Naval Special Warfare Training Building Opens in Coronado
(added 10-31-2011)

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Dominique Lasco, Naval Special Warfare Public Affairs.

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Naval Special Warfare Center and Navy Region Southwest hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the opening of the new Naval Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewman (SWCC) Training Center of Excellence on Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Calif., May 17.

The $8 million facility consolidates the Basic Crewman Training and the Crewman Qualification Training facilities that were once in two different locations.

"This is a huge step forward," said Chief Warrant Officer Elmer Williams, SWCC's training officer. "I have been doing this since before it was rated or called SWCC, when we didn't have a training pipeline. The addition of this building puts everything and everyone in one spot and will only improve the way we train our students."

The new building includes two state-of-the-art classrooms, offices, storage space, a maintenance and repair facility for nearly 20 11-meter rigid-hull inflatable boats and certified storage for weapons and communication systems that support training.

"[It makes it easier to communicate] now have all my staff and students in one spot," said Williams. "I can now talk to my staff and take care of them and the students; it's really great."

The building, a joint effort between Naval Special Warfare Center and Navy Region Southwest, took 13 months to complete. The two-story facility provides support for the multifaceted elements of Special Warfare Boat Operator "A" School.

"This is a long overdue training center," said Cmdr. Anthony Baker, commanding officer, Naval Special Warfare Basic Training Command. "This project is about 10 years in the making and now helps the instructor staff provide better training in a more professional environment for the students."

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