Setting up new Sailors for success is critical in ensuring the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) maintains an outstanding track record. That success starts with a strong sponsorship program.

Chief Fadi Kalouch, the command sponsorship coordinator, is working to build a reliable sponsorship program so Sailors who are coming to the ship for the first time will have a positive experience.

"The sponsorship coordinators before me had a rough time because of how much adjustment they had to do with the hull swap," said Kalouch. "But information is power. When we have information, we need to empower our Sailors to be engaged so that our prospective gains have the information they need to have when they show up."

As George Washington makes the transition into its refueling complex overhaul maintenance period, sponsorship will change, and already has.

"If a Sailor is reporting here, they don't have barracks and they can't live on the ship, so what do we do?" said Kalouch. "They actually report to the FAF and we will feed them and work out a place they can sleep until they're able to get a cash card and move into a room."

Recently, the sponsorship program has improved. For the first time in almost two years, surveys from two indoctrination classes have shown 100% of new Sailors have had sponsors.

It doesn't stop at successful indoc surveys, though.

"Just treat people how you want to be treated," said Kalouch. "We all have to be the new guy, so whether it's this command or the next one, try to make the experience for whoever's coming as great as you can before they get here. However the Sailor perceives the command will really affect how they act when they get here."

The program has shown forward progress, but Kalouch said the credit is not his.

"It's not a 'me' effort, it has nothing to do with me," said Kalouch. "All the departmental and divisional coordinators and their chains of command have been doing an awesome job. Keep on with the great work."

If you want to get involved with George Washington's sponsorship program, contact your departmental sponsorship coordinator or contact Chief Fadi Kalouch for more information.

Join the conversation with GW online at http://www.facebook.com/USSGW and http://www.twitter.com/GW_CVN73.

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