Navy Celebrates 40 Years of Ombudsmen Service

By MC2(SW) Thomas Miller, Navy Region Midwest Public Affairs

NAVAL STATION GREAT LAKES, Ill. (NNS) -- Naval Station Great Lakes, Ill., celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Ombudsman program by having an appreciation dinner at Buckley's on Sept. 17.

The evening event included remarks by Rear Adm. Tilghman Payne, commander Navy Region Midwest, a dinner and a cake-cutting ceremony.

"Over the years, the volunteers in this program have answered countless two a.m. phone calls, reassured worried spouses, tracked down lost allotments and served as the eyes and ears of many commanding officers and command master chiefs," said Payne.

"The U.S. Navy family is being asked to do more than ever before," said Capt. John Malfitano, Naval Station Great Lakes commanding officer. "We're sending more Sailors into harm's way, more ships to sea, to accomplish a greater variety of missions. Expectations of our Navy are changing every day. And with those changes comes more stress on the family."

The Ombudsman Program was introduced to the Navy Sept. 14, 1970, by then-Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Elmo Zumwalt.

Zumwalt adapted the program from a 19th century Scandinavian custom originally established to give private citizens an avenue to express their concerns to high government officials.

The Ombudsman Program is a command-based program with each commanding officer tailoring the program to meet the needs of the families. The commanding officer officially appoints an ombudsman who then undergoes 25 hours of basic initial training.

Following their initial training, each ombudsman is then required to complete six, three-hour advanced training sessions a year on topics such as child abuse prevention and sexual assault intervention.

Ombudsmen are expected to attend monthly assembly meetings where they are provided with current information on programs or referrals that can benefit families and training.

Services provided by the Ombudsman program are designed to steer families in the right direction so that issues can be resolved.

"Whether you realize it or not, by helping the family left behind, you help the fighter, and by helping the fighter, you help the fleet and our nation. On behalf of the entire Navy family, thank you for your service, and best wishes for your continued success during the next 40 years," said Payne.