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Z-Gram #93; dated 6 July 1971

People Programs

R 061627Z JUL 71
FM CNO (Z-93)

UNCLAS//N00000//
PEOPLE PROGRAMS

1. DURING THE PAST YEAR I HAVE WATCHED WITH CONTINUED SATISFACTION THE PROGRESS OF PERSONNEL-ORIENTED INITIATIVES WE HAVE TAKEN. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU MY ASSESSMENT OF WHERE WE STAND.

2. I ASSUMED DUTIES AS CNO AT A TIME WHEN IT HAD NEVER BEEN CLEARER THAT WE MUST ATTRACT AND RETAIN MORE HIGH-QUALITY PERSONNEL OF ALL RANKS AND RATES TO MAN THE NAVY OF THE 1970S. SECRETARY CHAFEE AND MY PREDECESSOR, ADMIRAL MOORER, HAD RECOGNIZED THIS NEED AND HAD INITIATED ACTIONS TO IMPROVE RETENTION. WITH THE SECRETARY’S INVALUABLE ASSISTANCE AND FULL SUPPORT, WE HAVE BUILT ON THESE INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO REFLECT THE NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS OF OUR SHIPMATES. I BELIEVE THESE NEW POLICIES HAVE ACHIEVED SOME DEGREE OF SUCCESS. AS YOU KNOW OUR PROGRAMS ARE AIMED AT PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST IN PRIORITY. I'VE BEEN ESPECIALLY PLEASED WITH THE CUMULATIVE RESULTS OF THE INITIATIVES WE HAVE TAKEN FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL RANKS AND RATES WITHIN OUR NAVY. FOR EXAMPLE, EVEN A CURSORY REVIEW OF THE PROGRAMS AS A WHOLE REVEALS THAT THEY PROVIDE BENEFITS TO ALL NAVYMEN REGARDLESS OF THE CAREER STATUS, E.G., IMPROVED SERVICES, DEPENDENT AIR CHARTER, LEAVE AND WATCH POLICIES, TO MENTION ONLY A FEW. NO ONE SEGMENT OF THE NAVY IS HELD ABOVE ANY OTHER, NOR IS ANY AGE GROUP MORE IMPORTANT TO OUR SUCCESS THAN ANOTHER. WITHOUT THE INVALUABLE PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE OF OUR CAREER OFFICER AND ENLISTED LEADERSHIP THE NAVY COULD NOT SURVIVE AS AN EFFECTIVE FIGHTING FORCE. SIMILARLY, WITHOUT THE ENTHUSIASM AND HARD WORK OF OUR JUNIOR PEOPLE WE COULD NOT OPERATE NOR WOULD WE HAVE A FUTURE.

3. IN ASSESSING THE RESULTS OF OUR PROGRAMS I AM PLEASED TO REPORT THAT SUBSTANTIAL GAINS HAVE BEEN MADE IN RECRUITING, RETENTION, AND THE GROWTH OF CAREER SATISFACTION. MOST ENCOURAGING HAVE BEEN LETTERS AND PERSONAL CONTACTS WHICH CLEARLY INDICATE THAT THE ACTIONS WE ARE TAKING ARE HAVING AN IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS.

4. AS I MOVE INTO THE 2ND YEAR OF MY ASSIGNMENT AS CNO, I WANT TO RESTATE MY VIEWS, THIS TIME IN THE CONTEXT OF THIS ASSESSMENT OF THE FIRST YEAR’S EFFORTS.

A. THE BASIC OBJECTIVE OF OUR PEOPLE PROGRAMS IS TO INSTILL AT ALL LEVELS AN ATTITUDE WHICH CLEARLY RECOGNIZES THE DIGNITY AND WORTH OF EACH INDIVIDUAL AND CREATES AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH EVERY OFFICER AND ENLISTED MAN WILL BE TREATED WITH RESPECT AND ACCORDED THE TRUST, CONFIDENCE, AND RECOGNITION EACH HUMAN BEING WANTS AND DESERVES. THIS IS NOT INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE CONCEPT OF DISCIPLINED MILITARY LIFE, BUT RATHER AN IMPORTANT PART OF ENLIGHTENED, SENSIBLE MILITARY LEADERSHIP. THE KEY TO ACHIEVING OUR OBJECTIVE IS A GENUINE UNDERSTANDING OF THESE CONCEPTS.

