Task Force Life Work visits region

Each day consisted of an 8 a.m. event for officers and command master chiefs, with a discussion session for junior officers, followed by an all-hands event. These events provided an opportunity for everyone to hear directly from the task force about current and future initiatives and to provide direct feedback. The goal of the task force is to extract the thoughts, opinions, and insights of those who are and those who will be the leaders of the 21st century Navy.

"The crucial element is the feedback, not just our feedback, but what happens with that feedback," said Lt. Cmdr. Gregg Gillette, a NAS Jacksonville staff chaplain and an audience member at the TFLW Roadshow at NAS Jacksonville.

"One of the most crucial points is that this goes somewhere, people want to know that their input went someplace . . . and one of the great things they shared at the beginning of the roadshow here, is that feedback from the San Diego Roadshow is already being implemented."

During the TFLW Roadshow, audience members were given the opportunity to hear about task force initiatives that are already being implemented, as well as being able to hear what other Sailors think would improve quality of life in today's Navy. Participants are also given the chance to voice their own ideas and concerns during the show. Sailors are encouraged to think outside of the box and offer ideas they think would make the Navy more acceptable as a long-term career choice.

Comments submitted by audience members covered a wide array of topics, with financial incentives and increased education opportunities mentioned the most.

Capt. Ken Barrett, the Task Force Life Work (TFLW) lead, responds to a question from the audience during the TFLW Roadshow presentation at NAS Jacksonville Sept. 26 as Misti Burmeister, CEO of Inspirion Inc. and speaker for the Navy's TFLW Roadshow looks on.

Attendees also mentioned concerns about mandatory individual augmentee assignments, high-year tenure policy, evaluation processes and more maternity leave for new mothers and fathers.

The roadshow is geared intentionally towards the younger generation of "Millennials," or anyone

Task Force Life Work visits regionborn after the year 1985, however, roadshow organizers stressed the importance of hearing from every age group.

"What we could use from everybody is to get your individual input as to what could make our Navy better," said Capt. Ken Barrett, the TFLW lead roadshow speaker.

All Sailors are encouraged to not only give their feedback, but to discuss it with their families as well and come up with ideas that would make Navy life more conforming for the families of this generation.

Two other options are available for providing feedback to the task force. The first is the TFLW Web site, www.npc.navy.mil/commandsupport/taskforcelifework. This site details the mission and vision of the TFLW, lists announcements, briefs, the roadshow schedule and provides an e-mail link to submit direct feedback to task force representatives.

The second is the TFLW online community blog, accessed through the TFLW Web site. Anyone can request to join the blog by using a (dot) mil e-mail account.

Current discussion threads include telecommuting, education opportunities, work environment and life coaches. Members of the blog can either comment on existing discussion threads or begin a new one.