Makin Island Sailors Attend CPO 365 Leadership Symposium

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Nearly 200 first class petty officers and chief petty officers (CPO) assigned to amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) gathered at the base theater on board Naval Base San Diego to take part in the ship's first CPO 365 leadership symposium April 4.

Makin Island's symposium served as a forum to help the ship's first class petty officers improve their leadership skills, learn more about Navy history and heritage, and gain insight on what is expected from them by the ship's senior leadership.

"The state of the Navy is based on the state of the nation, and here on Makin Island we must all lead by example and treat all with respect regardless of pay grade, race or gender," said Makin Island Commanding Officer Capt. Cedric E. Pringle, whose opening remarks kicked off the half-day event. "Excellence is always our standard, and we as leaders are in complete control of our environment and must train our young Sailors by the book, with precision. None of this comes without hard work."

Expeditionary Strike Group 3 Senior Enlisted Leader Command Master Chief Rosa Wilson, also spoke to symposium participants during the opening session.

"As first class petty officers, you will be tested, tried and accepted during your 365 training," Wilson told the group. "You must expand your knowledge and leadership skills, take ownership of your actions and believe in yourself. If you apply these things everyday, you will continue to see positive results throughout your Navy career."

The CPO 365 training program was first launched in 2010, under then Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Rick West. Current MCPON Michael D. Stevens revised the program for 2012-2013, amending course curriculum and reinforcing a year-round training schedule for all first class petty officers.

"Training on the 'Brilliant on the Basics' concept, core values and high standards should be, and will be, non-stop on the road to becoming a Navy chief," said Makin Island Command Master Chief Steven Alt, who organized the symposium. "Being proactive and constantly engaged in your Sailor's lives, both on and off duty, will allow you to gain responsibility, accountability and respect which are very important key elements of being a successful CPO."

Alt said one part of Makin Island's CPO 365 program that is different from most of the fleet is that the ship's first class petty officers are divided into eight teams. Each team is named after a famous CPO in naval history.

Each of the teams is also led by a group of master, senior and chief petty officers. Alt said the goal of this organizational structure is to make training more in-depth and give participants a smaller group in which to discuss Navy and command policies.

As part of the symposium, a member of each team presented the history of the team's namesake by telling the story of that particular CPO in naval history.

Training for the group during the symposium also focused on the chief of naval operations' three tenets of "warfighting first, operate forward and be ready."

First class petty officers who attended said they enjoyed the training and format in which the information was presented.

"This symposium offered a lot of important information and was a great stepping stone for leadership training, not only for junior first classes, but for all who attended," said Engineman 1st Class Jevaras Barber from Makin Island's engineering department. "I am also looking forward to future symposiums and training sessions, because I think it is a great way to prepare for advancing to that next level of leadership."

CPO 365 is just one of the many personal and professional development programs available on board Makin Island. These programs have helped to create a "continuum of professionalism" for all Makin Island Sailors from the moment they receive orders to the ship throughout their entire time on board.

Makin Island returned from a seven-month deployment June 22, making history as the first U.S. Navy ship to deploy using a hybrid-electric propulsion system. By using this unique propulsion system, the ship saved more than $15 million in fuel costs and the Navy expects to see fuel cost savings of more than $250 million, over the course of the ship's lifecycle. Lessons learned during Makin Island's maiden deployment prove the Navy's commitment to energy awareness and conservation and will positively influence future ship designs for several decades.

This initiative is one of many throughout the Navy and Marine Corps that will enable the Department of the Navy to achieve the secretary of the Navy's energy goals to improve our energy security and efficiency afloat and ashore, increase our energy independence and help lead the nation toward a clean energy economy.

The ship is currently undergoing a planned maintenance availability (PMA) at Naval Base San Diego. During this seven-month PMA period, Makin Island will receive numerous equipment upgrades, modernization, and general repairs. The PMA period will also help to ensure the ship will reach the full service life of at least 40 years.

For more news from USS Makin Island (LHD 8), visit www.navy.mil/local/lhd8/.