Haddonfield native trains to become future Navy Supply Officer
Feicht brings local upbringing to crucial role in service to country
By Alvin Plexico, Navy Officer of Special Outreach
Special to the Sun
Ensign M. Peter Feicht applied the lessons learned from Haddonfield, N.J. to help in developing the skills to become a naval supply officer.
“I learned about the importance of teamwork playing sports, and this translates well into my Navy career,” said Feicht.
Those lessons turned into an opportunity to learn leadership and the most innovative tactics of naval supply in the world at Navy Supply Corps School (NSCS), located in Newport, R.I.
“Serving as a supply officer allows me to use my background and personal interests to create business innovations and solutions at some point in the future,” said Feicht.
Feicht is a 2013 West Virginia University graduate.
Considered to be one of the Navy’s greatest assets, the supply officers must first train and be mentored at supply school.
Prior to any type of extraordinary achievement, the students must first pass a rigorous course structure in order to become a Navy supply officer.
The mission of supply school is to provide students with the personal and professional foundations for success. This mission lends itself to the vision of the school which is to ensure all supply corps officer graduates are prepared to provide global logistics support to Navy and joint warfare.
Once these service members finish training, they are deployed around the world putting their skill set to work.
“Our mantra here at NSCS is ‘Ready for Sea,’” said Capt. Nick Rapley, commanding officer, Navy Supply Corps School. “Our graduates leave this institution prepared to support the warfighter on land, at sea, in the air, and in the cyber realm. It is my honor to serve these men and women by providing them with the resources to learn their trade and perform in the fleet. Only a select few will have the privilege of serving as Navy supply corps officers. Logistics support is a critical part of mission success.”
There are many sacrifices and goals one must achieve to be selected as a supply officer and Feicht is most proud of being a mustang, which means that he was enlisted in the Navy and then earned his commission as an officer.
“I was an aviation electrician’s mate second class aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Carl Vinson, before going to officer candidate school,” said Feicht. “I proudly wear my mustang belt buckle because I’m proud of what I’ve done as a prior enlisted person. Having that experience will help me better relate to sailors as their leader, because I won’t be asking them to do something I haven’t already done.”
The future of naval warfare is rapidly changing, so the course and materials at supply school are constantly evolving to create the most dynamic, lethal, safe and professional warfighting team for the Navy our nation needs.
“NSCS’ flagship curriculum, the Basic Qualification Course (BQC) is modeled to prepare new supply officers for their first operation tours in the fleet,” said Lt. Adam C. Johnson, public affairs officer for the school. “Other courses like the Supply Officer Department Head Course, Joint Aviation Supply Maintenance Material Management, and the Introduction to Expeditionary Logistics Course, are designed to refine intermediate and advanced level skillsets of both officer and enlisted operators.”
Just as Americans go grocery shopping and conduct car and home repairs, supply officers in the Navy ensure sailors have the tools and equipment they need to deter any threat and maintain warfighting readiness and threat deterrence in an era of great power competition.
Feicht is continuing a family tradition of military service.
“My uncle was in the Marine Corps, and my grandfather was also in the Marine Corps,” said Feicht.
As Feicht and other officers continue to train, they take pride in what it means to serve their country in the United States Navy.
“This is an exciting and challenging career,” said Feicht. “It’s also an honor to serve America and American citizens.”