B. A BASIC TENET IS THAT WITH RESPECT AND CONFIDENCE GOES A COMMENSURATE DEGREE OF RESPONSIBILITY. WHEN ACCEPTING A PRIVILEGE, AN INDIVIDUAL ALSO ASSUMES THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ABIDE BY THE SPIRIT AND INTENT OF THE POLICY GRANTING THAT PRIVILEGE. WHILE A LARGE MAJORITY HAS RECOGNIZED AND ADHERED TO THIS AXIOM, A FEW HAVE TUNED OUT THE RESPONSIBILITY PART AND SOUGHT ONLY THE PRIVILEGE. THIS SMALL MINORITY HAS CAUSED SOME ANXIETY, BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE NAVY, THAT CHANGES SIGNIFY RELAXATIONS WHICH INEVITABLY WILL LEAD TO A MASS BREAKDOWN IN DISCIPLINE. I DO NOT ACCEPT THIS VIEW, BUT NEITHER DO I INTEND TO PERMIT AN UNDISCIPLINED FEW TO DEPRIVE THE MAJORITY OF THE PRIVILEGES AND BENEFITS OF OUR NEW PROGRAMS.

C. WE ARE FORTUNATE IN HAVING WONDERFUL YOUNG OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN AND WOMEN IN THE SERVICE. THEY ASK TO BE TREATED WITH DIGNITY, GIVEN RESPONSIBILITY, OFFERED CHALLENGE AND BE TESTED. THESE DESIRES UNDERLINE THE NEED FOR THE FINEST AND MOST SOPHISTICATED KIND OF LEADERSHIP AT EVERY SUPERVISORY LEVEL. LEADING THESE BRIGHT AND ENTHUSIASTIC YOUNG PERSONS TODAY POSES A GREAT CHALLENGE, BUT ONE WHICH CAN BE MET WITH A FINE BLEND OF SUPERIOR PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE, FIRM AUTHORITY, UNDERSTANDING AND MUTUAL RESPECT. I KNOW OF NO OTHER GROUP MORE QUALIFIED TO UNDERTAKE SUCCESSFULLY THIS CHALLENGE THAN OUR SENIOR LEADERS, OFFICER AND ENLISTED.

D. I CONSIDER VITAL THE MAINTENANCE OF A VIABLE, TWO-WAY DIALOGUE AT ALL LEVELS OF COMMAND. SEVERAL OF OUR PROGRAMS WERE ESTABLISHED WITH THIS OBJECTIVE IN MIND. THE PERS-P OFFICE, NUMEROUS RETENTION STUDY GROUPS CONVENED HERE IN WASHINGTON, SPECIAL ASSISTANTS FOR MINORITY AFFAIRS, THE WIVES OMBUDSWOMAN PROGRAM, AND THE MANY LOCAL COUNCILS AND COMMITTEES HAVE GENERATED CONSTRUCTIVE AND USEFUL CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION WITHOUT UNDERMINING THE ESSENTIAL CHAIN OF AUTHORITY UPON WHICH OUR MILITARY ORGANIZATION IS BASED. I LOOK TO AN EXPANSION AND GROWING EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE COMMUNICATIONS, PARTICULARLY WITHIN INDIVIDUAL COMMANDS.

5. I HAVE TOUCHED ON ONLY A FEW FUNDAMENTAL IDEAS. WE ARE WORKING ON A BROAD FRONT TO BUILD ON THE ATTRACTIVE FEATURES OF OUR NAVY AND TO IMPROVE WHEREVER WE CAN. IN THE COMING YEARS OUR CHALLENGE PROMISES TO BE EVEN GREATER THAN IN THE PAST. AS THE ALL-VOLUNTEER NAVY DRAWS CLOSER AND AUSTERITY CONTINUES TO REDUCE OUR FUNDING, IT WILL BE INCREASINGLY NECESSARY THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL SHOULDER A LARGER PORTION OF THE JOB OF KEEPING OUR NAVY THE FINEST IN THE WORLD. THIS WILL IN THE FUTURE, AS IT HAS IN THE PAST, REQUIRE THAT EACH OF US CONSIDER OUR SERVICE NOT AS A JOB WHICH REQUIRES ONLY REGULAR HOURS AND LIMITED COMMITMENT, BUT AS A PROFESSION WHICH DEMANDS OF US OUR VERY BEST EFFORTS, FREELY AND WILLINGLY GIVEN, ON BEHALF OF OUR COUNTRY. I URGE EACH OF YOU TO APPROACH OUR PROFESSION WITH THE FULLEST MEASURE OF IMAGINATION, ENTHUSIASM AND DEDICATION TO MAKE THE NAVY AS EFFECTIVE AND READY AS POSSIBLE WHILE, AT THE SAME TIME, STRIVING TO MAKE NAVAL SERVICE A MORE SATISFYING AND ENJOYABLE WAY OF LIFE. WE FACE AN EXCITING FUTURE. IT IS FULL OF CHALLENGE, RESPONSIBILITY AND OPPORTUNITY. OUR ACHIEVEMENTS THIS PAST YEAR ARE DUE TO THE DEDICATED EFFORTS AND LOYAL SUPPORT OF ALL HANDS. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK. E. R. ZUMWALT, JR., ADMIRAL, U. S. NAVY, CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS

BT

__________

ACRONYMS/ABBREVIATIONS:
CNO: Chief of Naval Operations
PERS-P: programs for people

[END]

Published: Mon Oct 17 06:26:10 EDT 2016