Photo by Dusty Good
NEWPORT, R.I. – Lt. Jarrod Fiecoat applied the lessons learned from Mt. Vernon, Ohio to become one of the most elite surface warriors.
Those lessons turned into an opportunity to learn leadership and the most innovative tactics of surface warfare at Surface Warfare Officers School, located in Newport, Rhode Island.
“Being a surface warfare officer gives me the opportunity to be a leader at sea from day one,” said Fiecoat.
Considered one of the Navy’s greatest assets, surface warfare officers must first train and be mentored at Surface Warfare Officer School. These students must pass a rigorous course structure in order to serve as surface warfare officers.
The mission of Surface Warfare Officers School is to ready sea-bound warriors to serve on surface combatants as officers, enlisted engineers, and enlisted navigation professionals to fulfill the Navy's mission maintaining global maritime superiority.
Considered one of the Navy’s greatest assets, surface warfare officers must first train and be mentored at Surface Warfare Officer School. These students must pass a rigorous course structure in order to serve as surface warfare officers.
The mission of Surface Warfare Officers School is to ready sea-bound warriors to serve on surface combatants as officers, enlisted engineers, and enlisted navigation professionals to fulfill the Navy's mission maintaining global maritime superiority.
Once service members finish training they are deployed around the world putting their skill set to work aboard Navy ships, such as aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, amphibious warfare ships, mine warfare ships and littoral combat ships.
“At Surface Warfare Officers School, we are committed to training, developing and inspiring our Navy’s surface warfare officers,” said Capt. Scott Robertson, SWOS commanding officer. “Our graduates leave our courses ethically, intellectually, professionally and physically prepared to deliver professional leadership on every surface vessel in the fleet.”
Fiecoat is a 2007 graduate of Mt. Vernon High School and a 2011 graduate of Miami University (Ohio). He also earned a master’s degree from the Naval Post Graduate in School 2016.
There are many sacrifices and goals one must achieve to be selected as a surface warfare officer and Fiecoat is most proud of completing a 2012 deployment to the western Pacific Ocean.
"We kept the ship safe and operational and served as the flagship for a combined task force that was a NATO command combating piracy,” said Fiecoat.
The future of surface warfare is rapidly changing, so the course and materials at Surface Warfare Officer School are constantly evolving to create the most dynamic, lethal, safe and professional warfighting team for the Navy the nation needs.
“It is critical that students report to the fleet with the academic baseline required to perform as warfighters in today’s maritime environment,” said Lt. Matt Gallagher, the command’s public affairs officer. “SWOS training is at the epicenter of professional development for surface warfare officers throughout their careers.”
Surface warfare has been a part of world history for more than 3,000 years, and the United States has its stamp on that history with actions ranging from the American Revolution to modern day operations at sea around the world.
“I would like to start a legacy of military service,” said Fiecoat. "I have a son who is about a year old and somewhere down the line if he sees me and thinks what I do is cool I'd like that."
As Fiecoat and other surface warriors continue to train, they take pride serving their country in the United States Navy.
“When I was a young kid coming out of high school the Navy was a way to pay for college,” said Fiecoat. "And when I was in college, the Navy became more than just a means, it became a way to be a part of selfless service and taking care of sailors."
“At Surface Warfare Officers School, we are committed to training, developing and inspiring our Navy’s surface warfare officers,” said Capt. Scott Robertson, SWOS commanding officer. “Our graduates leave our courses ethically, intellectually, professionally and physically prepared to deliver professional leadership on every surface vessel in the fleet.”
Fiecoat is a 2007 graduate of Mt. Vernon High School and a 2011 graduate of Miami University (Ohio). He also earned a master’s degree from the Naval Post Graduate in School 2016.
There are many sacrifices and goals one must achieve to be selected as a surface warfare officer and Fiecoat is most proud of completing a 2012 deployment to the western Pacific Ocean.
"We kept the ship safe and operational and served as the flagship for a combined task force that was a NATO command combating piracy,” said Fiecoat.
The future of surface warfare is rapidly changing, so the course and materials at Surface Warfare Officer School are constantly evolving to create the most dynamic, lethal, safe and professional warfighting team for the Navy the nation needs.
“It is critical that students report to the fleet with the academic baseline required to perform as warfighters in today’s maritime environment,” said Lt. Matt Gallagher, the command’s public affairs officer. “SWOS training is at the epicenter of professional development for surface warfare officers throughout their careers.”
Surface warfare has been a part of world history for more than 3,000 years, and the United States has its stamp on that history with actions ranging from the American Revolution to modern day operations at sea around the world.
“I would like to start a legacy of military service,” said Fiecoat. "I have a son who is about a year old and somewhere down the line if he sees me and thinks what I do is cool I'd like that."
As Fiecoat and other surface warriors continue to train, they take pride serving their country in the United States Navy.
“When I was a young kid coming out of high school the Navy was a way to pay for college,” said Fiecoat. "And when I was in college, the Navy became more than just a means, it became a way to be a part of selfless service and taking care of sailors."