By Midshipman 2nd Class Shelby N. Smith, University of
Virginia NROTC Unit Public Affairs
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (NNS) -- The Master Chief Petty Officer
of the Navy (MCPON) Michael Stevens visited the University of Virginia (UVA)
Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) unit to discuss foundations of
success, and his opinion on current affairs in the Navy, March 21.
Stevens has served in the Navy for more than 31 years and
was an aviation structural mechanic and helicopter crew chief prior to becoming
MCPON. As the top enlisted Sailor, he spends many days each year traveling,
visiting and talking to Sailors around the world as well as advising
policymakers on Navy and Department of Defense issues.
Stevens discussed key concerns in today's Navy and Marine
Corps with the UVA midshipmen such as; sexual assault, the chain of command,
the culture of demilitarization among civilians, potential threats, and the
idea of information dominance. Stevens provided personal and professional
opinions and also offered advice to the midshipmen on becoming future leaders
and officers.
"One of the tenants of my 'Zeroing in on Excellence'
initiative is developing leaders, and it's important that we recognize that
leadership has no rank or pay grade," he said. "From the most junior
to the most senior Sailor, it is our responsibility to continue developing as
leaders."
Stevens approached the topic of the demilitarization of
culture within civilian populations by explaining how the lack of explicit
threats gives people the impression that defense spending is unnecessary.
Stevens said a civilian's perspective without explicit threats will eventually
evolve to believe the world is safe. However, the Navy's continued experience
on deployment has clearly shown otherwise.
Stevens provided several more pieces of advice to the
midshipmen to keep in mind as future officers. He emphasized the foundations
for successes are; to work hard, to stay out of trouble, and to be a good and
decent person to yourself and those around you.
"Master Chief Petty Officer Stevens clearly noted the
issues we are facing as a service, and very explicitly told us what he believed
needed to be done by the next generation of officers to keep the Naval Service
going in the right direction," said Midshipman 4th Class Ryan O'Connor.
"It was a point of view that I thought was invaluable for individuals in
our position."
The NROTC program, is overseen by, Naval Service Training
Command (NSTC) headquartered on Naval Station Great Lakes, Ill. The program was
established to develop midshipmen mentally, morally and physically and to imbue
them with the highest ideals of duty, loyalty and Navy core values in order to
commission college graduates as Naval officers who possess a basic professional
background, are motivated toward careers in the Naval service and have a
potential for future development in mind and character so as to assume the
highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government.
NSTC also oversees the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps
at more than 160 colleges and universities, Officer Training Command at Naval
Station Newport, R.I., and Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps and Navy
National Defense Cadet Corps citizenship development programs at more than 600
high schools worldwide. NSTC is also ultimately in charge of Recruit Training
Command, the Navy's only boot camp, also located on Naval Station Great Lakes.
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