Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON)(AW/NAC) Michael D. Stevens conducted a three-day trip visiting Navy Region Northwest April 16-18.
During the trip, Stevens held all-hands calls with Sailors, Marines and civilians stationed on Naval Base Kitsap (NBK), Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI), and Naval Station Everett (NSE).
MCPON also visited Sailors assigned to tenant commands in the Pacific Northwest: the Ohio-class fleet ballistic submarine USS Louisiana (SSBN 743) at NBK Bangor, and the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG 60) and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Momsen (DDG 92) at NSE.
“I’m just grateful and blessed to have the opportunity to serve in this position for you because you are who I work for,” said Stevens. “You are my boss and I serve you.”
At the all-hands calls Stevens answered multiple questions from Sailors about various Navy topics including perform-to-serve, the enlisted retention board, tuition assistance and cross-rating conversion.
“It seems like he means business and I feel he’s going to make a lot of changes, most likely for the better,” said Electronics Technician 2nd Class Theodore Reilmann, assigned to Intermediate Maintenance Facility Bangor. “Maybe there’ll be some we may not like, but it will benefit us as Sailors for the future.”
Aviation Structural Mechanic 2nd Class Antonio Watts, Sr., assigned to Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron One, explained why he enjoyed the all-hands call at NASWI.
“I appreciate MCPON taking his time out of his busy day to keep us in the loop with what’s going on in the Navy,” said Watts. “It shows his concerns for us, his ‘shipmates.’ I like the fact that MCPON did not shy away from any of the questions, and he answered the questions honestly and to the point.”
At the end of the all hands call at NBK Bangor, Stevens gave the three principles he tries to live by and how he’s been successful in the Navy: work hard every single day, stay out of trouble and be a good person.
“Some people think you can’t be that and be a war fighter, well I’m going to tell you you’re wrong,” said Stevens. “Some of the greatest warriors this world has ever known are the most decent people you will ever know.
“So work hard, stay out of trouble, be a good and decent person and you will have a successful career,” said Stevens. “More importantly you will be successful in life.”
MCPON also spoke with NRNW chief petty officers about his initiative, ‘Zeroing in on Excellence.’ This initiative consists of three focus areas; developing leaders, good order and discipline, and controlling what the Navy owns.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, April 19, 2013; Image: US Navy