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Essex 'Retains' Golden Anchor

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS071211-12
Release Date: 12/11/2007 4:55:00 PM

From USS Essex Public Affairs

USS ESSEX, At Sea (NNS) -- The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) has been awarded the annual Commander, Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT) Retention Excellence Award for exceeding annual retention benchmarks.

During Fiscal year 2007, 122 Sailors, more than 79 percent of the Sailors aboard the "Iron Gator," reenlisted. Combined, they received more than $300,000 in Selective Reenlistment Bonuses.

According to Essex's Command Career Counselor, Senior Chief Navy Counselor (SW/AW) Brent Emricson, the ship's retention successes are a result of good leadership.

"What makes a difference for Sailors is our senior leadership counseling their people to stay Navy," said Emricson. "Our career development boards throughout the year helped leaders find out what they could do to keep their Sailors in the Navy."

In addition to strong deckplate leadership, Essex's retention success can also be attributed to a proactive and well managed career counseling program.

"My focus is on the needs of the Navy and the Sailor together," said Emricson. "If I can make it a win-win situation for both sides then everyone is happy."

In a message sent out to COMPACFLT Retention Excellence Award winners, Adm. Robert F. Willard, commander Pacific Fleet wrote, "Your dedication and commitment to career motivation and excellence not only exemplifies your superb performance, but also attests to your concern for the personal and professional needs of our Sailors. Every member of your command can be justifiably proud of this achievement."

Operating in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean, the U.S. 7th Fleet is the largest of the forward-deployed U.S. fleets, with approximately 50 ships, 120 aircraft and 20,000 Sailors and Marines assigned at any given time.

Essex is the lead ship of the only forward-deployed U.S. Expeditionary Strike Group and serves as the flagship for Commander, Task Force 76, the Navy's only forward-deployed amphibious force commander. Task Force 76 is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with a detachment in Sasebo, Japan.