Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola received the opportunity to raise the Retention Excellence Pennant in honor of the command receiving the fiscal year (FY) 2017 Retention Excellence Award, March 8.

As a result of winning the award, along with flying the Retention Excellence Pennant, the command will display a gold anchor until the release of the following FY award announcement.

The Retention Excellence Award is given annually to those commands that have met or exceeded the chief of naval operations' (CNO) retention goals. This is the first time in seven years for NAS Pensacola to receive this distinguished honor.

"For the command to receive this award is an amazing accomplishment," said NAS Pensacola Commanding Officer Capt. Christopher T. Martin. "This is the result of the tireless efforts put on by our entire staff to encourage Sailors to continue honorably serving their country."

Programs from career development boards (CDBs) and career waypoints (C-WAY) - a program used by the Navy for processing reenlistment quotas - to family care plan, command sponsorship and even the command ombudsman factor into the CNO's criteria.

"These programs are vital to the success of command retention due to the fact that these programs and others by which we are measured for the Retention Excellence Award, not only signify that we are having Sailors decide to stay Navy, but rather that we are addressing issues pertaining to the Sailor either entering or continuing service; family, patriotism, and esprit de corps," said NAS Pensacola Chief Career Counselor Luis Diaz. "When we take care of all these things, Sailors are set in knowing that they can continue to serve their country because there is leadership in place that will serve them and their family."

Navy recruiting offers various incentives that often persuade Sailors to continue their careers. Tuition assistance (TA) and selective reenlistment bonuses for certain rates are other factors Sailors can consider prior to getting out.

"I have talked to many Sailors during our pre-separation counseling briefs that afterwards realize that they would be financially better off staying Navy, or realize that their current situation was viewed with a closed mind and after offering some alternate perception, they realize too that things are actually not as bad as they originally thought," said Diaz. "If a Sailor decided on separating from the Navy and has a solid plan to do so, then I give them my sincerest gratitude for their service and wish them fair winds and following seas. They deserve that much from us."

NAS Pensacola was one of the specially selected commands nominated by their respective region commander, having passed the annual career information program review with a score of 90 points or better, met all aggregated reenlistment benchmarks of 35 percent for zone A, 51 percent for zone B, 60 percent for zone C, and 5 percent or less aggregate attrition for zone A during the FY.

Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) Vice Adm. Mary Jackson expressed her sentiments to the entire CNIC workforce.

"Your dedication and commitment to the career programs not only exemplify your superb performance, but also attest to your concern for the professional needs of our Sailors," said Jackson. "Every member of your command can be justifiably proud of their achievements. Thank you for the great work and commitment."

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For more news from Naval Air Station Pensacola, visit www.navy.mil/.