The Naval Submarine School (NSS) raised the 2016 Retention Excellence Award pennant Jan. 13 at Naval Submarine Base (SUBASE) New London.

Commanding Officer Capt. Aaron Thieme credited the command retention team for its success in reenlisting 47 Sailors, equating to 84.8 percent of eligible personnel at the command.

Retention Excellence Awards are given annually to commands which meet or exceed the chief of naval operations' retention goals for two or more quarters. NSS last received the award 11 years ago in 2005.

Chief Navy Counselor Bobbie Gunderson, the command career counselor, said one of the significant contributing factors to achieving high retention rates is the command's training, education, and career development boards.

"We make sure our Sailors understand their career paths, rating manning levels, what programs are available to them, and how to retain eligibility to reenlist," said Gunderson. "During career development boards, we work person by person to make sure every Sailor is getting the right schools, training, and/or qualifications at the right time to keep them competitive with their peers."

NSS met and exceeded the 35 percent reenlistment requirement for Sailors with six or less years of service, 51 percent for Sailors between six and 10 years of service, and 60 percent for Sailors with 10-14 years of service. To qualify for the award, commands must achieve a minimum score of 85 points on their annual command career information program review. Other factors which go toward the award include benchmarks, which indicate the commands have an effective retention program in place to support the Sailors.

"It's hard to capture what the award means to us; it means a lot, because what we've done is set a standard for other commands to follow," said Master Chief Machinist's Mate Joseph Rudofski, acting command master chief.

"This is a team award and a team effort," Rudofski said. "Without our department career counselors, we would not be enjoying this moment. Naval Submarine School is being honored, and we are celebrating the success and hard work of Fire Control Technician 1st Class Brendan Hunscher, Sonar Technician (submarine) 1st Class Christopher Remiesiewicz, Machinist's Mate (weapons) 1st Class Alexander Behne, Fire Control Technician 1st Class Benjamin Campbell, Sonar Technician (submarine) 1st Class Daniel Scarlatella, Electronics Technician (communication) 1st Class Stephen Edward, Electronics Technician (navigation) 2nd Class Joseph Delia, Machinist's Mate (weapons) 2nd Class Erich Simpson, and Electrician's Mate 2nd Class Kyle Ross working with our command career counselor, who should be celebrated."

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