The Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) welcomed a new force master chief (FORCM) during a change of office ceremony, March 10.

Force Master Chief Mamudu K. Cole relieved Force Master Chief Jon D. Port in a brief ceremony at the training headquarters. The NETC top enlisted office was the final billet during Port's extraordinary 30-year naval career.

The NETC force master chief's role is defined as a liaison for the admiral on all matters affecting the enlisted force across the NETC domain, which includes quality of life matters and professional development.

"I always saw my role as the ultimate Sailor advocate," said Port. "We exist to be the voice for the Sailors with the chain of command and fleet."

Aside from being a two-time FORCM--once at the Navy Personnel Command/Bureau of Naval Personnel (NPC), Millington, Tennessee, and the other here at NETC--this wasn't the first time Port had been a leader in the NETC domain. He served as the senior enlisted advisor to the NETC chief operating officer, and command master chief to NETC's Learning and Development Division in Norfolk, Virginia.

At the top of his list of accomplishments at NETC, Port cited coordinated the first round-table between education and training senior enlisted leaders across joint services, the resurgence of the Enlisted Board of Advisors focus on the Recruit Training Command.

"I could always count on getting the unvarnished truth from Master Chief Port," said Rear Adm. Mike White, NETC commander. "He was adept at keeping me informed about the impact our training was having on Sailors throughout the fleet, and in a domain as large as NETC, that is not an easy task.

Cole also has previous training billets under his belt. He served at the Naval Aerospace Medicine Institute in Pensacola as the senior instructor for the Aerospace Medicine "C" school, and is a master training specialist. He's been a student, instructor, a training specialist and now the enlisted leader of everything related to the Navy's education and training.

"I am up to speed on what the NETC domain is doing and with what's going on in the Navy at large," said Cole. "I'm staying current on policies and procedures so I can provide the latest and most accurate information to the team and Sailors."

Cole said he was excited and motivated to continue being the voice of his Sailors as NETC's FORCM, which includes more than 8,000 instructors training over 30,000 students on any given day in 227 training sites around the world.

"I look forward to making sure Sailors are developing [their skills] and that their needs are being met while they focus on the needs of the fleet," said Cole. "I want my Sailors to take the time to learn their rate, but also take advantage of all the opportunities the Navy has to offer, whether its education or adventure, stay out of trouble, and have fun."

The FORCM also provides oversight to subordinate command senior enlisted leaders, helping to implement policies and procedures affecting mission readiness, morale, welfare and the development of Sailors.

"The NETC domain is leveraging the latest technology and innovation to improve the quality of training we provide to our Sailors," said Cole. "I'm looking forward to travelling to the different learning sites and seeing all the great work our instructors and trainers are doing to meet the readiness of the fleet."

"I am making it my mission to reach out to each and every element of the domain to understand what they do to prepare our Sailors for the fleet," said Cole. "I also want to hear from everyone, including the young Sailors, on what we can do to improve and innovate."

The FORCM's job is to help make sure Sailors have all the tools and resources available to succeed. They are the influencers and change advocates for the betterment of the Navy.

"Force Cole has the knowledge, skill and abilities to keep us moving in the right direction and will be a key member of my staff as we continue to develop Sailors for our fleet," said White. "Quality training is the basis for our formidable maritime forces, and that fleet readiness starts at NETC."

"I never forgot I serve Sailors first, and was the voice they would not otherwise have at the highest levels of our Navy," said Port. "It has been an honor."

Before Port was a FORCM, he served as a cryptologic technician - interpretive (CTI) for most his 30 years in the Navy. He attended the Defense Language Institute (DLI), Monterey, California, for Russian language training. His operational assignments included service with Naval Security Group Detachment, Brunswick, Maine. He accumulated more than 1,000 flight hours, 600 of which were combat flight hours in support of Operation Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Provide Hope and Continue Hope. Port also served with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, in Washington, D.C., and with Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 15 in Corpus Christi, Texas. Port is a plank owner for USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) where he served as the command master chief.

Cole began his naval career as a hospital corpsman (HM) in San Diego. Then, reported to Marine Aircraft Group 13 in Yuma, Arizona, where he completed three Western Pacific deployments aboard USS Belleauwood (LHA-3) and USS Essex (LHD-2). Cole also served with Marine Aircraft Group 26 in Jacksonville, North Carolina, deploying aboard USS Kearsarge (LHD-3), and with the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) in Iwakuni, Japan. Cole is a plank owner for USS Green Bay (LPD-20) where he served as the leading chief for the Health Services Department and later as the command senior chief. He was also the command master chief with USS Thach (FFG-43), U.S. Naval Forces Korea and Commander Task Force (CTF) 78 and the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron--Blue Angels.

Port will officially retire from the Navy in a ceremony April 1 at the National Museum of Naval Aviation on board Naval Air Station Pensacola.

For additional information on the Naval Education and Training Command, visit the NETC website at http://www.netc.navy.mil.

For more news from Naval Education and Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/.