FLEET READINESS CENTER MID-ATLANTIC, NAVAL AIR STATION OCEANA, Virginia — Fleet Readiness Center Mid-Atlantic site Oceana (FRCMA) hosted Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Naval Acquisition Development Program (NAPD) participants March 30-31 in an effort to help them better understand naval aviation equipment primary functions and repairs.

The two-day event included a tour of FRCMA work spaces and Norfolk Naval Base (NOB).

NAVAIR, headquartered at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, assists the Navy with research, design and procurement, handles systems development and engineering and is responsible for the testing and evaluation of repairs and modifications. The NAPD, provided the Naval Acquisition Career Center (NACC), provides professional development to promote growth among NAVAIR entry-level employees.

"This tour is an absolute fantastic opportunity and allows NAVAIR NADP participants to see some of our abilities and constraints on the flight line and at FRC Mid-Atlantic,” said Lt. Van Howard, Power Plant (400 Division) division officer and tour escort. “I am confident they will be able to use what they have experienced during this visit to make informed decisions that will better affect our ability to prepare the warfighter.”

In addition to gaining product and process knowledge, NADP participants received tips, guidance and career advice from Capt. Keith Nixon, FRCMA Oceana executive officer, and other senior staff members. They also visited several divisions and spoke to Sailors and artisans to gain an idea of their duties and how equipment is maintained.

“We saw the details of our work and how it transfers to the fleet’s needs,” said Calvin Mack, NADP participant. “Understanding these requirements is very necessary.”

The NADP participants toured multiple FRCMA; Commander, Strike Flight Wing Atlantic (CSFWL); and Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106 work centers to gain a perspective by speaking with individual maintainers and listening to ideas presented that may aid in making products and processes better.

“We received first-hand perspectives, and this information will allow us to figure out how to better perform our job better and how manage our careers,” said Charrelle Johnson, NAVAIR NADP participant.

The tour received positive feedback from the leadership, NADP participants and Sailors alike, said Stephanie Souders, NAPD functional manager.

“It is so important for the NADP participants to be able to see firsthand how what they do at NAVAIR supports the FRC's and the entire fleet, to understand the challenges the fleet is experiencing and figure out ways to help get past those challenges,” Souders said.

For more information on NADP, visit http://www.secnav.navy.mil/rda/workforce/Pages/NADP.aspx.