JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas –
The San Antonio Wardroom Association, or SAWA, hosted a professional development mock, officer promotion board at the Medical Education and Training Campus at Joint Base San Antonio Fort Sam Houston Jan. 18.
The SAWA Professional Development Committee organized the annual event for the third consecutive year. All naval officers in the region were invited to attend.
Rear Adm. Tina Davidson, director, Navy Nurse Corps, served as the mock promotion board president. The remaining board members consisted of other senior naval officers from the Navy’s Nurse, Dental and Medical Service Corps.
The selection board served as a training opportunity, aiming to provide insight to the 35 officers in attendance, especially those nearing their ‘promotion zone.’ The mock scenario demonstrated the basic aspects of the selection board, highlighting and emphasizing the significance of officer service record reviews.
At the conclusion of the selection board, attendees had the opportunity to ask questions and receive firsthand knowledge from the experience of the board members.
“As a leader, to be successful in the professional development of others, we must first be effective mentors,” said Cmdr. Betty Sowell, Navy Medicine Training Support Center’s acting director for academics. “Mentorship allows us the opportunity to share our knowledge and experiences to help others excel in their career.”
SAWA serves as a consortium for approximately 140 naval officers in the San Antonio and southcentral Texas region. SAWA’s membership is principally officers assigned to Navy Medicine Training Support Center and the Defense Health Agency.
The SAWA Professional Development Committee’s primary mission is to provide professional development, mentorship and promote comradery among naval officers of all corps. SAWA is a non-profit, social and education-based organization with a mission to promote fellowship and unity within the officer community.