VCNO Praises Family Readiness Programs at Naval Base Ventura County

By Teri Reid, Public Affairs Officer, Naval Base Ventura

April 21, 2010 - NAVAL BASE VENTURA COUNTY, Calif (NNS) -- Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert visited Naval Base Ventura County April 19-20 to learn about the base's family readiness programs from the people who use them - the Sailors and their families.

The admiral has toured several naval bases recently, focusing on the family support programs and encouraging awareness among the Sailors of the available support. In doing so Greenert has been impressed with the quantity and quality of the family support services.

"I expected to find between three to five programs at each support center," he said. "Instead I was impressed by the extensive range of programs the Fleet and Family Support Centers (FFSCs) provide, the spectrum of support available and the ability of the FFSCs to adapt to a rotational, expeditionary culture."

Greenert also noted the dedication and skill set exhibited by the FFSC counselors.

At NBVC Greenert's lesson began shortly after he arrived on April 19 with an hour and a half meeting with more than 150 command ombudsmen, Family Readiness Group leaders and command leadership. The focus of the evening's discussion was how to improve and increase communication to family members so that they know about and utilize the many support services available to them.

Greenert was very impressed with the people who support the families at NBVC, calling it one of the "most squared-away group we've run across" during his family readiness tours.

"They are articulate, direct and know their programs," he said. "It is encouraging to know the military and the families have that kind of readiness group supporting them."

The next day began with an all hands call attended by more than 800 NBVC Sailors. A quick briefing on the current status of the Navy and family readiness programs was followed by almost an hour long question and answer session. Topics discussed ranged from child care, uniforms and PT, to over-manning, release authority and Reserve issues.

After the all hands, Greenert toured the Naval Mobile Processing Center at Port Hueneme and then held a roundtable discussion with FFSC counselors, command individual augmentee coordinators and school liaisons.

Greenert emphasized that family readiness is important in order for the service member and their unit to succeed.

"A successful unit has a good foundation at their homeport, comprised of FFSC and ombudsmen," he said. "If you look deeply at any unit that has failures, you will find a failure of the family base—and by failure I mean not prepared, poor morale.

"The CNO and I share the responsibility to enable the unit commanders with the ability to assess their family readiness, to keep their troops informed, so they can be prepared and resilient to the dynamics of the Navy culture," he added.