USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) earned the Retention Excellence Award from U.S. Fleet Forces Command for fiscal year 2017 (FY17), Jan. 25.

This coveted award is annually given to commands to recognize superior military retention. To accomplish this feat, commands must maintain an attrition rate for first term Sailors below five percent, sustain superior levels of retention for each reenlistment zone, and reach a number of benchmarks emphasizing career readiness standards.

"The Retention Excellence Award is important to the ship because it shows not only the Sailors aboard and the fleet that we meet the requirements to take care of them, but also helps build confidence in our counselors across the ship," said Navy Career Counselor 1st Class Cody Wood. "We take care of our Sailor's problems and needs."

Dwight D. Eisenhower won the award last year and this year's win is far from a fluke. The aircraft carrier's command career counselors play a pivotal role in Sailors' future, but it takes a team effort to make sure they're properly looked after.

"We as the career counselors, we manage the program, but the legwork, a lot of that comes from the divisional and departmental counselors," said Wood. "Without them, our office would be completely swamped. Most of the credit goes to them because they're taking the brunt of the leadership and the Sailors every day."

Leadership, command climate, and mentorship are just a few qualities that lends an extra boost to retention numbers.

"We won this because we have people who care and people who push for Sailors to succeed and for them to exceed in what they want to do and their future," said Chief Navy Counselor Jamie Gilbert. "It comes down from mentorship to career development boards, enforcement at the lower level to make sure people are available to answer questions, being subject matter experts and being self-motivated."

Not every command wins this award, and a number of counselors feel good about bringing this award to the Ike.

"I'm very proud that our ship won this award," said Wood. "It shows the fleet that our program is on point and that we're taking care of our Sailors."

Retention Excellence awardees are authorized to paint their anchors gold and to fly the Retention Excellence pennant.

Dwight D. Eisenhower is undergoing a Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Va. during the maintenance phase of the Optimized Fleet Response Plan (OFRP).

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