USA: Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton Hosts Visit from MCPON

Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton hosted a visit from Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON)(AW/NAC) Mike D. Stevens Dec. 13.

Hundreds of enlisted Sailors from area Navy and Marine Corps commands came to hear the MCPON at an all hands call for E-1 through E-6 and a Chief Petty Officers call.

MCPON talked about current issues that the Navy is facing. He relayed that the chief of naval operations has said there will not be another Enlisted Retention Board program under his watch.

He also explained that the Perform to Serve program is not a reenlistment tool to be used for force shaping. Rather it is a tool to ensure the Navy keeps the best and most capable force.

He told the crowd that the Navy is no longer in a force reduction. There will actually be a gradual incline over the next few years from the current 317,587 Sailors to approximately 322,000.

Also, the Navy Working Uniform is not going away any time soon. In fact, an ALNAV message and video are coming out soon to explain all regulations about the proper wear of the uniform.

Finally, MCPON stressed his new initiative called “Zeroing In On Excellence” and asked everyone to read it on his webpage under the leadership tab on Navy.mil.

“I wrote a four part letter primarily to the chief’s mess but it is also intended for all of us,” Stevens said. The initiative which was released Nov. 6, covers three areas; developing leaders, good order and discipline, and controlling what we own.

While here, he focused on only one of the areas: developing leaders. “I believe that no organization can rise above the capabilities of its leadership. No matter what level of leadership you are at, the people that you are responsible for will never become better leaders unless you increase your ability to lead,” Stevens said. “Each of us has a responsibility to develop and increase our capacity to lead so that those that we lead also have the same opportunities.”

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Naval Today Staff, December 18, 2012; Image: US Navy