USA: Chief of Naval Operations Updates DC Navy Spouses on Budget Impacts

Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert spoke to 150 military spouses during the Naval Officers’ Spouses’ Club (NOSC) Welcome Coffee at the Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Club Oct. 7.

The annual NOSC event welcomes new members and spouses who have recently moved to the DC area. This year the NOSC welcomed several spouses of foreign attaches from Canada, France, Mexico, Sweden and the United Kingdom, among other nations.

“Admiral Greenert, along with his wife Darleen, have been incredible supporters of the Naval Officers Spouse’s Club of DC and we are pleased they could join us today.” said Corey Chernesky, President of the NOSC DC.

“I need to talk to people who can get stuff done,” said Greenert. This organization always steps up and takes care of things. No matter what the situation, the spouse’s club pulls together to communicate between families and commands, said Greenert.

Greenert took the opportunity to talk budget impacts on readiness and family programs as well as take questions from the attendees.

Topping the list of issues discussed was the return of many DoD civilian employees brought back to work after a decision made by the Secretary of Defense over the weekend, based on the Pay Our Military Act.

Greenert described the process in which some Civilians were brought back and others were still furloughed. “Navy civilians are critical to the Navy mission, said Greenert. “The military can’t do what they do without our military civilians.”

Greenert went on to discuss other effects of the government shutdown, as well as sequestration if imposed during fiscal year 2014. Despite budget cuts, Greenert emphasized that service members that are deployed and getting ready to deploy, will have fuel, parts and pay.

“In FY14, tuition assistance, compensation, pay, entitlements, retirement process stays as it is now,” he said. Greenert also stressed that the G.I. Bill is safe because it is a separate law that is not affected by Department of Defense funding, or lack thereof.

“Generally speaking it doesn’t cost a lot of money to fund family readiness programs,” said Greenert when asked about the status of family programs. “The payback is pretty big, if ever people needed services like counseling, it’s now. I don’t look to the family readiness programs to save money.”

Greenert did point out that entitlements, such as the future of commissary operations and retirement structures are being examined by congressional panels. However, changes to the retirement system would not affect Sailors serving now, he said.

“No matter how the panel runs the numbers, they have to examine how much money these changes would really save,” said Greenert. “You’ve got to survey the people who are just starting out and those who are in the military now and see what they say about it.”

When asked about manning and promotions, Greenert pointed out that the Navy mans equipment different than how the other services equip their manning. The Navy must align its overall manning to the number of ships in the fleet rather than building ships to the number of Sailors.

“We have to keep personnel at a certain level. We’ve been struggling to get the manning at the proper levels in the right specialties, but now we are a balanced force.” said Greenert. “Promotions will continue at pace.” He went on to say that no force shaping programs are planned.

When asked about future deployment lengths in the light of the Asia-Pacific rebalance, Greenert said the result should be positive for Sailors and their families. He also went on to emphasize Sailors and Families are capable of handling deployments well, as long as the deployments are predictable.

“In the end what will make the difference will be the Sailors, the Sailor’s spouses, and spouse clubs like yourself. We’ll pull through this, we’ll do it the best we can, and we’ll show them what we’ve got,” said Greenert.

[mappress]
Press Release, October 11, 2013