Commodore's Corner

A Holistic Approach to Naval Aviation Career Management and Mental Resilience Charting Your Course

By CAPT Dewon "Chainsaw" Chaney, USN

Naval Aviation is an inherently dangerous and demanding profession that requires individuals to possess exceptional physical and mental stamina. The Human Weapon, an interesting term that describes the essence of any successful military unit, is dependent upon the mental and physical capacity of its members. In this case, the U.S. Navy, and Naval Aviation, depend upon resilient Naval Aviators to carry out the nation’s tasking. The high-stress environment of Naval Aviation can take a toll on the mental health of aviators, sometimes compromising their performance and overall wellbeing, and there must be a path to swift recovery. Effective career management and mental health support are essential to optimize the performance of Naval Aviators and ensure the success of naval operations. The adage “Mission First; People Always” underscores that people matter more than hardware.

The Human Weapon is the critical component of Naval Aviation, as it encompasses the abilities of aviators to operate complex aircraft systems, to make split-second decisions, and to engage with violence when called. To maintain peak performance, Naval Aviators must prioritize their mental and physical health, adhering to rigorous fitness regimens, and engaging in stress-reducing activities. Moreover, effective career management is crucial to ensure that aviators are adequately trained, equipped, and supported throughout their careers. A career built on nothing but flying sounds nice but sometimes you need a break mentally/physically…I know blasphemy, right, but trust me it’s true in some cases!

The Navy recently rolled out its Culture of Excellence 2.0 which focuses on building Great People, Great Leaders, and Great Teams, with the knowledge that this is the best way to prepare for victory in combat, innovate and solve hard problems, and prevent harmful behaviors. It is built on the following key tenets:

• Everyone is a Sailor...both Officer and Enlisted.

• Civilians are a critical part of the Navy Team...providing continuity and expertise.

• Our Core Values drive what we do...every day.

• Great People are shaped by Great Leaders...to become Great Teams.

• Our People are tough and resilient...strong in Mind, Body, and Spirit.

• Our Leaders demonstrate great character and competence and build great culture.

• Our Teams are Connected and Inclusive creating a sense of belonging for their People.

The mental health of Naval Aviators is a critical concern, as the high-stress environment of Naval Aviation can lead to anxiety, depression, and other medical concerns. The consequences of untreated mental health stressors can be very devastating. Therefore, it is essential for us all to prioritize our mental health and seek out the available support and resources even when we think it’s something minor. What am I saying here? Just as we review the “I’M SAFE” Checklist before a flight brief, take that a step further beyond the cockpit. At all leadership levels, Naval Aviators must be encouraged to prioritize their mental health and seek help without fear of stigma or repercussions.

Career management can sometimes be a source of mental anguish and stress, but it doesn’t need to be. Effective career management involves providing aviators with regular training and professional development opportunities, as well as mentorship and coaching opportunities. Most of this training is guided by the Commander, Naval Air Forces Leadership Development Plan, but understanding the career path is essential. The PERS-43 Team provides regular career management training through Fleet engagements and professional development through lessons learned notes sent back to Aviation Leadership. It can be very mentally draining for aviators to not understand the “why” behind career management. Trying to keep the career management/officer distribution side of the NAE as simple as possible enables aviators to stay focused on the latest Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs), ensuring that they remain competent and confident in their abilities up to the point when the next generation must carry the knife in their teeth. Getting back to the “why,” the standard and approved Naval Aviation Career Path can lack detail on how each tour builds upon the next to develop leaders so I had the PERS-43 Team put together the chart below. You can see the overarching focus areas (Blue Boxes), the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities, or KSAs, (Yellow Boxes), and the tours that provide for some of the KSAs (Light Blue Boxes). Again, this is really a bar napkin representation of the career path that helped me, and hopefully you, understand the career path differently.

In addition to prioritizing mental health and career management, Naval Aviation recognizes the importance of a healthy work-life “scale” in maintaining the well-being of aviators. Long hours, deployments, and frequent relocations can take a toll on aviators and their families. The PERS-43 Team is constantly working to do what’s best for our constituents, their families, and the Navy within the constraints of current law and policy. Within PERS-43, while needs of the Navy can at times be primal, we advocate for aviation officers and their families to support positive mental health. We look at things like reducing/preventing back-to-back deployments, known recovery time from existing medical issues, co-locations, and overall support from a distribution perspective to minimize additional mental stress. I’d foot stomp here that this requires constant communication with a lack of assumptions on both sides, detailer and constituent. We cannot always accommodate every concern completely, but we do our best to provide support when made aware of a situation.

Finally, the Human Weapon is not just limited to Naval Aviators but also extends to maintenance and support personnel who are critical to the success of Naval Aviation. These Sailors are equally important to the success of Naval Aviation and must be provided with the same level of support and resources as aviators. Remember that!!

In conclusion, the Human Weapon is the most critical component to Naval Aviation. Effective career management and mental health support are crucial to maintaining the peak performance of Naval Aviators, ensuring they remain physically and mentally resilient as great people, who become great leaders, as a part of this great team…Naval Aviation.