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CNO: 'Great Lakes is Vital'
Story Number: NNS020510-03
Release Date: 5/10/2002 3:11:00 PM
By JOC Rhonda Burke, Great Lakes Public Affairs
GREAT LAKES, Ill. (NNS) -- Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Vern Clark believes that Naval Training Center Great Lakes is crucial to the future of the Navy and should be a preferred duty station for Sailors who want to make a significant contribution to the Navy of the 21st Century.
"Great Lakes is vital to our future," said Clark in an address to civic and military leaders at the Harrison Center in Lake Forest recently. "I'm here to see the product and the way we are producing Sailors. What I see here is exciting - a group of young men and women in our Navy committed to growing our young people and getting them started off on the right foot."
The CNO toured Great Lakes' training facilities May 8-9, met with area Sailors of the Year and received a critical issues brief from Great Lakes commanding officers.
It was his first trip to Great Lakes as the Chief of Naval Operations. The visit comes in the second year of his term, which he has committed to making the Revolution in Training his top initiative.
"I wanted to come here and see for myself what is going on and how we are growing and developing our very young Sailors," Clark said.
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy(SS/AW) Terry Scott and 60 Surface Warfare Flag Officers attending the Surface Warfare Flag Officers Conference were also onboard Great Lakes this week to see where Navy training starts.
"It all starts here at Great Lakes," the CNO said, noting that he had the opportunity to visit training facilities, berthing areas and tour construction sites which are part of the nearly $1 billion recapitalization investment in Great Lakes.
The Navy's top leader emphasized his commitment to quality of service for Sailors and the importance of people to the Navy mission.
"What is going on here at Great Lakes is a tremendous investment in the infrastructure so that the men and women serving here have the right tools to create the 21st century Sailor," Clark said. "We are giving our instructors and our recruit division commanders the kind of tools and facilities that they need to get the job done."
The CNO says the Navy is able to complete its mission, because Sailors trained here at Great Lakes demonstrate the noble values and the commitment to service necessary to be successful in protecting our nation's security.
"The technology we have gives us a big advantage, but it is the men and women who wear the Navy uniform who ensure we have the edge," Clark said. "The importance of what is going on here at Great Lakes is that they are committed to the transformation of young men and women into Sailors that have a sense of service to their nation. I want to commend those who are serving here for their commitment to the future of our Navy and for making our institution the kind of Navy we want it to be in the 21st Century. They are making it happen, and it is starting right here at Great Lakes."
For more information on Great Lakes, go to http://www.ntcgl.navy.mil, or to the Great Lakes NewsStand page at http://www.news.navy.mil/local/greatlakes/.
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