A yellow pennant signifying the Fiscal Year (FY) 16 Retention Excellence Award (REA) was hoisted to the top of the flagpole at Naval Health Clinic (NHC) Corpus Christi, Feb. 23.

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class John B. Farinacci, NHC Corpus Christi assistant career counselor and a native of Portland, Oregon, performed the honors on behalf of Capt. Guido F. Valdes, commanding officer, and his Command Career Development Team headed by Hospital Corpsman 1st Class George Silva, senior career counselor.

"I am very proud to announce that our command has been recognized with the FY 16 Retention Excellence Award," said Valdes. "It takes a lot of work, a lot of attention to detail, as well as a lot of communication and outreach to our Sailors to be able to make sure that this happens. It's a big deal; that's why I wanted to be able to do this at colors."

The award, announced by Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) this month, is given to commands which pass the annual Career Information Program Review (CIPR) with a score of 90 points or better and meet benchmarks showing commitment to the growth and development of Sailors.

NHC Corpus Christi passed the CIPR with a score of 95 points, had zero failed to submit Career Waypoints (C-Way) applications, and met or exceeded all aggregate reenlistment benchmarks of 47.1 percent for zone A, and 75 percent for zones B and C.

"When all the numbers are taken into consideration, we were number one in Navy Medicine East," said Silva. "We also processed 40 C-Way application approvals, 15 "C" schools, 43 reenlistments and extensions, 9 high-year tenure (HYT) waivers, and 496 career development boards (CDBs)."

CDBs are fundamental for successfully retaining Sailors. These boards are intended to let Sailors set goals for their future, as well as learn about available career options.

Silva described how the HYT waivers his team processed benefited the Navy and Sailors at NHC Corpus Christi.

"By submitting HYT waivers, we saved the Navy at least $418,000 in involuntary separation pay," said Silva. "Additionally, we also saved the service member and their families the mental, emotional, and financial stress that comes with getting involuntarily separated from the Navy."

In an all-volunteer force, keeping people in the Navy can be a challenging proposition.

Farinacci noted many Sailors feel lured back to civilian life by a number of different reasons, but he asserted serving in the Navy is very gratifying because once in, people actually love belonging to a top-notch organization.

"It's a lot of work, but it boils down to the fact that we are doing our job to take care of our Sailors," said Farinacci. "And as long as we can do our jobs, it benefits the entire Navy because even though we are a shore command now, all of our Sailors are going to eventually serve in the fleet and do their jobs."

NHC Corpus Christi and its Naval Branch Health Clinics Kingsville and Fort Worth provide ambulatory care services to over 13,000 enrolled patients comprised of military active duty, their family members, retirees and their family members in south Texas and Dallas/Fort Worth. In addition, the command's detachment in San Antonio provides primary care services to Navy students at the Medical Education and Training Campus at Fort Sam Houston, and case management services and medical board management to Navy and Marine Corps wounded, ill, and injured (WII) warriors at San Antonio Military Medical Center (SAMMC).

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