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MCPON Outlines Expectations of the First Class Petty Officer
Story Number: NNS080204-14
2/4/2008

By Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist (SW/AW) Bill Houlihan, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Following up on remarks he made to the Surface Navy Association (SNA) National Symposium on Jan. 15, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON)(SW/FMF) Joe R. Campa Jr., has specifically outlined the expectations of a Navy first class petty officer.

On Jan. 29, in communication with the Navy's chiefs mess through his regular newsletter titled, "To the Deckplates," Campa listed those expectations as: First line leadership, rating expertise, professionalism, communication, loyalty, and heritage. To view the newsletter, visit www.navy.mil/navydata/mcpon/Expectations_of_the_PO1.pdf .

Over the past several months, Campa had been stressing the important role played by first class petty officers in his discussions with Sailors around the Navy. At the same time senior enlisted leaders from the fleet were providing their input.

In his remarks to the SNA, Campa emphasized that the Navy doesn't have "a single Sailor to spare," and said that taking greater advantage of the leadership talents of the senior petty officers is critical to Sailor development in the fleet. He reemphasized that last week.

"As our Navy moves forward, we must be able to leverage the leadership and talent that lies within our first class community. The increased demands on our maritime forces and non-traditional missions make it imperative that we strengthen the leadership that we provide our Sailors on the deckplate," said Campa.

Campa said that formalizing the expectations is only the first step. Now it's up to the Navy's first class mess to use that guidance as a means to evaluate their own effectiveness as leaders. Critical to this deckplate initiative will be the involvement of the chief's mess.

"None of these concepts are new and I would say the great majority of our first classes are on board already. Defining clear expectations provides a structure our chiefs can train to and our Sailors can strive for," said Campa.

Campa deliberately inserted the phrase "deckplate triad" into the "Expectations of the First Class Petty Officer" and said he expects it to become a reality in the fleet. Under "Communication," he stated: "First class petty officers clearly communicate standards to the Sailors they lead, while consistently keeping the chain of command informed. The deckplate triad of division officer, chief petty officer and first class petty officer is only effective with their input and deckplate perspective."

Campa told the SNA audience that the relationship between the chief and the division officer has always been strong, and should remain that way.

"But," he added, "consider how much more effective that leadership team could be if it evolves into a triad to include first class petty officers."

For more news from Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, visit www.news.navy.mil/local/mcpon/.