May 10, 2014 | Vol. 3 | Issue 7
DAILY DIGEST
HM2 Collier, right, dental departmental career counselor speaks with a Sailor.
PROPER GUIDANCE
Nimitz career counselors assist Sailors Story and photo by MCSN Eli Buguey
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ithout proper guidance a Sailor can miss out on many opportunities offered by the Navy. Juggling work, home life, and underway schedules, creating a long-term career track can get confusing. Those who are confused can benefit from experienced Sailors who can assist in steering toward achieving professional success. Navy Career Counselors on board USS Nimitz can assist Sailors in developing the
best strategy for a fulfilling career. “Ultimately the signature at the bottom of every piece of paper is your own,” said Chief Navy Counselor Dean Miller. “You are ultimately responsible for your career. You need to understand all the programs and policies and what you need to do to get the next rank.” Sailors need to understand that building a strong foundation early in their career will lead to success fur-
ther into their enlistment. Visiting a department career counselor can be that first step. Investing in your career is similar to controlling a bank account, said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuel) 1st Class Chistena Koch, departmental career counselor for Air Department. “It’s their career,” said Koch. “It’s just like it’s your bank account. I can’t save money for you. I can’t fix your career for you. I can Continued on page 4
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Congratulations
The hard work of all ship and squadron members, and in particular, those who man and run the flight deck, aviators, naval flight officers, aircrew and watch teams, culminated in mission success; on time, on target.
”
- Rear Adm. Dee L. Mewbourne
From
MESSAGE R 061215Z MAY 14
SUBJ/BRAVO ZULU - FLIGHT DECK CERTIFICATION
Commander CARRIER STRIKE GROUP 11 Executive Officer Capt. J.J. Cummings Media DIVO
Ensign John Mike
Media LPO MC1 Michael Cole
Commanding Officer Command Master Chief Capt. Jeff Ruth
Public Affairs Officer Lt. Cmdr. Karin Burzynski
Editor
MC2 Phillip Ladouceur
CMDCM Greg Renick Media LCPO
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Media Department
MC2 Jacquelyn Childs | MC2 Devin Wray | MC2 Ryan Mayes | MC2 Jacob Milner | MC2 Jess Lewis | MC3 Shayne Johnson | MC3 Linda S. Swearingen | MC3 Vanessa David | MC3 W. J. Cousins | MC3 Nathan McDonald | MC3 Joshua Haiar | MC3 Kaitlyn Haskett | MC3 Eric Butler | MC3 Siobhana McEwen | MC3 Samuel Souvanason| MCSN Aiyana Paschal | MCSN Andrew W. Price | MCSN Kelly Agee | MCSN Victoria Ochoa | MCSN Eli Buguey | MCSN Lauren Jennings | MCSN Derek Volland | MCSA Kole Carpenter
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Nimitz News accepts submissions in writing. All submissions are subject to review and editing. “Nimitz News” is an authorized publication for the members of the military services and their families. Its content does not necessarily reflect the official views of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy, or the Marine Corps and does not imply endorsement thereby.
FLEETWIDE Washington, D.C
CNO SPEAKS Explains Navy’s Compensation Reform at Congressional Hearing Story by MCC Julianne Metzger
C
hief of Naval Operations testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) encouraging Congress to accept and implement the Department of Defense budget proposal recommendation to slow growth of service members’ pay and compensation. “We cannot sustain our current personnel cost trajectory,” said Greenert. “We need to address this problem sooner rather than later.” Greenert stated both he and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Mike Stevens heard in their travels around the fleet, a vast majority of Sailors and families believe that their compensation matches well with their civilian counterparts. Since 2001, Navy manpower has shrunk significantly due to the elimination of 25 ships from the fleet. Meanwhile rising personnel costs have spiked which have been a burden on the Navy’s ability to balance investments, said Greenert.
“Our Sailors and families are not enthusiastic about compensation reform,” said Greenert. However, he added, “they were clear that their quality of service - their work environment needs to improve.” The DOD proposed compensation reforms are estimated to generate a savings to the Navy of $123 million in fiscal year 2015 and $3.1 billion over the Future Years Defense Plan (FYDP). “I intend to reinvest any and all of these savings into Sailor Quality of Service enhancements,” Greenert said. Greenert said quality of service enhancements resulting from proposed budget savings include: increasing sea pay, critical skills incentive pays; improving and constructing barracks, training buildings, MWR and fitness centers; providing school and trainings; purchasing tactical trainers and simulators; purchasing spare parts, tools and providing more maintenance opportunities. “All of these reinvestments
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address ‘dissatisfiers’ in our Sailors’ quality of service,” said Greenert. “These enhancements help Sailors get their jobs done effectively and safely, while addressing our critical manning, training and equipping challenges.” If Congress denies authority for the DOD compensation savings proposals, the Navy would be unable to enact Sailor quality of service improvements. There would also be an additional bill of $4 billion resulting from pay raises. Greenert said that would compel the Navy to reduce readiness, shipbuilding and aircraft procurement even further. “Our Navy would be less ready, less modern and less able to execute the missions outlined in the Defense Strategic Guidance,” said Greenert. For more information on the Chief of Naval Operations please visit: For more news from Chief of Naval Operations, visit www. navy.mil/local/cno/.
