CSADD Rallies Will Navigate Sailors to Make Good Decisions

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy will hold two rallies in May and June to promote sound decision-making and leadership development among junior Sailors, according to NAVADMIN 124/12, released April 17.

The Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decision (CSADD) rallies will take place at Naval Station Norfolk, Va., May 22-23 and at Naval Base Coronado, Calif., June 12-13.

CSAAD is a peer mentoring program for active and reserve Sailors, Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) candidates, and Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) cadets aimed at promoting good decision-making and leadership development at the most junior levels.

The theme for the rallies is "Navigating Success" and participation is open to all CSADD regions, chapters and local area command leadership. The rallies are designed to provoke thought and inspire young leaders to discuss a variety of issues affecting the fleet, such as sexual assault awareness, bystander intervention, responsible alcohol use, off-duty safety and Sailor family readiness.

CSADD encourages positive behavior by bringing together Sailors through both online social networking to foster peer interaction and in-person networking.

"We need to communicate and interact with junior Sailors in the way that best speaks to them," said Chief of Naval Personnel Fleet Master Chief Scott Benning. "One of the best methods is by Sailors interacting with each other - tackling these important issues together to foster discussion, share experiences, provoke thought and create awareness.

"The rally's message is simple," continued Benning. "This is about shipmates learning from and helping shipmates. Since CSADD's inception, we have seen improvements in all areas of personal readiness and safety - our goal with these rallies is to motivate Sailors to build on that success."

CSADD Sailors are taking on leadership challenges both on and off-duty, reinforcing both the core principles of CSADD and the Navy's 21st Century Sailor and Marine initiative, according to Benning.

The 21st Century Sailor and Marine initiative which consolidates a set of objectives and policies, new and existing, to maximize Sailor and Marine personal readiness, build resiliency and hone the most combat-effective force in the history of the Navy and Marine Corps.

"Making good decisions - and Sailors encouraging their shipmates to make the right choice - is critical to Sailor and Fleet readiness," said Master Chief Hospital Corpsman Keith Wright, CSADD coordinator and organizer of the rallies. "These rallies will offer the opportunity for more peer-to-peer interaction on issues that directly affect the readiness of our Navy, and will empower our Sailors to develop themselves as tomorrow's leaders."

Currently there are more than 250 CSADD chapters operating across the Navy.

For more information about CSADD, visit http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/support/CSADD/Pages/default2.aspx and the CSADD Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Coalition-of-Sailors-Against-Destructive-Decisions-CSADD/299642495316.

For more news from Chief of Naval Personnel, visit www.navy.mil/local/cnp/.