The following topics were included on the Commander, Navy Region South Command Master Chief Conference agenda in accordance with the May 4 – 10 CNO/MCPON Forum:
CNO Guiding Stars – Operational Primacy, Leadership,
Teamwork and Pride -- continue making it work.
The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) wants to improve fleet morale
at no cost by authorizing wear of working utilities over whites
and authorize wear of coveralls anywhere inside the base fence
lines.
The panel urged CNO to remove advancement points for warfare qualifications and voluntary education from advancement process.
The panel suggested ADM Johnson cancel the latest change to the sea service-deployment ribbon and overseas ribbon and leave existing policy as is. CNO released four NAVADMIN announcements as the MCPON/Force Master Chiefs recommended.
Uniform Matters – We need to promote the wearing of the working utilities instead of the whites or blues. Sailors should be proud of the utilities and save their whites. The big issue is to get them in utilities since the other services wear their uniforms just about everywhere.
Keep those back-packs in your left hand when walking down the street so you can salute with your right hand.
Do not wear bags on your back when walking in uniform.
Male Sailors and other male military personnel cannot wear earrings or any other body attachments while assigned to U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (unless you are on leave in the United States or elsewhere and not on a military base.) Just because you are off work does not mean you can wear “accessory attachments” on base.
Recruiting – We need to promote recruiting and send good Third Classes out there because we made goal for the last 19 months. We are the only service to meet our goals. Navy veterans are returning at least five per day and going to sea, mostly in the amphibious Navy. They are learning companies have or show no loyalty within. Expect 3000 more during fiscal year 2000 and 4000 by fiscal year 2001. Keep advertising and promoting Bluejacket HARP Duty.
Basic Allowance for Housing – The Chief of Naval
Personnel is working to get the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)
for E-4 shipboard Sailors to live off ships or in town if base
quarters unavailable.
Authorization is now in place for E-5 Sailors and Navy wants Congress
to let the service secretaries vice Congress approve BAH.
Sea Pay – The rates need to be increased. Career
sea pay and career sea pay premium in effect now but we need a
STEP program that would pay a sum for every day past sea duty
planned rotation date (such as to complete a deployment).
As for BAH, congress is looking for STEP Program funding.