Top Navy Personnel Officers Highlight Sailor 2025 Initiative

The 58th Chief of Naval Personnel, Vice Adm. Robert Burke, and Fleet Master Chief Petty Officer April Beldo visited Naval Base San Diego to discuss the Sailor 2025 initiative and hear from Sailors Jan. 12.

The Sailor 2025 initiative is a series of changes to a wide range of personnel programs and policies Burke is looking at in order to provide the Navy with the right mix of skill sets and Sailors with more flexible career paths.

"I am here to paint the big picture of Sailor 2025," said Burke. "My main job is to make sure that the fleet is fully manned."

The goal of Sailor 2025 is aimed at modernizing the naval personnel system and includes 43 different initiatives which fall under three major categories: modernizing the entire personnel system, modernizing the training process, and enhancing career and family readiness.

"Sailor 2025 is a great initiative and will bring a lot of valuable programs to the fleet," said Capt. Roy Love, commanding officer of Naval Base San Diego.

According to Burke, some of the Sailor 2025 incentives include increasing training opportunities for Sailors, making adjustments to evaluations and fitness reports, extending hours and capacity at child development centers, and increasing paternity leave days.

Burke said many of these changes are critical to recruiting and retaining talented Sailors, and are based on direct feedback from fleet engagements such as this.

"We are working really hard to put things in place to make the Navy a place that people who aren't in yet want to come to, and for you folks, make it a place that you want to stay," said Burke. "Sailor 2025 allows Sailors to make choices, have flexibility in their career paths, and adds transparency and opportunities to do things outside the normal mold," said Burke.

The visit concluded with a question-and-answer session from Sailors on a wide range of issues such as advancement tests for enlisted personnel, the meritorious advancement program, family career planning, Navy Knowledge Online (NKO), and tuition assistance.

Burke noted he values feedback from the fleet and will bring Sailors' ideas and concerns back to his staff to see if there is room for improvement or adjustment to policies.

"Fleet [Master Chief] Beldo and I value your opinion, and I encourage you to continue giving us your ideas and concerns," said Burke.

The Office of the Chief of Naval Personnel is responsible for recruiting, training, education, and manpower distribution for all naval personnel.