OFF-SITE   TRAINING Formal   off-site   training   is   composed   of   factory schools,  class  A  and  C  schools,  and  fleet  classes. Factory schools are held by various vendors or contractors.  They  are  the  costliest  form  of  training  avai- lable.  In  addition  to  travel  finds,  fill  or  partial  per  diem usually  must  be  funded  by  the  type  commander  (TY- COM).   These   schools   are   often   the   only   source   of training  available  for  new  types  of  equipment  being installed on new or modernized vessels. Navy class A and C schools are designated class A or class C to identify the level and type of training offered.  Class  A  schools  offer  the  basic  technical knowledges  and  skills  required  to  prepare  personnel for job-entry-level performance and further specialized training.  Class  C  schools  offer  the  advanced  knowledge, skills, and techniques required to perform a particular job in a billet. To send your personnel to these schools, you  must  obtain  training  quotas.  Your  educational services office (ESO) can assist you in obtaining train- ing quotas. Other formal classes  are  available  from  fleet technical support centers (FTSCs). The classes offered cover a wide range of equipment in use in the fleet and some  of  the  basic  skills  required  to  maintain  this  equip- ment. FTSCs announce scheduled classes via messages to all local units on a monthly or quarterly basis, de- pending on the location of the FTSC. In addition, the Catalog of Navy Training Courses (CANTMC),   NAVEDTRA   10500,   lists   all   formal courses  of  instruction  offered  to  naval  personnel.  It contains   the   following   information   on   each   of   the courses  listed:  location,  length,  class  of  school  (A  or C), convening frequency, purpose, scope, prerequisites, quota control, and reporting designation. This publica- tion is an invaluable aid for supervisors as they plan off-site training. It is normally located in the ESO. ON-SITE   TRAINING On-site  training  (shipboard)  is  necessary  throughout the naval establishment. Technicians reporting to their first duty station from a C school have much to learn about  their  particular  work-center  or  work-group  opera- tion and system configurations. The courses of instruc- tion that FCs attend usually provide only the fundamen- tal theory and skills required to perform the minimum maintenance  on  electronic  and  digital  equipments.  Most C  schools  do  not  have  the  manpower  or  equipment available for the students to pefrorm all the maintenance tasks they will ultimately be required to do. Most  of  the  hands-on  training  that  FCs  receive  is at their first duty stations. As a supervisor, you will be responsible  for  providing  the  extra  training  the  new  FC will require to become a competent, technically skilled technician. You can do this by combining the following training methods: On-the-job training:  On-the-job  training  is  one of the most widely used and easiest ways of providing training. Personnel qualification  standards:  The person- nel  qualification  standards  program  is  designed  to develop a person’s ability to stand a watch or maintain a piece of equipment. Formal shipboard  training:  Formal  shipboard training is the best way to train large groups of people, but it requires more effort and preparation than most other methods. On-the-Job  Training On-the-job  training  (OJT)  is,  by  far,  the  simplest and easiest way to train. It can be used almost anytime that you, the supervisor, desires. In fact, you perform OJT many times a day without ever thinking about it. Showing  a  new  FC  how  to  perform  radio  frequency (RF) transmitter alignment, how to perform RF power measurements,  and  how  to  perform  a  receiver  sensi- tivity check are all examples of OJT. When  used  wisely,  OJT  allows  new  FCs  to  gain hands-on experience under operational conditions that normally cannot be acquired at a formal school. By em- phasizing  OJT,  you  will  be  able  to  increase  the  tech- nical  competence  of  your  new  personnel  in  a  shorter 3-17