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Z-Gram #109; dated 26 April 1972

Recruiting

R 260110Z APR 72
FM CNO (Z-109)

TO NAVOP

UNCLAS//N01300
RECRUITING

1. THE SMALL AND DECREASING NUMBER OF MEN BEING DRAFTED HAS PLACED US IN A VIRTUALLY ALL-VOLUNTEER FORCE SITUATION. THIS FACT IS CLEARLY EVIDENT BY OUR FAILURE IN RECENT MONTHS TO ATTRACT SUFFICIENT QUALITY PERSONNEL. IT IS PERFECTLY CLEAR THAT NOW, MORE THAN EVER, WE MUST NOT ONLY INCREASE RETENTION BY CONTINUING EMPHASIS ON UPGRADING THE ATTRACTIVENESS OF A NAVY CAREER, BUT WE MUST REVITALIZE OUR RECRUITING EFFORTS.

2. I HAVE RECENTLY DECLARED THAT RECRUITING IS MY TOP PRIORITY. SPECIFICALLY, THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES ARE ESTABLISHED IN SUPPORT OF RECRUITING GOALS:

A. OFFICER AND ENLISTED PERSONNEL NOMINATED FOR DUTY IN RECRUITING MUST BE HIGHLY MOTIVATED AND MEET THE HIGHEST PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL STANDARDS. COMMANDING OFFICERS SHOULD CONSIDER MEMBERS OF HIS COMMAND WHO DISPLAY EXCEPTIONAL ABILITIES AT EFFECTING INCREASED RETENTION WHEN NOMINATING PERSONNEL FOR RECRUITING DUTY. YOUNG, DYNAMIC LEADERS WHO POSSESS ENTHUSIASM, PRIDE AND MILITARY SMARTNESS ARE MOST DESIRABLE TO PRESENT THE NAVY IMAGE TO TODAY’S YOUTH. IT IS A MATTER OF URGENCY THAT THESE PEOPLE BE IDENTIFIED AND ASSIGNED TO RECRUITING DUTY. EXCELLENCE IN THE PERFORMANCE OF RECRUITING DUTIES WILL BE RECOGNIZED IN THE SAME MANNER AS TOP PERFORMANCE IS IN OTHER FIELDS. OPENINGS ARE AVAILABLE IN PAYGRADES E-4 THROUGH E-9 AND O-2 THROUGH 0-6. THERE ARE RECRUITING BILLETS IN VIRTUALLY EVERY SECTION OF THE CONUS.

B. IN SEEKING TO ATTRACT OFFICER AND ENLISTED CANDIDATES TO JOIN THE NAVY OR NAVAL RESERVE, WE MUST ENSURE THAT QUALITY STANDARDS ARE MAINTAINED. IF THERE MUST BE A COMPROMISE, I WILL ACCEPT FEWER PEOPLE TO MEET THOSE STANDARDS RATHER THAN ACHIEVING MANPOWER GOALS AT THE EXPENSE OF QUALITY AND FUTURE POTENTIAL. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE WE CAN DO BOTH, AND WE MUST STRIVE TO DO SO.

3. ALTHOUGH OUR RECRUITERS MUST BEAR THE MAJOR PART OF THE TASK TO RECRUIT MEN AND WOMEN FOR OUR NAVY, ALL OF US CAN CONTRIBUTE OUR SHARE. I ASK THAT EACH MAN, ACTIVE, RESERVE AND RETIRED, CONSIDER HIMSELF A RECRUITER, TELL OTHERS OF HIS NAVY EXPERIENCE, AND ENCOURAGE INTERESTED YOUNG PEOPLE TO CONTACT A RECRUITING OFFICER. IN CONUS STARTING 1 MAY THROUGH 31 AUGUST 1972 THEY CAN LEARN WHERE THE NEAREST RECRUITING OFFICE IS BY CALLING THIS TOLL FREE NUMBER: 800-424-8880.

4. I CANNOT OVER-EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF ATTRACTING MOTIVATED PERSONNEL TO JOIN US. IT MUST BE AN ALL HANDS EFFORT AND, I WANT ALL OF YOU TO KNOW THAT I NEED YOUR HELP. E. R. ZUMWALT, JR., U.S. NAVY, CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS.

BT

__________

ACRONYMS/ABBREVIATIONS:
CONUS: continental United States

[END]
Published: Mon Oct 31 06:42:24 EDT 2016