Last modified Wed., March 07, 2007 - 06:37 PM
Originally created Thursday, March 8, 2007

DiRosa visits Naval Hospital Jacksonville

By Loren Barnes, NH Jacksonville Public Affairs

U.S. Fleet Forces Command FLTCM(SW/AW) Jacqueline DiRosa congratulates Naval Hospital Jacksonville Junion Sailor of the Year CS2 Sonny Lalatag on his recent selection to serve at the White House during his next tour. Photo by HM1(SW) Michael Morgan

U.S. Fleet Forces Command Fleet Master Chief (SW/AW) Jacqueline DiRosa visited Naval Hospital Jacksonville Feb. 27 and held an all-hands call with enlisted staff.

Naval Hospital Jacksonville's CMDCM Dennis Green briefed DiRosa on Naval Hospital Jacksonville operations during a working luncheon at the hospital. DiRosa also visited Branch Health Clinic Kings Bay March 2.

DiRosa, the Navy's first female fleet master chief, has had an illustrious career in Navy medicine as a hospital corpsman. "You're always a corpsman. That's something you always carry with you," she said.

In answering the Sailors' questions, she addressed a number of personnel topics currently on the table with Navy leadership. Focusing on the Chief of Naval Operation's emphasis on deployability and employability of Navy resources, she said numerous enlisted personnel policies are being reviewed. For instance, policies which restricted Sailors serving in combat areas from taking advancement exams.

Another is "leveling the playing field" for assignment incentive pay (AIP). Referring to the Naval Hospital Jacksonville presence at the Joint Task Force Detention Center Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, she emphasized that AIP should more evenly address the unpleasant, very dangerous and extremely stressful and challenging environments Sailors find themselves as they support the war on terrorism.

More words of advice were, "Read the writing on the wall and try to make career adjustments" in light of the current drive toward consolidating or civilianizing many military billets.

As an example of a Sailor that others should emulate, Green introduced DiRosa to the hospital's Junior Sailor of the Year CS2 Sonny Lalatag. This outstanding culinary specialist, who currently works in the hospital galley, has been selected to work at the White House as his next duty assignment. DiRosa congratulated Lalatag noting what an incredible honor such an assignment is. She told her audience, "You never know the talent that serves amongst us."

In conclusion she said, "Thank you for your service, what you do for your community here and what you do for the extended community when you deploy. It's an honor to serve with you."