Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC), along with Naval Services FamilyLine (NSFL), will offer a free, one-hour webinar for spouses of Navy Chief Petty Officer (CPO) selectees Aug. 15 at 8 p.m. and Aug. 18 at 1 p.m., both EST.

Those interested in participating may sign up by emailing livewellresilientweb@navy.mil and indicating in the subject line which of the two dates they will attend.

The Live Well Resiliency webinar will provide an overview of what spouses can expect during the process from chief petty officer selection to pinning.

This annual process, known as Phase II of the yearlong CPO 365 program, is also a source of renewal for the Chiefs' Mess. It is a six-week program where the Navy takes 1st Class Petty Officers, and through developing, training, guiding, and testing, welcomes them into the Chiefs Mess. This significant accomplishment in an enlisted Sailor's career can also impact his or her spouse in terms of support of the command's policy, involvement in the community, and the opportunity to provide guidance and support to fellow spouses.

CNIC and NSFL created a publication, "Guidelines for the Spouses of Chief Petty Officers," as part of a series of handbooks for sea service families.

According to NSFL, the demand for this particular publication has grown over the years, becoming the most requested of all the guideline publications. The organization received requests for approximately 3,000 copies of the handbook last year, and has already distributed more than 5,000 this year.

Carrie Mast, spouse of CMDCM Bill Mast, command master chief, Strategic Systems Programs is the ombudsman program coordinator at CNIC and has also been working on this year's webinar. She said educating spouses takes the mystery out of the process. Mast pointed out that sometimes information doesn't get home to the spouse and, often, they don't fully understand the process and its schedule.

"Knowing the benefits and goals of the process can ease the burden spouses often take on in the absence of the Sailor during those six arduous weeks," Mast said. "This is a time when their support is crucial, and can help their Sailors be more successful after they pin on their anchors."

Because chiefs never know what's going to "come at them" in this position, Mast said each selectee will be presented with challenges to prepare them. "After the webinar, you'll have more information than your spouse!"

By making the spouse part of the transition, couples can learn to work together and manage their time effectively.

The learning objectives have not changed for the selectees, but Mast believes the process for family readiness has improved significantly. She shared that her husband was deployed as a selectee, and she felt like an outsider.

"I didn't know why I was doing what I was doing," she recalled. "Knowledge truly is power."

Master Chief Mast concurred with his wife, saying it's a wonderful product and "phenomenal" to see the outreach around the globe. He joined her last year's webinar, and was able to address topics from the service member's perspective.

"Nobody walked away with an unanswered question," he reflected. "Participants were able to feel comfortable bringing up concerns in a judgment-free zone using the webinar's instant messaging forum."

When one makes it to this level, the command master chief pointed out, they could go anywhere. This allows everyone to receive the same message, regardless of where they are. Also, if the Sailor is deployed or out of the area, the spouse will not miss out on the information. He added that the facilitator made it easy for those not familiar with webinars to connect and follow along.

"I'm passionate about this project, and plan to participate again this year," Master Chief Mast said.

Another person who is equally passionate about the effort is Elka Giordano, Navy ombudsman-at-large and spouse of Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Steven Giordano.

Giordano has been a chief petty officer spouse for about 14 years. She recalled "very exciting times" leading up to her husband's pinning. Giordano, who had a toddler and worked as a night shift nurse, opened her home to the candidates going through the process.

She described it as a "sea of sailors" rehearsing skits, chanting songs, studying and raiding her fridge.

"My home and backyard were inundated at any given time with a group of about 25 Sailors," she said. "I didn't have any understanding of what was going on, but wanted to support my husband because I knew it was important to him."

What Giordano did witness were the strong bonds and relationships formed as the days and weeks progressed.

"I wish I had more information then," she reflected, noting that commands now provide such details to spouses both before and after the process. "All I was told was to show up for the pinning!"

Giordano said she and her husband see this as the start of something that could possibly grow, especially with the support stemming from the very top of Navy leadership, for which she is very grateful.

"This webinar has been an answer to a lot of peoples' prayers," she said.

The webinar, guidelines and a weeklong Command Master Chief Spouse Leadership Course are all resources provided through NSFL to assist spouses and their families as their service member transitions into this honorable leadership role.

Naval Services FamilyLine is a volunteer, nonprofit organization founded in 1965 by Navy spouses who recognized the value of an engaged and informed Navy family. Their aim was and is now to provide resources and mentoring to increase every spouse's understanding of the Navy's mission. Today, utilizing a variety of resources, the organization provides information and spouse mentorship on topics as widely varied as emergency preparedness to Naval customs and traditions.

With the support of Navy leadership worldwide, and financial backing from spouse clubs, Navy family advocates, corporations and dedicated individuals, NSFL has continued to grow and flourish.

Tamara Calandra is the ombudsman for CNIC, and may be reached at cnicombudsman@gmail.com

For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more information about Naval Services FamilyLine, visit http://www.nsfamilyline.org.

For more news from Commander, Navy Installations Command, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/cnic/

For more news from Commander, Navy Installations Command, visit http://www.navy.mil/.