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MCPON Visits Bataan During PANAMAX 2005

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050808-01
Release Date: 8/8/2005 9:09:00 AM

By Journalist 1st Class Sean Linvill, USS Bataan Public Affairs

USS BATAAN (NNS) -- Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) (SS/AW) Terry Scott spent the night visiting Sailors aboard USS Bataan (LHD 5) Aug. 4, while the ship was underway in the U.S. Southern Command ‘s (SOUTHCOM) area of responsibility (AOR) getting ready to participate in PANAMAX 2005.

Bataan Commanding Officer, Capt. Nora Tyson, Executive Officer Capt. Rick Snyder and the ship’s Command Master Chief, CMDCM (SW) Sammie Lymon, greeted MCPON upon his arrival on Bataan’s flight deck. MCPON then took some time to walk around the ship and meet with Sailors on the deckplates.

Next, MCPON headed to the chief’s mess to have dinner with Bataan’s 21 chief selectees.

“There’s one thought I’d like to put in their minds, it’s that they were not selected just because of their past performance,” Scott said. “They weren’t selected as some sort of award or reward. They were selected because of what they’re going to do in the future.” He went on to say that the Navy expects even greater things from them in the future.

After dinner, Bataan’s crew gathered in the ship’s well deck for an all hands call with MCPON. The Navy’s senior enlisted person began the all hands call to more than 1,000 Sailors by talking about personal readiness.

“We talk in the Navy all the time about mission accomplishment, about being mission ready,” Scott said. “Each and every one of you contributes to our Navy’s ability to get our job done.”

He broke down readiness into component parts of physical, financial, family and mental readiness. MCPON gave examples of how Sailors can be ready for the future by taking care of each component.

“The Navy has programs in place to help. Making sure families know what programs are in place at the Fleet and Family support center is important,” Scott said.

He also pointed out that beginning to contribute to the Thrift Savings Plan during a Sailor’s first two years in the Navy can lead to a retirement fund estimated at $1 million.

“That means every E-3 on this ship can be a millionaire when they turn 60 years old,” he added.

MCPON also wanted to thank Bataan’s crew.

“I think it’s important that Sailors understand that what they are doing is an important and incredible job for us, wherever they are,” he said. “In the last few years, there’s been a lot of attention focused on the Sailors serving in the Persian Gulf, and rightfully so, but it’s important that all of our Sailors know that they’re contributing to our Navy and our nation’s security.”

Bataan’s crew appreciated the visit.

“It was good to see the MCPON walking around talking to the junior Sailors,” said Aircrew Survival Equipmentman 1st Class (AW) Kristian Brown, from Bataan’s paraloft. “It’s nice to see he wanted to get out here and see what our junior folks are concerned about.”

Bataan is a Norfolk-based, Wasp-class ship taking part in PANAMAX 2005, a multinational exercise geared at the defense of the Panama Canal.