Vice Adm. Bill Moran, chief of naval personnel (CNP), and Fleet Master Chief April Beldo, fleet master chief of Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education (MPT&E), visited the crew of guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), providing them with the latest information on manning, pay and benefits, Aug. 10.
CNP took time to reenlist Fire Controlman 3rd Class Stephen Ray and Electronics Technician 2nd Class Matthew Smith. During the ceremony Moran asked the crew members in the audience to raise their right hands and swear the oath of enlistment with them.
Among top concerns addressed by Moran and Beldo were the ending of imminent danger pay, the lack of rates for Professional Apprenticeship Career Tracks seaman to strike into, and back to back deployments for Sailors who have to transfer from a ship just returning from deployment to a ship just starting one.
Philippine Sea is deployed as part of the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.