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Z-Gram #2; dated 14 July 1970 

Retention Study Groups

R 141350Z JUL 70

FM CNO (Z-02)

TO NAVOP

UNCLAS //N01110//

RETENTION STUDY GROUPS

1. NO OTHER PROBLEM CONCERNS ME AS DEEPLY AS REVERSING THE DOWNWARD TREND OF NAVY RETENTION RATES AND I AM COMMITTING MYSELF TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF NAVY LIFE IN ALL RESPECTS AND RESTORING THE FUN AND ZEST OF GOING TO SEA. IN ORDER TO EXPAND THE AVENUES THROUGH WHICH YOUNG OFFICERS AND MEN CAN EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS AND TO GUARANTEE CONSIDERATION OF THESE VIEWS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL, I HAVE APPOINTED A YOUNG LIEUTENANT AS A SPECIAL ASSISTANT FOR RETENTION WHO WILL CHAIR A CONTINUING STUDY GROUP AT THE CENTER FOR NAVAL ANALYSIS COMPOSED EXCLUSIVELY OF YOUNG OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL BRANCHES OF THE OFFICER CORPS AND A CROSS SECTION OF ENLISTED RATINGS. THIS GROUP WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO REVIEW ANY POLICIES OR PRACTICES WHICH BEAR ON RETENTION AND MORALE, AND THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS WILL BE PRESENTED DIRECTLY TO ME AS WELL AS TO THE OTHER KEY NAVY OFFICIALS ON A REGULAR BASIS.

2. PRIOR TO 1 SEPTEMBER, I INTEND TO ROTATE REPRESENTATIVE GROUPS OF JUNIOR OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN FROM THE MAJOR SURFACE, AVIATION AND SUBMARINE COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE STUDY GROUP, IN ORDER TO SURFACE THOSE CURRENT VIEWS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE FLEET WHICH APPEAR TO REPRESENT CONSENSUS. THESE VIEWS AND THE PERSPECTIVE THEY REFLECT WILL BE OF GREAT VALUE TO ME AS I BEGIN AN IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF CURRENT POLICIES.

3. THIS EFFORT WILL IN NO WAY DUPLICATE OR DIMINISH THE IMPORTANCE OF ON-GOING EFFORTS TO IMPROVE NAVY RETENTION, BUT RATHER THIS COUNCIL WILL PERMIT ME TO KEEP PERSONALLY APPRISED OF THE VIEWS OF JUNIOR OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN AND WILL MAKE CLEAR THE IMPORTANCE WHICH I ATTACH TO THE CONCERNS OF YOUNG MEN THROUGHOUT THE NAVY.

4. THE FIRST GROUP OF OFFICERS WILL CONVENE ON 20 JULY AND SEPARATE GUIDANCE WILL BE ISSUED EXTENDING THE INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE. E. R. ZUMWALT, ADMIRAL, U.S. NAVY.

BT

____________

Transcription note: Signature block of the original message does not include “Jr.” or “Chief of Naval Operations.”

[END]
Published: Wed Jan 05 16:31:49 EST 2022