Last modified Wed., October 31, 2007 - 03:59 PM
Originally created Thursday, November 1, 2007

NAS Jax hosts Fleet Diversity Council meeting

By MCSN Patrick Cook , Fleet Public Affairs Center Southeast

Rear Adm. Patricia Wolfe, commanding officer, Navy Supply Support Battalion One, gives the opening remarks at the sixth annual Fleet Diversity Council meeting at the NAS Jacksonville Officers' Club Oct. 23. "Diversity is the only thing we all have in common," Wolfe told the audience. The Fleet Diversity Council's mission is to provide Navy leadership with the tools and resources to help create and sustain a cultural awareness that values diversity and an environment where every individual prospers and contributes to the mission. Photo by MC2(AW/NAC) Kaitlyn Patterson

The Chief of Naval Operations sixth semi-annual Fleet Diversity Council was held at the NAS Jax Officers' Club Oct. 23 to educate Sailors, officers and civilians on the value of diversity and numerous Navy diversity initiatives. The council meeting specifically targeted participation from NAS Jacksonville and NS Mayport and NSB Kings Bay, Ga.

"The goal of this conference was to get the message of diversity out to all of our people here in Jacksonville and Mayport," said Commander, Naval Logistics Forces Korea Rear Adm. Patricia Wolfe.

"To make sure that they understand that it is an important issue here in our Navy, something that we can not ignore and that we really need to pay particular attention to over the next five to 10 years, because our Navy truly reflects our nation."

The estimated 150 attendees of the conference were lectured on such topics as women's policy, mentoring development and intergenerational communication from various consultants and guest speakers. One of the diversity consultants, Dr. Samuel Betances, spoke of mentoring each other in order to thrive as a team.

"I hope that the Sailors will understand that diversity is a mission imperative. That diversity is not about counting heads it's about making heads count," said Betances.

Dr. Samuel Betances, a diversity consultant, speaks to Sailors aboard NAS Jacksonville during the Chief of Naval Operations sixth semi-annual Fleet Diversity Council Oct. 23. The councilÕs purpose was to educate Sailors, officers and civilians on the value of diversity and numerous Navy diversity initiatives. Photo by MCSN Patrick Cook

"We need to develop our cultural competencies to grow each other; we need to cross comfort zones and work across lines in order to build the mission driven work teams needed in the Navy at all levels."

A relatively new focus, the first four councils were held in Norfolk, Va. and San Diego the primary fleet concentration areas in the Navy.

During those councils it was decided that because of the issues importance, they needed to expand the conference down to smaller fleet and regional areas taking the message directly to the Sailors.

"Our diversity, the acceptance and the recruitment and retention of minorities both male and female racial and religious truly needs to be a primary issue to all our Navy Sailors," said Wolfe.