MCPON Testifies before Congress on Qualifty of Life

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Thomas L. Rosprim, Office of the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON)(SS/SW) Rick D. West testified before Congress Feb. 16.

MCPON appeared before the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies.

MCPON, along with the other top enlisted leaders from the Marine Corps, Army and Air Force, discussed the current status of their respective military branches, focusing specifically on quality-of-life programs and initiatives.

"During the past year, I have traveled extensively around the world to visit, listen, learn and speak with Sailors and their families," said West. "I have observed, firsthand, their tremendous work and sacrifices, and I am constantly amazed and truly awed by their outstanding capabilities and resiliency as they serve with distinction on ships, squadrons, submarines, and ashore."

Recruiting, retention, force management, and professional development of service members were among the topics addressed at the hearing. West and his counterparts from the other service branches responded to several questions from representatives about transition resources in place to assist active duty personnel and families affected by force reductions.

"We want to make sure our Sailors have every opportunity to succeed in the future," said West. "The Navy has lined up a world-class placement consultant to help our separating Sailors transition to the civilian sector. They will provide coaching, mentorship and guidance to prepare our people as much as possible. Additionally, Naval Sea Systems Command, one of our largest components, is driving the 'Shipmates to Workmates' program which pairs Sailors with partner organizations for possible employment opportunities."

Other subjects of discussion included current efforts by the armed forces to combat sexual assault and suicide, promote resiliency and ensure a high quality of education for the children of service members. West emphasized that success in these areas, and a commitment to holistic quality-of-life overall, are main factors in determining how long many Sailors will serve.

"We thank Congress for the historical support of pay and benefit increases and quality of life initiatives. Steady gains in these areas have allowed us to retain skilled Sailors and develop them into the enlisted leaders of the future," said West. "We cannot, however, rest on past success. The civilian job market searches for the same smart, motivated and dedicated people. We must keep pace with pay, allowances, housing, support programs and educational opportunities. And in this time of war, we must continue to make care a top priority for our wounded service members."

West discussed the value of communication with Sailors and families through resources such as Afterdeployment.org, Military OneSource, Navy.mil, and various social networking sites.

"Both CNO and I are committed to using social media because it is another opportunity to connect with our Sailors Navy-wide," said West. "Social media is a great tool in our outreach efforts for getting information out in a timely manner to our entire Navy family."

West spoke of the operational tempo of the Navy and mentioned the nearly 50,000 Sailors, including more than 4,000 mobilized Reserve Sailors, and 40 percent of the Navy's ships which are underway or deployed globally on any given day.

"America's Navy is defined first by its agile warfighting capability ... operating forward and always ready," said West. "Our fleet is deterring aggression, protecting sea lanes, projecting power and delivering humanitarian assistance where needed. Despite fiscal constraints facing our nation, the world's oceans and waterways are not getting smaller. We still remain engaged in every theater of operation. We have the best Navy we have ever fielded and we will continue that trend into the future. We will work the challenges and accomplish the mission."

The master chief petty officer of the Navy periodically testifies before Congress along with the senior enlisted leaders of the other services. This was his fourth appearance before the congressional committee.