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Kitty Hawk, CVW-5 Ombudsmen Train for Upcoming Deployment

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060406-04
Release Date: 4/6/2006 8:31:00 AM

By Journalist 2nd Class Randy Lane, USS Kitty Hawk Strike Group Public Affairs

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 ombudsmen met in Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi’s Sky Masters club March 29 to develop and discuss plans for both in-port and future under way periods.

Attending the meeting were four ombudsmen representing Kitty Hawk families and 14 ombudsmen for the families of the air wing and the nine squadrons that it encompasses. Also in attendance were a number of ship and squadron commanding officers, executive officers and command master chiefs, including Capt. Ed McNamee, Kitty Hawk’s commanding officer, who gave the opening remarks.

“At each of my command tours, my appreciation for ombudsmen and the responsibility they take on has grown,” said McNamee. “The bottom line is, I want ombudsmen who want to serve Sailors and their families, plain and simple.”

Linda Pendleton, the Ombudsman Program coordinator and trainer from NAF Atsugi’s Fleet and Family Support Center, said one reason for bringing Kitty Hawk and CVW-5 ombudsmen together was to form a sense of community among the group.

“I think ombudsmen sometimes feel a little isolated with their own command. This gives them a network to go to for information and referrals,” said Pendleton. “As they are information referrals for the family, this gives them resources for handling situations that they maybe haven’t encountered. It gives them a point of contact to ask, ‘How did you solve this situation?’ and that’s what we’re trying to establish here.”

Pendleton also talked about the many functions ombudsmen help coordinate when Sailors are away from their families, and encouraged explanation of these roles and ideas for making improvements.

“Ombudsmen usually coordinate things like newsletters, homecoming events, routine family updates and different community events,” said Pendleton.

The schedule also provided opportunities for the ombudsmen and command representatives to simulate a number of scenarios and receive suggestions from the group on how to prepare for different situations.

“What would be expected of you if there was an accident?” Pendleton asked the group. “How do we notify families? What are the appropriate conversations to have? What are the steps that ombudsmen have to do? These are types of things we need to be knowledgeable about,” she said.

Pendleton finished by emphasizing that happy families promote happy Sailors, and that the role of the ombudsman is to provide peace of mind to Sailors, families and commands.

“If [ombudsmen] can keep the family running smoothly, that service member is going to feel content and assured when they’re at sea,” she said. “In turn, when that service member is working on the ship or in the squadron accomplishing the mission, they don’t have to worry if their families are being taken care of.”