A crowd of Sailors at NAS Patuxent River gathered at Center Stage Theater May 23 to hear the latest information that will help them enhance their personal and professional development.

A Fleet Engagement Team from Navy Personnel Command in Millington, Tennessee - visiting Pax River for the first time - held separate two-hour briefs for khaki leadership and E6-and-below Sailors with the dual purpose of providing the most current policy information and gathering feedback from the fleet.

"The team consists of enlisted community managers and enlisted detailers who travel around the fleet to help educate senior leadership and their Sailors about issues that help Sailors manager their careers," explained Pax River Command Master Chief Kevin Guy, who was instrumental in bringing the team to the air station. "It's important that we understand current policies and programs, ensure they're being managed properly, and engage our Sailors early to make sure they understand their responsibilities in their own career."

Topics discussed included Career Development Foundation, enlisted advancements, enlisted community management, improvements to the Meritorious Advancement Program, Career Waypoints, and the Blended Retirement System, among others. A question and answer session followed.

As a command master chief, Guy must have thorough expert knowledge of such programs and ensure the Chief's Mess and LPOs are also learning the information to better look out for their Sailors.

"We always say, as chiefs, that it's our job to take care of our Sailors," Guy said. "What that means to me is that we give them the tools that teach them how to manage their own career - take ownership of their career - that's how I equate 'taking care of Sailors.' They're adults, trying to build their own lives; so let's teach them how to build those lives."

Turnout was good for both briefs, in no small part because of the efforts of Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Aircraft Handling) 2nd Class Chelsea Dell, NAS Patuxent River command career counselor, and Chief Navy Career Counselor John Kemp, Naval Air Warfare Center-Aircraft Division command career counselor.

"They were invaluable in helping to get the word out about the team's visit," Guy added.

The Fleet Engagement Team was accompanied by Master Chief Navy Counselor Chris Mandeville, Commander, Navy Installation Command's force career counselor, who was also impressed by the turnout and the Sailors he encountered at Pax.

"Allow me a brief moment to thank the command triad for the incredible support today for the Fleet Engagement Team visit," Mandeville wrote in an email following the event. "The amount of Sailors you had at both the All Khaki brief and the E6 and below brief set a new standard. The professionalism and quality of questions that were asked by your Sailors is a direct reflection of engaged leadership."

For more information about Navy Personnel Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/npc/.

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