Do you think these changes from the CNO will actually improve quality of life?

2015-05-14T08:51:57-04:00

1. SECNAV plans to open all operational billets to women.
2. Base day care centers to open earlier and remain open later.
3. Better co-location policies and joint service co-location policies.
4. Legislation has been proposed that will double paid maternity leave from 6-12 weeks.
5. SECNAV is planning to revamp the physical fitness assessment to include current body fat measuring techniques.
6. Beginning June 1, SECNAV is ending GMT as the Navy knows it. Stopping all DoN-directed GMT on NKO.
7. Legislation has been proposed to expand Career Intermission Program from 40 to 400 billets.
8. Meritorious Advancement Program will expand to include shore-based units.
9. Initiatives are aimed at getting the right people in the right jobs at the right time.
10. The Navy is trending toward uniforms that don't divide Sailors as male and female, but unite them.
http://www.navy.mil/ah_online/ftrStory.asp?id=87095

10 Changes Coming to the Navy

SECNAV Focuses on People

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2015 8:55 AM

2015-05-14T08:55:11-04:00

Any step towards the right direction will improve it. Lord knows that length of time at sea can get monotonous. Anything to help delay the monotonous mindset is an improvement. I know they were constantly trying things at Minot AFB to improve morale & quality of life.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2015 8:57 AM

2015-05-14T08:57:08-04:00

I heard part of this story on the radio, where it was billed as an effort to get women to stay in the Navy. Apparently women are leaving at twice the rate of men (first-termers, I think). The 12 weeks of maternity leave is very nice.

I do believe these initiatives will be well received by Sailors, that they will improve things, and I voted Yes.

Response by James Jones made May 14 at 2015 9:13 AM

2015-05-14T09:13:18-04:00

Definitely. Whether it improves force readiness is a legitimate concern.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made May 14 at 2015 9:18 AM

2015-05-14T09:18:50-04:00

These new policies seem to target female Sailors and Marines. Hopefully these will help with the retention of Sailors and Marines across the board. Hopefully the fleet and corps will have input to these once they are implemented.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2015 10:16 AM

2015-05-14T10:16:09-04:00

I am super excited about some of these changes! About time!

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2015 10:22 AM

2015-05-14T10:22:26-04:00

#5 Thank you!!!!!! I've never understood why males are only taped around the neck and waist when females are neck waist AND hips. I pass tape but it doesn't matter how much weight I lose, my hip measurement stays the same.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made May 14 at 2015 10:44 AM

2015-05-14T10:44:43-04:00

Several of these changes fall under the "about #%^ time!" category.

Glad to see them.

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2015 11:04 AM

2015-05-14T11:04:45-04:00

I think some of the changes are good but all my friends that are in the Navy seem to like all of them. So if the masses seem to like them they cant be all that bad....Right???? lol

Until they have underlying meaning that none of us see

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2015 11:09 AM

2015-05-14T11:09:00-04:00

To me #6 is interesting:
Beginning June 1, SECNAV is ending GMT as the Navy knows it. Stopping all DoN-directed GMT on NKO.

Really all general military training so no more sexual harassment, IT, Admin, ORM, Ect... Really, sorry I don believe he is going to do away with all DoN directed GMT.

Response by LCDR Ryan S. made May 14 at 2015 11:23 AM

2015-05-14T11:23:03-04:00

Absolutely great changes for the service members quality of life. As a leader, I can see #3, 4, and 7 being a pain in the rear, but manageable with proper planning. I'm curious what will replace GMT on NKO. The NKO training was always cumbersome and ineffective so I am glad to see it go. #9 is so vague that it is meaningless. Detailers have always tried to get the right people in the right place at the right time (with varying success). Tell me HOW they are going to improve the existing system.

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made May 14 at 2015 2:04 PM

2015-05-14T14:04:34-04:00

No. I don't see how this will improve quality of life for everyone. Extended maternity leave, okay for me, honestly I am not capable of having a baby physically but I know not all women can be ready in the same amount of time, so its not a big issue as far as I am concerned.
Physical fitness standards with all due respect have been a joke for a long time.
I know we need to be physically fit for the betterment of our own health and longevity and that in turn makes you a better asset to the Navy. Keep the body fat measurements as they are unless you have something better in mind.
I am not up on current GMT but is something wrong with it? I recall we had Sexual Harassment, Equal Opportunity, Military courtesies, OPSEC, how to wear an OBA / SCBA properly, fire fighting refresher, etc.. If its not broken don't try to fix it.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2015 3:01 PM

2015-05-14T15:01:23-04:00

Overall, no, I don't think it will improve quality of life. Why? Because most of these changes are couched in vague government speak.

3. Better co-location policies and joint service col-location policies.
OK, what does that mean? Better for whom? For the service members or for the government?
6. Beginning June 1, SECNAV is ending GMT as the Navy knows it. Stopping all DoN-directed GMT on NKO.
So since we're not doing it on NKO anymore does that mean more time sitting in a theater somewhere doing the "death by PowerPoint" drill to fulfill the GMT requirements?
9. Initiatives are aimed at getting the right people in the right jobs at the right time.
Isn't that the job the detailers have been supposed to be doing for years? decades?

I hope these changes do improve quality of life, but I need to see more details on what they are actually changing and not just vague promises to make things "better."

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 2 at 2016 9:21 AM

2016-11-02T09:21:48-04:00

The GMTs will continue until morale improves!!!

The extension of hours for childcare that would be something nice to have for those who have to be at the ship in the wee hours of the morning.