Green Bay's 5th Golden Opportunity

WATERS SOUTH OF JAPAN (NNS) -- Amphibious transport dock USS Green Bay (LPD 20) received the Golden Anchor Award for fiscal year 2016, its fifth consecutive award.

The Golden Anchor Award, also known as the Retention Excellence Award, recognizes superior accomplishments in implementing programs and policies that best enable Sailors to succeed in their Navy careers and directly supports the concept of "Brilliant on the Basics."

This prestigious award is presented annually to commands that meet or surpass a minimum of 90 points on the annual Command Information Program Review (CIPR), meet or exceed collective reenlistment and attrition benchmarks, maintain an attrition rate for first-term Sailors below five percent, and retain zero "failed to submit" occurrences in the Career Navigator Program.

Although career development processes and programs can be overwhelming, Green Bay's commanding officer, Capt. Nathan Moyer, said a good command career counselor can make the difference between success and failure in a young Sailor's career. He believes his Sailors are served well by their command career counselor, Navy Counselor 1st Class Camdon Logan.

"Petty Officer Logan is an extraordinary Sailor," said Moyer. "Managing our ship's career counselor program is a monumental task and his hands-on, daily interaction with the crew brings it all together. He provides the tools necessary to keep the decision to stay Navy in the Sailor's hands."

According to Logan, Green Bay's dedication and teamwork were instrumental to being selected for the Golden Anchor.

"Green Bay has an excellent team of departmental and divisional career counselors," said Logan. "We also have a great chain of command that wants -- and pushes -- Sailors to succeed."

There are numerous changes on a daily basis when it comes to career planning for enlisted Sailors. It's important command career counselors pay attention to their Sailors' professional needs as well as their intentions.

"It's important to me that the Sailors are being taken care of," said Logan. "I'm always dedicated to making sure the crew excels in their duties and that I'm providing the tools necessary to enhance their careers."

Logan went on to say winning the Golden Anchor is important to him, not just because he's the command career counselor, but also because it shows every Green Bay Sailor cares for his or her shipmate.

"Not every command is able to say they won this award," said Logan. "It's all thanks to the determination of everyone. It's a testament to the ship that through thick or thin, Green Bay rises to the occasion."

The Golden Anchor Award was established by U.S. Fleet Forces Command through the Fleet Retention Excellence Program and is annually awarded to commands that sustain superior levels of military retention during the previous fiscal year.

Ships that receive the award are authorized to immediately fly the retention excellence pennant and paint their anchors gold.

Green Bay is a part of the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group, with embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, on a routine patrol, operating in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region to enhance warfighting readiness and posture forward as a ready-response force for any type of contingency.

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For more news from USS Green Bay (LPD 20), visit http://www.navy.mil/local/lpd20/.