There is a saying in the Navy: "You're a Sailor first."

Though Sailors have specific rates that designate what job they do in the Navy, they also have the job of being a Sailor. They must stand watch, maintain the material readiness of their ship and be ready to fight fire, flooding or any other danger that threatens the ship they serve aboard. With all of these responsibilities, it can be difficult for Sailors to steer their military career in the right direction.

It is the job of a command career counselor (CCC) to help guide and instruct Sailors along their desired career path.

"Primarily we're responsible for giving information to Sailors so they can make informed decisions regarding their career progression," said Senior Chief Navy Counselor Nickole Palmore-Seay, a CCC assigned to aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73).

According to the career counselor page on the Navy Personnel Command (NPC) website, "The CCC serves as the critical link between an individual Sailor, his or her command, and supporting Navy organizations, including NPC. On behalf of the commanding officer, the CCC is responsible for managing the Navy Enlisted Retention and Career Development Program within his or her command. Assigned to a position of great trust, the CCC reports directly to the executive officer via the command master chief, chief of the boat, or senior enlisted leader."

CCCs deal with things like ensuring Sailors' Career Development Boards (CDBs) are conducted and entered into the Career Management System.

CDBs are a periodic review of a Sailor's career progression by departmental leadership and a career counselor, which are designed to provide the Sailor with the guidance needed to successfully manage their own careers and to meet personal and professional goals.

According to a 2012 Navy.mil article titled, "Career Development Boards Chart Course for Navy Career" from Navy Personnel Command-PMW 240 Public Affairs, "CDBs become the backbone of a Sailor's career in setting goals and guiding educational courses."

"CDBs really helped me lay out a plan for the direction I wanted my career to go in," said Personnel Specialist 3rd Class Victoria Gonzalez. "They are a great tool for Sailors to utilize."

No matter where Sailors are in their naval careers, CCCs play a vital role in their career progression.

"What we do can make or break a person's career," said Palmore-Seay. "I take it extremely seriously because their livelihood is in my hands."

CCCs are usually rated Navy counselors. Unlike other ratings, NC is not open to incoming recruits and the rating must attract petty officers second and first class with career counselor experience from the fleet to cross-rate to NC.

"As a young Sailor coming in, I didn't have anybody to help me or teaching me the way things worked when it came to my career," said Quartermaster 1st Class Teri Richards, who is in the process of cross-rating to Navy counselor. "So if I could be that person that could help that Sailor get what they want out of their career, that's the joy right there and that's why I want to became a career counselor."

CCCs are vital in helping junior and senior Sailors navigate the various obstacles and opportunities throughout their naval careers.

To learn more about services offered by a command career counselor, see your departmental career counselor or visit http://www.cool.navy.mil/usn/enlisted/ccc.

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

For more news from USS George Washington (CVN 73), visit http://www.navy.mil/.