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Fleet Forces Commander Visits Sailors in Pacific Northwest

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080624-02
Release Date: 6/24/2008 3:11:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tucker M. Yates, Fleet Public Affairs Center, Det. Northwest

OAK HARBOR, Wash. (NNS) -- Adm. Jonathan Greenert, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces (USFF) Command visited Navy Region Northwest, making stops at Naval Base Kitsap and Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island, June 19-20, to gain a better understanding of operations in the region.

During his visit to NAS Whidbey Island, Greenert visited the base's most frequently deployed components. He met with Sailors from Electronic Attack Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 10 and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 11.

These units provide critical support to troops on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"They are communities we need to pay particular attention to," said Greenert. "They are very much in high demand and in low supply compared to their demand.

"They serve a very important area, in not only IAs (individual augmentees), because they have very significant and high demand skill sets for the ground forces support in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Noble Eagle, but also we need to look at the health of their communities because we're adding an extra burden to them," he said.

"I received good input from them and learned more about what they do. Nothing beats being there talking to folks, getting a three-dimensional look at what they do and where they live."

Greenert also spent time with IAs from the bases. He hoped to learn how to improve the existing IA program for Sailors and their family members.

Recently, Navy leadership designated USFF as the IA Executive Agent. According to Greenert, the executive agent program has three phases. The first is the process of the program itself, preparing an IA and their command for deployment, deploying them and ensuring their return upon completion. The second includes support for family members of deployed IA Sailors. The third focuses on the well being of the individual and ensuring their upward mobility and career progression in their specialties.

"When you take each individual and you back up and look at it, how well in that community are we enabling them to progress? That's what I'm looking for, that's why I travel around and talk to the IAs," said Greenert. "I have some very good, tangible input here. We are making progress, especially in support of the person and the family members."

Members of NAS Whidbey Island believe that notable progress has been made since the implementation of the IA program.

"I think the Navy has done an admirable job in making sure that IA members and their families are getting more adequately cared for during the time of their tour and also for providing benefits for those who have gone on an IA," said Cmdr. Jon Baca, Wing 10 chief staff officer. "The Navy has definitely revamped the system to take care of the IAs in that respect."

Greenert was impressed with the Sailors from the Pacific Northwest.

"What you have here are some amazing patriots and great Sailors, Marines and Airmen in the area that are doing a wonderful job and sometimes don't quite get the credit for what they do, but I learned a lot about them and what they do and it's extraordinary," said Greenert.

For more news from U.S. Fleet Forces Command, visit www.cffc.navy.mil.