NMCP Scores Near Perfect for Retention Excellence Award

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (NNS) -- Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP) celebrated the receipt of the Retention Excellence Award for fiscal year 2012 March 21, after receiving the highest score of all Navy Medicine commands - a 99 percent - during the recent Career Information Program inspection.

During the celebration, Capt. James Hancock, deputy commander, NMCP; and Command Master Chief (SW/AW/FMF) Michael James, presented the award certificate and Golden Anchor pennant to the Career Counselor department staff. The award represents a command's success and dedication to the growth and development of its enlisted Sailors.

"This award recognizes the hard work of our Command Career Counselor staff and Command Development Team, who assist NMCP staff, which also includes those at all of our branch health clinics," James said. "I am proud that we've earned the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery's (BUMED) Retention Excellence Award, which is the first time this achievement has been made here in nearly a decade."

To receive the award, a command must pass the rigorous CIP inspection with a minimum score of 85 percent. The near-perfect score achieved by NMCP is exceptional given that within the staff of about a dozen, only the department's senior enlisted leader is a rated Navy counselor.

"I really want to highlight the non-formally trained staff in this office, which is probably the biggest part of this," said Senior Chief Navy Counselor Kevin Reep. "With only a few who have attended Career Counselor School, most have no formal training, and they really get the job done. With just their sheer will and determination, they have made this possible."

Reep is actually the first rated Navy counselor to be stationed at NMCP, and through his leadership and training since December 2011, improved the knowledge and skills of those in the office, enabling the department to earn the award.

"The major changes we made were getting 'Brilliant on the Basics,' ensuring timelines and requirements were met," Reep said. "We involved the Directorate Retention Team members and focused 100 percent on Sailor milestones. The direct guidance and support of the command's leadership catapulted and empowered my team to seek out and meet challenges in ways not common in the career development field.

"Understanding the Navy Surgeon General's priorities, they recognize that we need 'full up round' Sailors, focused on the mission, which is best achieved when you remove career obstacles. Lastly, we held people accountable at all levels of leadership for the development of our Sailors, and it shows in our outstanding first-term retention rates," Reep said.

During the annual inspection, a 27-page checklist, Sailor development and retention programs were assessed. The command was evaluated against several benchmarks, including retention for Sailors in various stages of their career, how well the command's career development and retention teams function, the timely submission of Perform-to-Serve Program packages, and if there is a proper ratio of career development/retention team members to enlisted staff.

"Each person in this office knows all the jobs in the office, but has ownership of a particular program," said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Lisa Zurek, the department's leading petty officer. "For instance, Petty Officer Ransom, a third class, is in charge of Officer Programs."

Through all their hard work, the bottom line for the staff is the recognition of that work through the receipt of the award.

"This is a big deal," Zurek said. "Last year, the inspection did not go as well, and now, we are at the top of the mark. To get this award and look back at all the hard work, we could not be a happier bunch of people. It is a big sense of accomplishment."

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