USA: NETC Force Master Chief Visits Monterey

Naval Education and Training Command Force Master Chief April Beldo visited with Sailors assigned to Center for Information Dominance Unit (CIDU) Monterey during an all-hands call Sept. 6.

CIDU is the Cryptologic Technician Interpretive “A” school which trains and develops Navy linguists.

Beldo was welcomed by more than 600 Sailors reciting the Sailors Creed. After being introduced by CIDU Command Master Chief Loren Bailey, Beldo spoke about the pride she feels whenever she visits a command and meets with Sailors.

“Hoo-yah Monterey, get some,” Beldo said. “Every time I arrive at a command and see Sailors who are motivated and dedicated and volunteered to wear the cloth of our nation, I get a shot of adrenaline. You raised your right hand because you wanted to, nobody came to your house, grabbed you and said, ‘You have to be a United States Sailor,’ you did that. You made that decision and I’m excited that each and every one of you did that very thing.”

Beldo also discussed why it is important for them to stay focused on the task at hand and to stay away from the wrong group(s) of people.

“Sometimes we have a master plan, but for some reason we start heading down Destruction Avenue and lose our focus,” she said. “If you happen to find yourself thinking about going down that avenue, I want you to remember; why you raised your right hand, the training you are going through, the time you have invested into your naval career, and the time your instructors have invested in you.

“Then say, what I tell all my Sailors, ‘You know what? It’s not even worth it. I think I’m going to get back on ‘Get Some Avenue,’ or “Be Successful Avenue,’ and if I hang out long enough, maybe some day I’ll be on ‘Force Master Chief Boulevard.'”

While fielding questions from the audience, Beldo explained some of the changes she had seen over her more than 29 year career regarding women serving in the Navy.

“When I attended boot camp in Orlando, Fla., there were only all male divisions and all female divisions,” she said. “Women weren’t able to serve on combatant ships, but were on tenders, and maybe some supply ships. But that all changed in 1994 when women were allowed to serve aboard aircraft carriers. So now, I believe there are an abundance of opportunities for all women.

“No matter what your diverse background is,” she continued, “there is a door that has a big sign over it called Opportunity. You can do whatever you want to do as long as you stay focused and don’t let people tell you what you can’t do.”

Afterwards she took time to recognized CIDU’s chapter of the Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions (CSADD), thanking them for their dedication to helping eliminate sexual assault among the ranks. Beldo asked the chapter’s president, Seaman Josie Walters, to step up to the stage so she could personally thank her for all of her hard work and devotion.

“CSADD is an opportunity, another resource for us to use when we feel like there is nothing better for us to do except for things we know we shouldn’t be doing. You go to the CSADD meeting, hang out with the CSADD group, and I know they are doing some great things all across the country and all throughout our commands. I wanted to call you [Walters] up here and tell you personally, thank you for what you do.”

CSADD is a peer mentoring program for active and Reserve Sailors, Reserve Officer Training Corps candidates, and Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets aimed at promoting good decision-making and leadership development at the most junior levels.

At the conclusion of the all-hands call, Beldo had these final words for the Navy’s future linguists.

“Thank you for what you do each and every day,” she said. “When you wake up in the morning and you look at yourself you get to say, ‘It’s going to be a good day, because I made the decision to be part of a great organization and I have nothing but positive energy to give back to that organization.’ Do as you’re told, be at work on time, and wear this uniform proudly. That’s all you have to do.”

[mappress]
Naval Today Staff, September 10, 2012; Image: US Navy