TR Earns Retention Excellence Award

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (NNS) -- The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) was awarded the Fleet Forces Command Retention Excellence Award, formerly known as the Golden Anchor Award, for achieving outstanding retention in the Fiscal Year 2012, Jan. 17.

The Retention Excellence Award is awarded annually to commands that meet or exceed the retention expectations and criteria set forth by the chief of naval operations.

As a result of achieving this milestone, Theodore Roosevelt is allowed to paint its anchors gold.

"To be put in for this award, you have to pass their assessment with an 85 percent or better, maintain a zone attrition of five percent or lower, and achieve a Professional Apprenticeship Career Track (PACT) in the system," said Senior Chief Navy Counselor Stephanie Wood, TR's command career counselor.

According to Wood, there are a multitude of reasons that Sailors are deciding to reenlist or make a career out of the Navy.

"I think a big reason that more and more people want to stay in the Navy is the economy on the outside," said Wood. "Perform to Serve (PTS) was also a big decision maker for the Navy. The New G.I. Bill was also a big decision maker for a lot of Sailors to either say, 'I'm going to stay and either give the G.I. bill to my child or my spouse.' Another big reason that people are staying in are because of the medical and dental benefits that the Navy offers."

Although winning the award was a ship-wide effort, Navy Counselor 1st Class Zach Schwarting, a career counselor aboard TR, also credits the efforts of departmental and divisional career counselors.

"One thing that made it possible to win this award was engaged departmental and divisional career counselors working with the deckplates," said Schwarting. "They are just making sure that they are looking out for their Sailors."

Theodore Roosevelt is in its final year of refueling and complex overhaul in Newport News, Va., and is preparing to rejoin the operational fleet.

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For more news from USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn71/.