The Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training (CNATT) Unit Jacksonville was authorized to fly the Retention Excellence pennant Jan. 14.

Located aboard Naval Air Station Jacksonville, CNATTU Jacksonville received the award for retention efforts throughout fiscal year 2015, something CNATTU Jacksonville Commanding Officer Cmdr. Carvin Brown said is indicative of the command's proactive stance on encouraging Sailors at all points of their careers.

"Ensuring our Sailors are aware of available programs and are taking care of their careers, whether they're just starting their careers or winding them down, is something we take seriously," said Brown. "These Sailors know we're taking care of them, which makes them more productive and helps us meet our mission of getting the best trained aviation maintainers out to the fleet."

CNATTU Jacksonville boasts a staff of more than 160 service members, served by Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class (AW/SW) Timothy Smith as the command career counselor. Smith, along with eight departmental career counselors oversaw 17 reenlistments, 180 career development boards and 28 Career Waypoints applications and approvals, culminating in a 94 percent retention rate for the command.

CNATTU Jacksonville's October 2015 review by Naval Air Station Jacksonville Command Career Counselor Senior Chief Navy Counselor (SW/AW) Chad Geers netted a 97 percent score on the Navy-mandated Command Career Information Program Review, something Geers said is representative of the efforts the command has taken in looking after its Sailors.

"Overall the Career Information Program at CNATTU [Jacksonville] is top notch," said Greers. "[AT1 Timothy] Smith took over the program and turned it into one of the best run programs I have seen at NAS Jacksonville."

The Retention Excellence Award, previously known as the Golden Anchor Award, is awarded to a Navy command for sustaining superior levels of military retention. To qualify for the award, commands must achieve a minimum score of 85 points on their annual command career information program review. Other factors that go toward the award include benchmarks, which indicate the commands have an effective retention program in place to support the Sailors.

Located aboard Naval Air Station Jacksonville, CNATTU Jacksonville provides development of aviation support equipment, H-60, P-3C, P-8A, tactical mobile training, aviation maintenance administration management training and Undersea Warfare trained aviation professionals. CNATTU Jacksonville is part of the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training, headquartered aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. CNATT develops, delivers, and supports aviation technical training at 27 sites located throughout the continental United States and Japan.

CNATT is a technical training agent for the Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE) an organization designed to advance and sustain Naval Aviation warfighting capabilities at an affordable cost, and is the largest training center under Naval Education and Training Command (NETC).

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