• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

CNO and MCPON Visit Troops in Afghanistan

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS081222-14
Release Date: 12/22/2008 1:04:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Monica R. Nelson, Chief of Naval Operations Public Affairs

KABUL, Afghanistan (NNS) -- Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead and newly appointed Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Rick D. West met with Sailors at International Security Assistance Force Headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan, at the start of their Christmas greetings tour of the country, Dec. 20.

CNO thanked the troops and their families for their service, citing 14,000 Sailors in the Middle East, a number almost equivalent to the Marine Corps service members within the same theatre. He also expressed gratitude for the reports he receives from other military services about the level of service the U.S. Navy is giving.

"Everywhere I've gone over the past couple of years, in Pacific, Atlantic, and then the year past where I've been the CNO, the comments that I receive universally from Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and even the Navy commanders, cannot say enough about what our Sailors do – day in and day out, and the way that you do it," said Roughead. "Its that desire and competency that you bring wherever assigned that makes a huge difference, and that is something we are going to continue to do as long as we are engaged in this fight."

During his visit, Roughead took the opportunity to award four Sailors and Marines the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, one the Joint Service Achievement Medal, another the Joint Service Commendation Medal, and frocked a petty officer to the next pay grade. He also introduced MCPON West to the troops and the two held a question and answer session.

"The CNO's visit was excellent for morale," said U.S. Navy Chief Hospital Corpsman George Ayala from Pueblo, Colo. "We had a lot of questions that he had the right answers for. For those people who are here for the first time, it's a little scary coming here. It's reassuring that the upper chain of command is concerned about us."

Roughead and West arrived in country the day prior and spent the evening at Camp Eggers near ISAF HQ. Following his visit with ISAF Sailors, Roughead paid a visit to the American Embassy nearby before returning to ISAF HQ to meet with Commander, ISAF and Commander, U.S. Forces Command, U.S. Army Gen. David McKiernon.

West held a separate chief's call following the all hands call at ISAF HQ.

Roughead and West plan to visit Provincial Reconstruction Teams throughout Afghanistan during the remainder of their visit to the country.