"Brilliant" on the basics? Some commands don't even have the light on.

If you were to assess your command in these six categories, how would you score? 

The foundation for success in any command can, in part, be attributed to these six areas that form the enduring foundation upon which a successful career can belaunched: 

 

1. Sponsorship/first 72 hours:

Proactive interaction by a sponsor and ombudsman can solve many issues before the Sailor and family arrives aboard. Paving the way for a smooth transition and making each Navy family feel like a genuine part of their new command can ensure a family commitment of support to enable success for all. 

 

2. Assign a Mentor:

Leader’s should be proactive in mentoring; give junior Sailors and peers the benefit of your experience. There are formal and informal means in which to execute an effective mentorship program. Each of us can attribute our own success to a great mentor. Ensure our Sailors understand the value of senior and peer mentorship. 

 

3. Indoctrination:

A great sponsorship program must be followed up by an effective indoctrination program. This will send a strong, positive signal that we value the talent and skills of the Sailor and we have a plan to integrate them into the team. Additionally it immediately sets the tone on what you expect of the Sailor and also what should be expected from you. Requirements and best practices can be found in OPNAVINST 1740.3C. 

 

4. Leadership: 

Career Development Boards (CDBs) - Leadership involvement, primarily by the CMC, the Chief’s mess and the Command Career Counselor, is critical to the success of every Sailor. CDBs are required within 30 days of a Sailor reporting aboard, and again at 6 and 12 months. (Many commands can't get EVALs/FITREPS done on time and you can imagine their success in accomplishing the CDB requirement).

 

5. Ombudsman program:

Ombudsman are trained to disseminate information from the chain of command to the families, including official command information, Quality Of Life opportunities, and community information. They can also provide referrals and are instrumental in resolving family issues before the issues require extensive command attention. EverySailor and Family member should know the Command Ombudsman. How do you advertise your Ombudsman? 

 

6. Recognition:

The end of tour should not be the only time a Sailor is recognized. Recognition can also include mid-tour awards, Flag Letters Of Commendation, letters of appreciation, and highlighting accomplishments in the POD and other public venues. Be creative, praise in public, and make your Sailors know they are appreciated. Something as simple as public recognition, a hand shake or a pat on the back often means more than an official award.

 

The power of letters. Our Navy's leadership's willingness to recognize our greatest generation's contribution to the good of our country. I asked Admiral Dave Gove to recognize my OCS instructor as "Honorary Navigator of the Navy". This act of generosity cost less than a dollar and paid off in years of good feelings and warmed an old Sailor's heart. CWO4 Exum was wounded at Iwo Jima at 18 years old while landing Marines aboard an LCS. He served from WWII, through the Korean War and Vietnam War, retiring in 1985. His only personal award for achievement was a Navy Achievement Medal in his last tour for saving a ship from sinking in San Francisco Bay (1985).

The number 1 handwritten letter influencer in the United Kingdom

 I did a random survey of 100 people on my Socials about who the number 1 handwritten letter influencer in the United Kingdom was.

The results are not surprising to me.

Dinah Johnson, founder of The Handwritten Letter Appreciation Society in Swanage, Dorset, United Kingdom was easily #1.

You can find her here https://thehandwrittenletterappreciationsociety.org/

I was member #0005 and she now has over 1100 members.

Her manifesto is simple:

MANIFESTO:

• We believe that a handwritten letter is one of the loveliest, most personal things, anyone can receive.
• We feel people may be missing a handwritten letter or two in their lives.
• We pledge to keep handwritten letters alive by encouraging people to carry on writing them.
• We see a person’s handwriting as a thing of beauty.
• Along with handwriting we feel all stationery and the Postal Service are wondrous things and something to be used regularly.
• We want others to be the collectors of their loved-ones’, friends’, and sometimes (if they are lucky) famous people’s handwriting.
• We would say “Just go for it!” You don’t need to be Jane Austen or Thomas Hardy to write someone a letter.
• In a pledge to encourage intimacy through letter writing we would only urge caution regarding sharing whole letters on-line. Those with permission are a wonderful insight and inspiration but those without kind of puts a spanner in the works and defeats the object of writing personal letters.
• We would definitely love to see the places where people write letters, e.g. dining room table, study, library, on a bus, in the summerhouse/treehouse/shed, tearoom, train, up a mountain, on a boat, in a classroom, in fact, anywhere you like.  It doesn’t always have to be the same place – just send us a photo to inspire us . (See Gallery.)
• Finally, may your love of handwritten letters be forever ignited and rekindled.