Keeping High-Performing Sailors Goal of Counselors

NCA Symposium 2010

07/01/2010

From Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. — The Navy's personnel policy leaders emphasized the challenge of today’s manpower management at the 22nd annual Navy Counselor Association (NCA) Symposium June 28.

“Retention remains at an all time high, attrition is down and high-quality recruits continue to join our Navy team operating in an environment where people are competing to stay,” said Rear Adm. Dan Holloway, director of Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education. “We have challenged our career counselors to retain the best talent. The Sailors joining the Navy today are America’s best and brightest and will be with us for four, five, six years — so it’s our job to train, lead, mentor and retain them as they are our future.”

“What it all comes down to is fit,” said Master Chief Navy Counselor (SW/AW/IUSS) Cynthia L. Reynolds, NCA president. “By that I mean putting the right person in the right place at the right time. That is the key.”

Symposium training topics included Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, records management, career development boards, advancement, Sailor and Command Career Counselor Toolboxes and the Official Military Personnel File online. Counselors attended break-out sessions to learn best practices on an array of topics that included Perform to Serve, Fleet Ride and Navy Credentialing Opportunities Online.

Subject matter experts manned booths outfitted with live online system access to assist attendees with questions and issues regarding Career Information Management System, Navy Retention Monitoring System, Perform to Serve Applications, Electronic Service Record, Career Management System/Interactive Detailing and others.

“Now more than ever before, Navy counselors carry the responsibility of duties out in the fleet that used to be covered by the Personnel Specialist, Yeoman and even the Recruiter,” Reynolds added. “Over the past 22 years, the NCA Symposium is the one time during the year Navy counselors receive the training and networking they need to take care of our Sailors.”