NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY NAPLES, Italy –
Vice Adm. John B. Nowell Jr., the chief of naval personnel (CNP), delivered remarks to Sailors during an all-hands call at Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy, Oct. 10, 2019.
The CNP is responsible for overall manpower readiness of the Navy.
“The reason that I'm here as your CNP is to discuss how the Navy is working hard at managing talent; the talent of the folks that are coming in to relieve you and that you're currently utilizing,” said Nowell. “We're working on doing a better job supporting you and your families. And we're doing it because in the 21st century, we have the ability to manage talent differently. We have the ability to get rid of antiquated systems and policies.”
Nowell discussed Sailor 2025, the Navy’s program to improve and modernize personnel management and training systems to more effectively recruit, develop, manage, reward, and retain the force of tomorrow. This policy is focused on empowering Sailors, updating policies, procedures, and operating systems, and providing the right training at the right time in the right way to ensure Sailors are ready for the Fleet.
“In the 21st century we are organized to deliver better talent management to you with more flexibility, more agility, and more options,” said Nowell. “The three pillars of Sailor 2025 - Personnel System Modernization, Ready Relevant Learning (RRL) and Career Readiness - helps us develop you as leaders and answers important questions like, how do we take care of your wellness? How do we take care of each other, and by the way, our families?”
Nowell highlighted the importance of RRL to keep up with changing technology and adopt current and future initiatives.
“The rate of technological change is outpacing our ability to “roll with-it,”” said Nowell. “And, if Sailors do not read, if they don't listen to podcasts, if they don't take college classes (some of which we're going to deliver), then Sailors will fall behind.”
Before taking questions from the audience, Nowell stressed the importance of maintaining readiness in an era of great power competition.
“We are growing the Navy,” said Nowell. “We are adding approximately 22,000 Sailors by the end of 2023. We’re filling gaps at sea and we need to keep all of you.”
Nowell was sworn in as the 59th CNP in May 2019.
U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, oversees joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.