The Chief of Naval Personnel (CNP) Vice Adm. Robert Burke and Fleet Master Chief Russell Smith, spoke with Sailors and their spouses Monday at the Naval Leadership & Ethics Center (NLEC) as well as the Navy's Senior Enlisted Academy (SEA) in Newport, Rhode Island.

Burke and Smith met with several hundred leaders and discussed Sailor 2025 as well as other important personnel initiatives, including the Leadership Development Framework that was released last week by the Chief of Naval Operations' office. Burke said during his visit that discussing Sailor 2025 with individuals heading to leadership roles in the Fleet is critical.

"I want them to know that we are working on their behalf," said Burke. "Our goal is to have a modern personnel system, create policies that are flexible and offer choice, and empower our commanding leadership teams with tools to retain the best and brightest Sailors."

Burke also stressed while the Navy is in a very good position today with recruiting, retention and fit/fill, we need to think about how we will recruit and retain the force of tomorrow. Sailor 2025 is a roadmap for us to do just that, he said.

"Sailor 2025 is a set of approximately 45 initiatives aimed at modernizing our personnel management and training systems to more effectively recruit, train and manage the force of tomorrow all while improving the Navy's warfighting readiness," Burke told Sailors at NLEC and SEA. "We are transforming our industrial-age personnel system and supporting IT infrastructure with the goal of having an integrated pay and personnel system for our Sailors within the next few years. Incremental change will not be enough - we simply cannot afford to wait that long."

For Smith, it is his first trip to Newport as the Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education, (MPT&E) Fleet Master Chief.

"Meeting with leaders in Newport was a great way to listen to their concerns and discuss how they play critical roles in bringing about these important changes to our personnel system," he said. "I'm excited for the opportunity to help shape Sailor 2025 going forward and make it even better for the Fleet."

Both NLEC and SEA help prepare senior Navy leaders and their spouses for roles as commanders, executive officers, command master chiefs and senior enlisted leaders.

For a more detailed look at Sailor 2025, please visit: www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/career/talentmanagement/Pages/default2.aspx


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