Navy Commands Celebrate Flexible and Innovative Work

From Chief of Naval Personnel

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Navy commands recognized for their flexible workplace practices are sharing their methods with the fleet to help leaders provide the best opportunity for developing and retaining Sailors and civilian employees.

Nine Navy commands were honored with the When Work Works Award, which highlights organizations across the country for creating effective workplaces for employee and employer. The commands have utilized a variety of practices to enhance morale and productivity, including an emphasis on providing telework opportunities, initiatives to support health and fitness, and an emphasis on supporting career goals for individuals.

The recipients of the When Work Works Award were announced in August, and as commands get ready for the 2015 application cycle, leaders are sharing what worked to help them develop their talented teams.

"Award winners, like Naval Station Great Lakes, are recognized for their command accomplishments along with their ability to help Sailors set and attain their professional and personal goals outside of work," said Lt. Francis (Shannon) Sweeney, Life-Work Balance lead, Plans and Policy, Chief of Naval Personnel Office of Diversity and Inclusion . "That includes college courses, obtaining degrees, United Services Military Apprenticeship Program certification, or community involvement. When command triads can accomplish the mission and be flexible enough to support Sailors' other pursuits, that is a win for the Navy."

The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) in Orlando, Fla., has won the When Work Works Award for two years in a row.

"As the Navy's primary center for advanced training simulation, we are always seeking better and faster ways to accomplish our mission for the warfighter," said Capt. Wes Naylor, NAWCTSD commanding officer. "We learn from experience and experiments, we focus on innovation, effectiveness, and performance, and we are open to changing our assumptions and developing new approaches to solve problems."

Naylor adds that a focus on balance with at home and work life makes their Sailors and civilian employees happier and more productive.

Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) Lemoore, Calif., and Naval Education and Training Command (NETC), Pensacola, Fla., have won the award two out of the past three years.

The nine commands that were recognized for 2014 are:

Afloat Training Group Middle Pacific, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii;

Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division, Orlando, Fla;

Naval Education and Training Command (NETC), Pensacola, Fla;

Naval Medical Research Unit Dayton, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio;

Naval Sea Logistics Center, Mechanicsburg, Pa;

Naval Station Great Lakes, Great Lakes, Ill;

Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC), Lemoore, Lemoore, Calif;

NOSC - Shreveport, Bossier City, La;

Submarine Learning Facility, Norfolk, Va.