Chief of Naval Personnel, Vice Adm. Robert Burke recently visited the U.S. Navy Sixth Fleet Area of Responsibility, Nov. 5-9.

During his visit to Rota, Spain and Naples, Italy, Burke spoke with Sailors during several All Hands Calls, highlighting Sailor 2025 initiatives and personnel changes to programs such as physical fitness tests and blended retirement.

In Rota, Burke spoke with Sailors from two of the U.S. forward deployed destroyers, USS Ross (DDG 71) and USS Carney (DDG 64), as well as Sailors from various base and tenant commands, and in Naples, he had the opportunity to speak with base and tenant command Sailors.

"For me, getting to the deck plates, talking with our Sailors about what we are doing in DC, at Naval Personnel Command to make Sailors' lives and their families' lives better is critical to ensuring they know we have their best interest in mind," said Burke. "I need everyone to understand that we are in the process of transforming our processes and systems. It is no longer business as usual."

Burke highlighted Sailor 2025 programs and initiatives, and took a number of questions from Sailors about these efforts, in addition to addressing other personnel concerns.

"Our Sailors are the foundation of everything we do in the Navy. We owe it to them and their families to provide them not just the best warfighting systems, but the best personnel systems we can in order to make things such as pay or detailing more streamlined, efficient and user-friendly," said Burke.

Burke also noted that by optimizing our processes, the U.S. Navy is better positioned to recruit, train and retain the force of tomorrow.

"We are in the customer service business, and the more I know what is on a Sailor's mind, the more our Sailors share with me those things we need to look at and see if we can make improvements, the better we are as a Navy," said Burke. "That's why conducting All Hands Calls around the Fleet is important to me and my team. Communicating with our Sailors, getting their feedback, it's a good thing."

Sailor 2025 is comprised of nearly 45 initiatives to improve and modernize personnel management and training systems to more effectively recruit, develop, manage, reward, and retain the force of tomorrow. It is focused on empowering Sailors, updating policies, procedures, and operating systems, and providing the right training at the right time in the right way to ensure Sailors are ready for the Fleet. Sailor 2025 is organized into three main lines of effort, specifically Personnel System Modernization, Ready Relevant Learning and Career Readiness.

For more information about Sailor 2025 visit the Chief of Naval Personnel website at the following link: http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/career/talentmanagement/Documents/Sailor2025Glossy.pdf

For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy, or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy.

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