Navy Ombudsman-at-Large (OAL) Elka Franco-Giordano accompanied Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. John Richardson and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Steven Giordano, as they visited Naval Station Rota, March 27 and 28.

The visit gave Franco-Giordano the opportunity to meet with quality of life program managers, family members and representative ombudsmen to discuss concerns, challenges and accomplishments within the family support community.

As a registered nurse, Franco-Giordano shared her professional experience during a tour of U.S. Naval Hospital Rota. Franco-Giordano, who had her first child while being previously stationed in Rota, visited the maternity ward and stopped to speak with a new family.

Throughout her visit, Franco-Giordano visited core services to include Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC), the Child Development Center and Youth Center, Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society and American Red Cross. During her previous assignment in Rota, Franco-Giordano spent time volunteering with the American Red Cross.

"By volunteering, I maintained my [professional] hours, I maintained my skills... I have no hole in my resume from that and I have great experiences and not only that but I have excellent recommendation letters and awards and volunteer hours that speak to a new employer. If you are willing to do that, the solution is already here, use the Red Cross, use the services. Volunteering your talents is actually an investment in your career. Don't ever think of it as not doing something; just because you're not making money doesn't mean that you're not learning or growing your profession. You can do it in so many different ways."

Franco-Giordano also attended a luncheon in order to meet and share information with Navy Ombudsman and Air Force Key Spouses.

"I have seen so many great things in Rota ... we are here to give you a voice, you tell us what's on your minds and we can work with that and communicate between us and get it where it needs to go to get it fixed, to get it right for you. That's really what we're here for." Franco-Giordano said while speaking to families at a base-wide Town Hall.

The Ombudsman-at-Large is tasked by the CNO to improve family readiness by advising him and the MCPON on matters affecting Sailors and their families.

As they travel throughout the Navy, they meet with Navy leadership, FFSC staff, command family ombudsmen, family members and Sailors. They attend meetings and conferences to gain a better understanding of matters affecting our families and ombudsmen. When they travel, they often hold focus groups composed of ombudsmen and spouses to learn about current issues and concerns. Naval Station Rota enables and supports operations of U.S. and allied forces and provides quality services in support of the fleet, fighter, and family for CNIC in Navy Region EURAFSWA.

Just as a ship performs lines of operation, which provide a capability, Navy Region EURAFSWA bases perform the same eight lines of operation to provide capability to the fleet and joint and allied forces. These eight lines of operation are air operations, port operations, safety, security, Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR), Fleet and Family Services and what is called the core -- the fuels, water, and power that keep the bases running. Through the lines of operation, installations are force multipliers, which maximize the combat capability of operational units.

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For more news from Naval Station Rota, Spain, visit http://www.navy.mil/.