, CO of VP-45 and Cmdr. Brent Klavon CO of VP-5 dedicated an innovative Warfare Development Center (WDC).

The WDC is a state-of-the-art facility comprised of 75 computers, cutting edge software, and the latest presentation technologies. In 2007, the WDC will also allow worldwide video teleconferencing and SIPRNET access. The new facility was created to support the WDD Inter-Deployment Readiness Cycles charter by providing a central location where aircrew undergo a rigorous syllabus of computer-based training, systems/tactics lectures, and professional/leadership seminars. At the end of the training, participants are expected to be a consummate war-fighter and leader.

Every detail, including the layout of the WDC, was planned in detail to reinforce the worldwide readiness of P-3 squadrons. Consisting of two classrooms, designated the Campaign and warrior rooms, aircrew can view the flags and campaign streamers for the locations and operations that patrol squadron have operated in since World War II. More poignantly, all of the Navy personnel lost on Sept. 11, 2001 and the global war on terrorism are memorialized.

Prindle heralded the warfare development model as "the way of the future" and how the P-3 community will "make the step from the P-3 to multi-mission maritime aircraft without missing a step."

A quote from Sir Winston Churchill is on the wall of the warrior room that reads, "History will be kind to me for I intend to write it." The officers and Sailors of CPRW-11, VP-45 and VP-5 are doing just that for the entire P-3 community.