Chief of Naval Personnel visits Jacksonville

While at NAS Jacksonville, Harvey met separately with the base commanding officers and command master chiefs (CMCs). While meeting the CMCs, he described his vision to improve total readiness by sizing, shaping and stabilizing the force.

"This means getting us from where we are today to about 322,000, and getting that right, not just in terms of the number, but in the types of Sailors and the knowledge, skills and abilities they have," he said. Harvey addressed several internal and external factors influencing and impacting the Navy's total force that include changing needs and a changing market.

"On average only 30 percent of high school seniors are eligible to join our Navy," he said. "This means our recruiting mission will get harder. The likelihood for a person to enlist in the armed forces today is lower than it has ever been."

According to Harvey, the number of recruiters needed to look for the type of talented and diverse people needed to support the future Navy will increase from 3,400 to 5,000.

"We're in the fight of our lives and if we don't win, we're not going to have the talent we need for the Navy we're going to have," he continued.

Another important issue that Harvey addressed was the individual augmentee (IA) mission.

"The Army and Marine Corps are severely stressed and that's why we're doing IA missions," said Harvey. "This mission isn't going to go away and if I were in your seats I would plan for another five years at this level."

At the NAS Jacksonville's Flight Line Cafe, CS3 Candis Richardson scoops up a serving of sweet potatoes for Chief of Naval Peronnel Vice Adm. J.C. Harvey Jr. during his visit here Feb. 22.

Though Harvey offered no reprieve from IAs, he told the master chiefs that he needs more support for the families of Sailors who go on an IA mission.

Part of his overall message of recruiting, diversity and force readiness included what Harvey described as a sea-centric force. This will put the ratio of sea and shore billets to 50/50. The desired outcomes from redistribution of these billets are more geographic stability for Sailors, satisfying and rewarding work, personal and professional development and predictability.

"Hopefully by the end of this year we'll understand the billet distribution around the country and know what it needs to be to support these goals," he added.

One final message that Harvey wanted all Sailors to know is that "the success of our Navy is absolutely and totally dependent on the work that all of our Sailors do. I need every Sailor, no matter where you are in the food chain, to know that everyone has a leadership opportunity.

Everyone has an opportunity to mentor someone, to help him or her avoid a potential pitfall and find a better way ahead. Understand that everyone out there is an example for someone. We should set the kind of examples we want people to follow for the kind of Navy we want to be."