Training Center Petaluma

Entrance sign in 2008

Training Center Petaluma is a Coast Guard training facility in the northern California counties of Sonoma and Marin. Approximately 4,000 students train there each year^[1]. It was formerly the U.S. Army Two Rock Ranch Station.^[2]

The training center is located in a rural area north of San Francisco at 38°15′00″N 122°47′28″W / 38.25°N 122.791°W / 38.25; -122.791Coordinates: 38°15′00″N 122°47′28″W / 38.25°N 122.791°W / 38.25; -122.791. It is about 9 mi (14 km) from the coast and 9 mi (14 km) west of the city of Petaluma, California, at the junction of Tomales Road and Valley Ford road, just south of Stemple Creek and the village of Two Rock, California.

The facility occupies more than 800 acres (320 ha) of land, which include 129 family housing units and 90 other buildings. It has its own clinic, chapel, fire department, and police.^[1]

Rate specific training schools

Students at the individual "A" schools receive entry level training in one of these rates:

• Electronics Technician (ET)
• Food Service Specialist (FS)
• Health Service Technician (HS)
• Information System Technician (IT)
• Operations Specialist (OS)
• Storekeeper (SK)
• Yeoman (YN)

Graduates of these "A" schools are advanced to Petty Officer Third Class and are then assigned to a new duty station.

"C" school training is also offered for advanced training in each of these rates.

Subject matter specialists and course writers

Each of the "A" schools at Training Center Petaluma has Subject Matter Specialists and Course Writers assigned to it for the purpose of developing up to date course materials and instructional aids relative to each rate. These specialists are usually Chief Petty Officers that are very experienced in their rate. Courses developed are used in the field to help enlisted persons learn new skills in their rate. Advancement is dependent in successful completion of these courses and passing grades on Service-wide Examinations in each rate.

Chief Petty Officer Academy

The United States Coast Guard operates the Chief Petty Officer Academy at the Training Center Petaluma. This Academy trains Chief Petty Officers for the Coast Guard and Master Sergeants for the U.S. Air Force.

Enlisted Coast Guardsmen who have advanced to Chief Petty Officer, must attend the Chief Petty Officer Academy, or an equivalent Department of Defense school, to be advanced Senior Chief Petty Officer; United States Air Force Master Sergeants, as well as international students representing their respective maritime services, are also eligible to attend this Academy. The basic themes of this school are:

• Professionalism
• Leadership
• Communications
• Systems thinking and lifelong learning

Other advanced training

Other schools offered include advanced leadership training in Course Design, Instructor Development, Professional Development as well as Instructional Systems training.

History

The U.S. Army built a top-secret communications station on this site during World War II. The Coast Guard took possession on July 1, 1971 and converted it into a training facility.^[1]

Environmental hazards

The site carries over 10,000 pounds (4,500 kg) of lead. Each year, 4,000 pounds (1,800 kg) to 43,000 pounds (20,000 kg) are shipped off-site for metal recovery, 14,000 pounds (6,400 kg) are disposed of on-site, and 294 pounds (133 kg) are released into the air.^[3]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "History of Training Center Petaluma". http://www.uscg.mil/HQ/TCPET/tcpet/tracen_history.shtm. Retrieved 2007-12-03. 
2. ^ http://www.uscg.mil/petaluma/TCPET/tracen_history.asp
3. ^ "Form R for U.S. Coast Guard Training Center Petaluma, document control number 1307205898176". Environmental Protection Agency: Envirofacts Warehouse. http://oaspub.epa.gov/enviro/tri_formr_partone.get_details?rpt_year=2007&ban_flag=Y&fac_id=94952SCSTG599TO. Retrieved 2009-04-28. 

External links

• official site