A Junior IT Navy Officer receives the US Navy “SWO" Pin

29 February 2016 14.00

In a simple but meaningful ceremony in USS Truxtun (DDG 103) wardroom, in the presence of Rear Admiral Valter Zappellini, Italian Naval Attaché in Washington, Sub-Lieutenant Giovanni Scozzi was awarded his Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) Pin by the unit’s Commanding Officer, CDR Joseph Baggett. It is a highly sought-after qualification in US Navy Officers’ training and educational path requiring high “surface warfare” skills, as well as getting through a series of examinations of increasing difficulty.

Our officer has been serving for nearly one year as Assistant Navigator onboard USS Truxtun – one of the most advanced Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, that entered service in 2009 – within the Personnel Exchange Program (PEP) between the US and Italian Navies.

Capitalizing on the training and knowledge acquired in terms of meteorology and navigation techniques during the course at the Naval Academy in Livorno, this assignment to a foreign naval unit offers our officer the opportunity to play a key role within the deck officers’ team, fully integrated into shipboard activities.
During this period, once qualified as officer of the deck, the officer begins to handle the ship. USS Truxtun is currently engaged in the training phase aimed at achieving certification in the various warfare mission areas, prior to participation in a combined exercise scheduled to be conducted next spring in Northern Europe.

During the ceremony, the Italian Naval Attaché stressed the strong ties between the US and Italian Navies, emphasizing the importance of this programme for the exchange of professional skills and expertise, notably providing a great opportunity for Junior Officers’ cultural growth.

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