Cited for meeting the command’s retention goals, the Naval Safety Center (NAVSAFECEN) has received the Manpower, Training and Education fiscal year 2019 Retention Excellence Award. Rear Adm. Mark Leavitt, Commander, NAVSAFECEN, announced the award during a command all hands call Jan. 10.

The annual award recognizes those commands that have met or exceeded the Chief of Naval Operations' (CNO) retention goals. Programs such as Career Development Boards and Career Waypoints or C-WAY, a program used by the Navy for processing reenlistment quotas, factor into the CNO's criteria. 

“More than a decade has passed since NAVSAFECEN received this award, and much of the credit belongs to its focus on the ‘Brilliant of the Basics’ programs,” said Command Master Chief Baron Randle.

According to Randle, “In 2018, the CNO released a two-part message, ‘Brilliant on the Basics II Part A - Revisiting the Basics’ and ‘Brilliant on the Basics II Part B - Engagement’ which  directed Command Leadership Teams to reinvigorate their efforts to foster an environment where Sailors and their families will want to stay Navy.”

Randle worked closely with Command Career Counselor Chief Shaun Wintink to double down on the command’s “Brilliant on the Basics” efforts for its Sailors and Navy family members. Randle said the retention team efforts headed by Wintink led to the command meeting the award’s benchmarks and ultimately receiving the recognition. 

“This award is thanks to a lot of hard work by a lot of people here at the command,” said Leavitt. “This award tells me that our career counselor, retention team, from the Command Master Chief to the Deputy Commander are giving our Sailors every opportunity and what they need to be successful in their careers.” 

Following the commander’s remarks at the all hands call, Randle hoisted the command’s newly received “Golden Anchor” pennant.  

“As we continue to grow our forces into the Navy our nation needs, the staff of the Naval Safety Center should feel proud to know that we retained our trained and experienced leaders at all the right levels to meet the Navy’s manning requirements,” Randle said. “Many of our Sailors could have taken their talents and experience into the civilian workforce, but decided to stay Navy as their employer of choice.”  

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