Junior Sailors aboard multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) formed a new local chapter of the Navy’s Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions (CSADD) July 24.
CSADD is a Navy-wide program geared at young Sailors (ages 18 to 25) aimed at reinforcing a culture of shipmates helping shipmates, while preventing destructive behavior and building leadership skills.
The program gives young Sailors the opportunity to help each other through peer-to-peer interaction. CSADD helps Sailors with everything from making responsible drinking decisions to suicide prevention.
While there is an instruction governing CSADD’s purpose and general duties, each command has a great deal of latitude in forming local chapters. Aboard Bataan, senior leadership is confident the ship’s new CSADD chapter will have a positive impact on the command’s Sailors.
“CSADD is already in the process of organizing events,” said Senior Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) (AW/SW) Byron Coleman , the Bataan Chapter’s senior enlisted sponsor. “Most of our Sailors want to do the right thing when nobody’s looking. CSADD provides peer pressure to do something right.”
The first step in forming the local chapter was to form a core group of junior Sailors interested in participating, and motivated to help other Sailors. After gathering the founding members, they decided who would be the first advocate to the Navy’s regional chapter, and then worked with Command Master Chief (SW/AW) Kevin Goodrich , Bataan’s CMC, to identify a senior enlisted member to sponsor them. Coleman, who has previously held billets as an equal opportunity advisor, was an ideal selection.
“ I look forward to the creative ideas our CSADD chapter will develop to help take care of our Sailors ,” said Goodrich. “ I’m confidant this will be another way to reach those with problems or concerns, and help keep Sailors safe both on and off duty.”
Bataan is currently in homeport in Norfolk, Va., undergoing planned maintenance availability.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, July 25, 2012