MCPON Visits USS Kearsarge

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Mike Lenart, USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- The master chief petty officer of the Navy (MCPON) visited the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) to meet and speak with chief petty officers and crew Aug. 5.

MCPON (SS/SW) Rick D. West came aboard Kearsarge to not only meet with the crew, but to field their questions and address their concerns.

His visit began in the chief's mess, where West spoke about the exceptional level at which Kearsarge has performed during its preparation for its fall 2010 deployment.

"This ship and its crew are ready to support our 15,000 Sailors on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan," said West. "I can't wait to come out to Kearsarge while you are in the 5th Fleet area of operation to see Sailors doing what the deckplate leadership has prepared them for."

On his way through the hangar bay to the flight deck to address the crew, West witnessed some of the hard work he spoke of as Sailors were busy moving supplies and stores aboard in preparation for their certification exercise scheduled for the week of Aug. 9.

"It's the hard work and dedication of every Sailor that makes this ship and our Navy the force it is today," said West.

Keeping those hard-working Sailors in the Navy is one of the many areas West talked about with the crew as they gathered around the Navy's highest enlisted leader on the flight deck.

"Right now the Navy has a very high retention rate and a very low attrition rate," said West. "There is a year-long wait just to get into the Navy. About four times a week I get a Facebook message from Sailors who got out of the Navy wanting to know how to get back in. If you make the decision to leave the Navy, it needs to be carefully thought out because coming back may not be easy."

As if to emphasize his point that the Navy is holding on to its best and brightest, West took a moment to frock Chief Air Traffic Controller David Buehner to the rank of senior chief, an honor that Buehner said meant the world to him.

"How many people can say the MCPON promoted them?" said Buehner. "This was a thrilling experience, and I am honored he took the time to recognize me and my family."

West also spoke about important programs in the Navy, such as perform to serve (PTS), individual augmentees (IA) and warfare qualifications.

"Warfare qualifications couldn't be any more important," said West. "When a Sailor earns a surface warfare pin, it's telling everyone that they know what they need to do to fight the ship in case of a casualty."

For Quartermaster Seaman Ashley DeArmitt, the MCPON's stressing of the importance of warfare qualifications has given her the motivation to complete the program.

"He put everything in perspective when it comes to earning your pin," said DeArmitt. "It's something I've always known I had to do, but now I want to do it for me and the ship. You never know when you may need to use the knowledge you acquire on the way to earning your pin."

West also took time to pose for photos and speak one-on-one with Sailors, something that DeArmitt said she will remember for some time to come.

"I feel honored that out of all of the ships on the waterfront, he came to Kearsarge," said DeArmitt. "I have a lot of respect for him. He has reached the pinnacle of the enlisted Sailor, but he started as a quartermaster seaman, just like me."

West is the 12th Sailor to hold the Navy's highest enlisted rank and serve as the enlisted advisor to the chief of naval operations.