HS Courses
The HS1 Course is out! It is required for the
November 2007 SWE competition. I would advise ALL HS'
to order one to see what is now "standard".
It can also assist with training at your unit! So far,
13 people have taken the exam and only 1 has passed.
It is an OPEN BOOK test!
Folks, the courses are written in the required PQG (Performance
Qualifications Guide) format. Other rates are familliar
with this, but since we have not had courses in 11 years,
it is new to us. I want to try to share what this new
format means for all of us. PLEASE read
the following:
Many may ask: "What is a PQG?" PQGs are training
aids developed by the Coast Guard to provide instruction,
guidance and structure to enlisted members striving
to gain rating competency so they can advance to the
next pay grade. The PQGs provide structure and guidelines
for assigned Professional Development Supervisors (PDSs)
who are mentoring/coaching members and signing off demonstrated
mastery of Enlisted Performance Qualifications (EPQs).
PQGs alsoprovide structure and
guidelines to Education Services Officers who are charged
with helping members enroll and complete rating-specific
nonresident training.
If you are still wondering what or how is the PQG
different from our previous nonresident courses, here's
how. The PQG approach is focused on job performance
and supervisory involvement. With the old nonresident
course, the member wishing to advance would order the
correspondence course needed for advancement and complete
on his/her own time with little or no input from their
supervisor. With the PQG approach, the member is assigned
a PDS who will help them with the process and ensure
that they are obtaining sufficient practice in performing
the EPQ AND that they fully understand the actions and
decisions required by EPQ performance. The bottom line,
is the PQG is much more interactive for both the member
and PDS which allows for standardization for the E-5
and E-6 professional development and advancement process.
PLEASE NOTE:
You are NOT eligible to take your EOCT for HS2 or HS1
until the PQG is signed off by your PDS!!!
The HS2 Course
is also now completed. It is required for the May 2008
SWE competition. The Emergency Interventions portion
of the lesson is covered in an interactive CD-Rom. This
CD was made for the CG by Brady and includes skill sheets
from the National Registry. If you download your course
from CG Central, PLEASE TAKE NOTE: You must still order
the CD Rom from the Institute. It is NOT on CG Central
because of the copywrite laws. Again, I would advise
ALL members to order this course to keep up with what
is now "standard" for our HS2's.
The CD Rom requires your computer to have Apple QuickTime
installed. Installment is included with the disc for
your home computer, however, in order to have Apple
QuickTime installed on your CG Workstation, you must
put in a trouble ticket for installation request and
get a waiver from your local ESU/ESD.
Another important note about the HS2 Course: The Clinical
Sickcall pamphlet has quiz scenarios included for you
to talk over with your PDS/Physician.
You
need to have your supervisor contact me for the answers
to these scenarios. This was done in
order for us to track who has courses out. We will be
sending surveys about the courses to you after 6 months
time to see how you are doing with the course and to
get some feedback.
As always, please contact me with any questions about
the courses. I will be more than happy to help you out!
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