COVER STORY
Continued from page 1
help guide you. I can help give you the best choices available to you. As the career counselors we have to balance your career and your choices versus the needs of the Navy. Ultimately, it is your career and I can’t make those decisions for you.” The direction offered by the career counseling office helps all Sailors regardless of rank, but the counselors suggest that Sailors have a plan as soon as possible. “They need to make wise career decisions early and often,” said Miller. One of the best ways Sailors can advance their career is to explore the Navy career tools available to them. Become familiar and use the Navy career tools, said Milller. Navy Credentialing Online (COOL), Navy Knowledge Online (NKO), and The United States Military Apprenticeship Program (USMAP) are just a few of the programs that the Navy offers that are underutilized, he said. “It’s not just Navy courses that are on there,” said Miller. “They have everything from mathematics to English, SAT
and ACT prep.” No one will be in the Navy forever, he said, and these programs offer Sailors the chance to prepare for their life after the Navy. Sailors who are choosing to re-enlist have to be especially diligent. The process for re-enlistment has changed greatly over the past few years and all Sailors should make sure they are acquainted with the new system, Career Navigator (C-NAV). “All Sailors need to become knowledgeable with Career Navigator,” said Miller. “They need to understand what the Career Waypoint process is and what their responsibilities are. They need to know when they are coming into that window.” C-NAV highlights policy affecting enlisted career management and identifies processes designed to promote Sailor involvement in their career, while Career Waypoint (C-Way) is the system that supports key Sailor decision about their next career choice. Re-enlisting is like a toll bridge, said Miller. To cross from one side to the other a Sailor needs a ticket from the Navy, and that ticket is
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acquired through Career Waypoint. They have to understand that process is the guide to furthering their career. Whether a Sailor is trying to build a 20-year career or plans on just one enlistment, career counselors want to make sure that Sailors get the most out of their time in the Navy. “Our decisions and our recommendations have your best interest in mind,” said Miller. Although the career counselors’ job is to provide professional guidance, each Sailor’s career is their own responsibility. There are a lot of opportunities in the Navy, but unlocking them requires that Sailors make a lot of big decisions, said Koch. And Sailors should do everything they can to educate themselves about their options. “I would really love to see Sailors do the research and really delve into their careers because these decisions will affect your career and the rest of your life,” she said. For more information go to npc.navy.mil and talk to your departmental career counselor.
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IN FOCUS
Sailors fire a 40mm saluting cannon from the flight deck. -Photo by MC3 (SW) Siobhana R. McEwen
HT3 Kobi Thurman drills a locker. -Photo by MCSN Lauren Jennings
Sailors learn how to perform line handling on the fantail. -Photo by MCSN Lauren Jennings
SHSN Elijah Ozbun, left, assists CS3 Garrett Davis in donning firefighting gear during a fire drill. - Photo by MCSA Kole Carpenter
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SUDOKU: HARD
CRYPTOQUIP
COMIC
7
STINGERS
CROSSWORD
CHANNEL 5
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CHANNEL 7
CHANNEL 29
CHANNEL 30
0800/2000
SOURCE CODE
PROM
HARRY POTTER: GOBLET OF FIRE
PRISONERS
THE HOBBIT: DESOLATION OF SMAUG
1000/2200
THE LINCOLN LAWYER
SOMETHING BORROWED
KUNG FU PANDA 2
CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS 2
GRUMPY OLD MEN
1200/0000
THE CONSPIRATOR
NAVY SEALS
BRIDESMAIDS
THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY
THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY
1400/0200
TOY STORY 2
LEAN ON ME
X-MEN: FIRST CLASS
SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION
THE BOOK THIEF
1600/0400
PRIEST
CARS
FAST FIVE
BULL DURHAM
PARENTAL GUIDANCE
1800/0600
THOR
PERFECT STORM
BAD TEACHER
GRUDGE MATCH
THE FAMILY
CHANNELS
05 - 8MM Movies 06 - 8MM Movies 07 - 8MM Movies 08 - Roller 09 - NTV 10 - Flight Deck 11 - CNN 13 - ESPN 14 - TBS 15 - History 16 - CW 18 - CBS 19 - National Geographic 20 - ABC 21 - AMC 22 - NBC 23 - Comedy Central 24 - Fox News 25 - Discovery 29 - DVD Movies 30 - DVD Movies
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