NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY NAPLES, Italy –
What an exciting day! Today we welcome the newest chiefs and their families into the ranks of the Chiefs Mess and I could not be more pleased. Pinning on the gold fouled anchors of a chief petty officer is, for many, the crowning achievement in a sailor's career and being part of that small group selected out of more than 18,000 active duty E-6 Sailors this year is no small feat. I know any one of them can tell you that the drive to get here has required sacrifices and dedicated support from their families.
Being a leader in today’s military is no easy task. We as a country are seeking to maintain our maritime supremacy and that requires building partnerships and blazing new trails.
The 2018 National Defense Strategy highlights our nation’s challenges and prioritizes building a more lethal force, strengthening alliances and attracting new partners, while reforming the department for greater performance and affordability as the way forward.
“In this environment, there can be no complacency—we must make difficult choices and prioritize what is most important to field a lethal, resilient, and rapidly adapting Joint Force. America’s military has no preordained right to victory on the battlefield. (Summary of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, 2018, pg. 1)”
This means every day as the Chief, our decision makers require you to be innovative. Look around at the processes that have always been and see if there is a way to make it more efficient. This means more then just having the best equipment, it means taking a look at our training practices, it means taking the time to assess your Sailors. It also means that you must educate yourself on the programs that matter to the Navy and endeavor to maintain your rating proficiency so you can guide your Sailors and your leaders through the rapidly changing challenges on the horizon.
I CHARGE the Mess to lean on the Creed training we covered this season and use those tenants discussed to drive your decisions and maintain our lethality! These objectives should be in the forefront of your mind shaping every decision that you make.
So enjoy your day Shipmates, and tomorrow come in fully equipped to work because it is a privilege to lead our Sailors. Bear in mind there is an urgency with which you must operate; we are the ready guardians of freedom. We shall depend on you now and in the years to come, shaping our Sailors, to administer our programs, and to prepare our fleets for the missions to come. Strength and Honor.
Navy Chief, Navy Pride!
FLTCM Raymond D. Kemp, Sr.