NAS Jacksonville CCFCPOA hosts annual leadership symposium

More than 230 Sailors from all over the world, including Guam, Guantanamo Bay and even Japan, attended the symposium this year and had the chance to hear targeted training first hand from naval leadership topic experts.

CMDCM(SW) Ceroma Love, Navy Operational Support Center Jax command master chief, was the mentorship and sailorization topic expert called in by the CCFCPOA to share his vast knowledge with the attendees.

"You reach a point in your career when you need to be refocused. There are so many things thrown at you from so many directions and sometimes you take your eye off the prize, so to speak," said Love. "These first class petty officers are fighting to make chief and a lot of these Sailors have been up for it over and over again. For whatever reason, they haven't made it yet. They need to know that they are still valuable, as a community and are still a valued source of information and leadership," added Love.

"All of us have a chief, a senior chief or a master chief. One chief may be more well-versed in a particular topic than the other. This symposium was designed to provide stellar training for today's Navy's hot topics and it is provided by people who know the particular topic inside and out," commented CCFCPOA Vice President AC1(AW/SW) Jose Diaz. "This way, we have Sailors reporting back to their command bringing this vast knowledge with them and sharing it with everyone around them. We expect and hope to start a chain reaction of positive leadership."

Attendees were treated to a continental breakfast on day one of the symposium, then NAS Jacksonville CMDCM(SW) Chris Green kicked off the symposium with his opening remarks. "It's great to bring first class petty officers together from all over the United States to be able to hear things firsthand. The Navy really benefits by holding these symposiums by bringing senior leadership together to share ideas," he said. "Many people think that deckplate leadership starts with chief petty officers, but it really starts with our petty officers. You are the ones in front of your Sailors every day setting the example making sure that they are the person they want those young Sailors who are coming out of boot camp to emulate."

A group of Sailors who came to the leadership symposium from NAS Key West, take a break for lunch.

All of the attendees seemed to appreciate the hard work and effort that was put into the production of the leadership symposium. "I am very impressed with the guest speakers and I am extremely impressed with the first class leadership that put this even together. This was worth every second of my time. The information and knowledge as well as the combined levels of experience is unbeatable," said MM1(SW) Daryll Lezama of Naval Weapons Station Waterfront Operations Charleston, S.C.

Topics of discussion at the symposium were mentorship and sailorization, Navy Knowledge Online 101, detailing, Physical Readiness Program, individual augmentees and many others. Most of the topics were geared towards the programs and policies as well as how to keep your Sailors abreast of this information and all of the changes. There were also topic sessions available to train the first class petty officers on how to achieve the next goal in their careers….khaki's.

"This is all focused on being a leader and knowing the people who you are going to lead. At the same time, we cater a bit to the first class petty officers to get them ready for the next step in their career," added Diaz. "Somewhere along the line, folks have lost sight of who the front line leaders are. Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Joe Campa said that the first class petty officers are the backbone of the Navy. We feel that that is true. We are the front leaders of the Navy. Receiving valuable information to be a good leader and effective manager is crucial to keeping that backbone strong," said Diaz.

The CCFCPOA meets every Wednesday at 10 a.m. in Building 822. For questions or concerns relating to the CCFCPOA, contact CCFCPOA President AZ1(AW) Daniel Rodriguez at 542-3451 or CCFCPOA Vice President AD1(AW/SW) Jose Diaz at 542-2516.