Class 01-25: The Latest CWOPD Graduates

Twenty-four Chief Warrant Officers from across the country recently completed the two-week Chief Warrant Officer Professional Development course, designed to strengthen leadership skills, build lasting connections, and instill principles and responsibilities of being a commissioned officer.

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​Class 01-25: The latest CWOPD graduates

​Twenty-four Chief Warrant Officers from across the country recently completed the two-week Chief Warrant Officer Professional Development course, designed to strengthen leadership skills, build lasting connections, and instill principles and responsibilities of being a commissioned officer.

The course, held both virtually and in-person, began in the storied halls of Microsoft Teams. Guided through the curriculum by our two exceptional instructors, CWO J-me Baldueza and CWO Tony Morabito, we explored a range of leadership topics, such as oral communication, ethics, and diversity, just to name a few. Each discussion brought on lively conversations and fresh perspectives. 

The biggest surprise for PERS2 Amanda Dietzen, the president of Class 01-25, was how quickly the group got in synch. She believed the group’s rapid integration was because the students in this class, “are serious about becoming better leaders and aren’t just looking to check a box.”

Our competitive sides came out when we were split into our four teams; Wombies, Emotional Support Kittens, Bat Ship Crazy, and Thundercats. Most of us were meeting each other for the first time online but sped through the teambuilding phases to score points in numerous team challenges. Virtual week culminated with a knowledge recap through a “friendly” game of Jeopardy (Emotional Support Kittens took the gold). 

I had no idea what this course was about except for writing papers and the fork-and-knife portion,” said Kakit “Danny” Chan, CWOPD 01-25 student. “I didn’t anticipate working together virtually to accomplish the same goals and the friendly competitiveness with other teams. The transition from virtual to resident week became very natural and seamless. I couldn’t have expected the type of camaraderie built within a week.”

In Week Two, we traveled to the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, and
finally met face-to-face. During our in-person week, we deepened our understanding of what it means to be a Coast Guard officer. From inspirational presentations, to insightful classroom conversations, to uniform inspections, and proper eating etiquette, each activity reinforced our commitment to professional growth. We engaged in team-building exercises that brought out our competitive spirit, including the most epic rock-paper-scissors match. 

A particularly memorable moment was our oral history presentations at the Coast Guard
Museum, with actual items of the Coast Guard heroes present. We also enjoyed lunch with cadets, where we had the chance to impart our wealth of experience while gaining fresh insights from the next generation of Coast Guard leaders.

What School Chief Jamie Baldueza appreciated most about this class was the thought-provoking discussions. He said he enjoyed watching the participants challenging each other’s thought processes, while still having fun. Assistant School Chief Tony Morabito added that the proactive nature of this class and the students’ dedication to delivering superior work products really inspired the instructor staff to be their best.

The week wrapped up with a Halloween group social outing, bringing a lighthearted close to an intensive few days.

With strengthened skills and lasting connections, we’ve returned to our units ready to step confidently into the wardroom and lead with the highest standards of the Coast Guard officer core.

Sincerely,
Eduardo Alcantara Jr., Stephanie Bible, Kakit “Danny” Chan, James Chance, Amanda Dietzen, Nadar Farraj, Dustin Fisler, Jessika Garay, Paul Jarrett, Leanna Jordan, Angel Limongelli, Jonathon Lowman, Nathaniel McLoud, Brian Messing, Thomas Neighbors, Adam Nichols, Kelly Parker, Lana Port, Richard Quichocho, Eric Schenk, Russell Slover, Darius Whiteside, Stephen Woodbury, Eric Woodward

                                                                       -USCG-