Prompt, Precise, Prepared: The Way of George Washington's Personnel Department

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Oscar Albert Moreno Jr.

PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- Inside an office on the third deck of the U.S. Navy's forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) lies the ship's personnel office, diligently working around-the-clock to guarantee Sailors receive all their Navy benefits.

Personnel specialists aboard George Washington make Sailors a priority to ensure documents are accurately and promptly processed.

"When it comes to our work, we try to keep everything on schedule and precise," said Personnel Specialist 3rd Alex Parkes, from Silver Spring, Maryland. "Our timeliness is an overall representation of our department; we look better the more efficient and effective we are."

For about three grading cycles, George Washington's personnel department was graded 100 percent by the Field Exception Group, the afloat training group for administration departments that grades departments in terms of performance.

"Our department is graded on how fast and accurate we process paperwork," said Parkes. "Our three perfect scores prove how hard our department works."

Personnel also ensure that Sailors get their pay in an accurate and timely manner.

"We find joy in making sure all our Sailors are taken care of," said Personnel Specialist Seaman Jared Batemon, from Sallisaw, Oklahoma. "Sailors don't perform to their best ability if their minds are worried about their next paycheck."

Each Navy member is given benefits according to different situations, such as Family Separation Allowance, where a Sailor can be entitled to 250 dollars after 30 days of being out to sea; Overseas Housing Allowance, where Sailors ranked E-5 and above are authorized to live off base with accommodation; and Hazardous Flight Pay, where Sailors from all pay grades that have spent more than 40 hours on the flight deck are authorized extra pay. Along with pay issues, personnel also deal with leave chits, screenings and advancements.

"There are many things that Sailors have on their minds on a daily basis," said Personnel Specialist 3rd Class Briana Battlebaker, from Newport News, Virginia. "If we can at least take away the stress of paperwork being routed correctly, then I feel that we are doing the best we can do."

The crew on board the ship can rest easy knowing that the award-winning personnel office will ensure that George Washington Sailors receive the best service.

George Washington and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing 5, provide a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interest of the U.S. and its allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.