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Z-Gram #32; dated 23 September 1970

Reenlistment Ceremonies

R 231445Z SEP 70
FM CNO (Z-32)

TO NAVOP

UNCLAS //N05060//BASEGRAM
REENLISTMENT CEREMONIES

1. CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS ARE A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF OUR NAVAL HERITAGE. TIME HONORED CEREMONIES SUCH AS MERITORIOUS MASTS AND PIPING THE SIDE FOR RETIREMENT INCREASE ESPRIT DE CORPS AND PROMOTE A SENSE OF PERSONAL SATISFACTION IN THE NAVY MAN OR WOMAN BEING HONORED.

2. ONE OF THE MAJOR EVENTS IN THE LIVES OF OUR CAREER ENLISTED PEOPLE IS THEIR REENLISTMENT. SOMETIMES REENLISTMENTS ARE CONDUCTED IN A PERFUNCTORY MANNER WITHOUT ADEQUATE CEREMONY. AS THE SIZE OF THE NAVY IS REDUCED, WE ARE PLACING INCREASED EMPHASIS ON THE REQUIREMENT THAT ONLY THE HIGHEST QUALITY MEN AND WOMEN BE REENLISTED FOR CAREER SERVICE. THUS, IT FOLLOWS THAT REENLISTMENTS SHOULD BE MEANINGFUL OCCASIONS MARKED BY APPROPRIATE CEREMONIES.

3. IN ORDER TO RENDER THE FULL RECOGNITION THAT REENLISTMENTS DESERVE, I DESIRE THAT ALL COMMANDING OFFICERS REVIEW THEIR COMMAND’S REENLISTMENT PROCEDURES FOR HONORING ITS REENLISTEES. THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES ARE CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE TO MARK REENLISTMENTS OF OUR NAVY MEN AND WOMEN:

A. THE REENLISTEE’S DESIRES BE CONSIDERED IN DETERMINING THE TIME AND PLACE OF THE CEREMONY.

B. THE COMMANDING OFFICER OR, IN HIS ABSENCE, THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER PRESIDE OVER THE CEREMONY. NOTWITHSTANDING THE ABOVE, THE MEMBER’S DESIRES FOR A PARTICULAR OFFICER TO ADMINISTER THE OATH SHOULD BE ACCOMMODATED.

C. THE FAMILY, SPECIAL GUESTS AND SHIPMATES DESIRED BY THE REENLISTEE BE INVITED TO THE CEREMONY, AS APPROPRIATE.

D. PHOTOGRAPHIC COVERAGE BE MADE OF THE CEREMONY AND PRESENTED TO THE REENLISTEE. WHEREVER POSSIBLE, PRESS RELEASES SHOULD BE MADE TO THE APPROPRIATE MEDIA, I.E., SHIP/STATION, HOMETOWN, LOCAL NEWSPAPERS.

E. A BRIEF SOCIAL GATHERING, WITH SIMPLE REFRESHMENTS, FOR THE REENLISTEE AND HIS GUESTS FOLLOWING THE CEREMONY.

F. TRANSPORTATION WITHIN A NAVAL INSTALLATION BE PROVIDED TO AND FROM THE CEREMONY FOR THE REENLISTEE’S GUESTS, IF APPROPRIATE.

G. SPECIAL LIBERTY AND/OR REENLISTMENT LEAVE SHOULD BE GRANTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FOLLOWING THE REENLISTMENT.

H. OTHER APPROPRIATE RECOGNITION WHICH PERSONALIZES THE OCCASION.

4. THE NAVY OFFERS A FULL RANGE OF REENLISTMENT OPTIONS TO ATTRACT OUR HIGHEST QUALITY PEOPLE. THEREFORE, IT IS ONLY FITTING THAT WE TAKE A FEW EXTRA STEPS TO ENSURE PROPER RECOGNITION OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN AT A CAREER HIGHLIGHT. ENHANCEMENT OF THE REENLISTMENT CEREMONY WILL RAISE THE STATURE OF THE OCCASION IN THE EYES OF THE REENLISTEE, HIS FAMILY, AND HIS SHIPMATES. E. R. ZUMWALT, JR., ADMIRAL, U. S. NAVY, CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS.
BT

[END]
Published: Mon Oct 03 07:09:21 EDT 2016