3/3/2010
By Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Rhonda Burke
NAVAL STATION GREAT LAKES, ILL (NNS) - Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (SS/SW) Rick D. West visited Naval Station Great Lakes Tuesday, March 2, to talk about the importance of communicating to our Sailors, families, retirees,
veterans and the public.
"Communication is the key to everything we do, if you are talking about policies, expectations, taking care of our families and training our Sailors, we have to communicate and plan in order to be successful," West said.
He also encouraged Sailors to embrace technology to communicate effectively, referring to his own Facebook page as a place he often learns about critical issues facing Sailors and their families.
During his visit he got a first-hand look at "A" school training, spoke with chief petty officers about their role as deck plate leaders and visited with Sailors in support positions around the base, including Sailors who support Reservists throughout the 16 states of Navy Region Midwest.
"It is good to hear that the big Navy is looking at the full time support program," said Yeoman 1st Class Amanda Jabczynski of Reserve Component Command, Navy Region Midwest. "It is encouraging to know that plans are being put in place for the FTS 9(full time support) community."
During an all-chief petty officers call, West talked about the important roles Sailors here play in training our future Navy.
"It is always great to be back here at Great Lakes, because the job you do here is so important to our future, the readiness of our fleet and our Navy," West said. "You prepare our Sailors and get them out the door to their first assignments and you do a great job. When I hear in the fleet, what are they doing at Great Lakes? I tell them, come here and see the training that is being done, because Great Lakes is doing it right."
The Navy's top enlisted leader has several initiatives on his agenda including the importance of Individual Augementee (IA) assignments, family readiness, new uniforms and the quality of training Sailors are receiving.
"Family readiness is critical to our success as a Navy," West told the more than 400 chief petty officers assembled for an all-chiefs call. "Decisions about careers are made at the dinner table, that is not just the careers of the Sailors working for us, but those who are considering joining our ranks and their families."
West believes IA assignments have been powerful experiences for Sailors and have added to the capability of the Navy, Sailors and nation.
"The Navy truly is a global force for good and we are showing that each day with the jobs we are accomplishing around the world," West said. "In many cases there are junior Sailors on the front lines, making important contributions to our mission. Our Navy right now is absolutely phenomenal."
West visited the Center for Naval Engineering in the afternoon to see the blend of computer-based and hands-on training Sailors are receiving. He also took the opportunity to sit down at a computer and go through some of the computer-based training (CBT) in the self-paced lab, and had an opportunity to talk directly to students in "A" School training about their future.
"We hear a lot in the fleet about CBT," West said. "It is important to understand that process and to see how that training is being blended in to continuously meet the needs of the fleet."
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