Month: October 2022

Source: United States Navy

Since 2004, the President of the United States and Congress have declared October Cybersecurity Awareness Month, helping individuals protect themselves online as threats to technology and confidential data become more common. Celebrating its nineteenth year, the campaign has grown globally since its inception, reaching consumers, small and medium-sized businesses, corporations, and families in over 75 countries and territories.

The Navy is adopting the National Cybersecurity Alliance’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month theme of “See Yourself in Cyber,” demonstrating that while cybersecurity may seem like a complex subject, ultimately, it’s really all about people. Information and resources will be provided to help educate partners and the public, ensuring all individuals and organizations make smart decisions whether on the job, at home or at school – now and in the future.

“Any individual logging on to a Navy information system immediately becomes a cyber warrior,” said Rear Adm. Tracy Hines, Director of the Navy’s Enterprise Networks and Cybersecurity Division. “A single user can impact our global force, and vigilance by everyone will make the difference between continued mission success or the failure to meet the tasking of our nation.”

Every day across the Department of Defense information network there are 48 million e-mails processed, 174.8 billion cybersecurity events, 420 million marketing and phishing attacks, and 1.5 billion malicious cyber attacks blocked.

The Navy is increasingly reliant on technology and cyberspace to conduct its missions and protect the United States. Unlike traditional combat, a cyber attack has the ability to reach multiple areas of destruction in very little time due to the nature of communications systems. A successful cyber intrusion of the Navy’s network can jeopardize systems and data that affect nearly every aspect of the Navy’s mission.

A larger cyber footprint, coupled with technological advances among adversaries, has increased the Navy’s risk for potential cyber intrusions. All those who access Navy information systems need to understand that their decisions in the digital environment are either an asset or a threat to protecting the Navy’s networks, and also a threat to them and their families outside the work environment.

“In the spirit of the Chief of Naval Operations’ Get Real Get Better campaign, it’s important to acknowledge what our cybersecurity weaknesses are so we can improve,” said Rear Adm. Hines. “Throughout this month we will be sharing cybersecurity best practices, and I invite you to challenge yourself, your colleagues, and your command to take a collective responsibility in protecting the Navy’s cyber infrastructure.”

For more information on the Navy’s Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign, visit doncio.navy.mil and search “Cybersecurity Awareness Month.”

Source: United States Navy

The Navy finished FY22 with the following numbers:
FY22 Goal Actual
Enlisted (Active) 33,400 33,442
Officer (Active) 2,507 2,298*
Enlisted (Reserve) 7,400 5,442*
Officer (Reserve) 1,360 982*
*Preliminary numbers, which may change slightly based on Sept. 30 activity.

“We’ve completed a very challenging year, and I am very proud of the tremendous efforts our Recruiters gave to bring in the nation’s top talent and build the future of the fleet,” Rear Adm. Alexis “Lex” Walker, Commander, Navy Recruiting Command said. “The coming year promises to be even more challenging, as we are not starting the year in as strong a position as FY22. In order to achieve our mission goals this year, we will need an all-hands-on-deck effort, not only from our recruiters, but from throughout the active and reserve fleet, our retired Navy veterans, and our community leaders around the country who are centers of influence in the lives of the young people we are trying to recruit. We are going to do everything within our power to ensure that our recruiters are empowered and have the assets they need in order to accomplish the mission.”

While the enlisted active accessions reached their mission goal, this came at a heavy price. The Navy entered FY22 with a relatively healthy Delayed Entry Program (DEP) pool and finished the year with the lowest DEP pool in 40 years. DEP allows future Sailors to be contracted to join but remain on hold before shipping off to Recruit Training Command (boot camp). The goal of the program is to acclimate future service members to the military environment, military rank structure, history, customs and courtesies and to improve their physical fitness prior to shipping out. It also allows the military flexibility in when they ship future service members to regulate the flow of future Sailors to boot camp and follow on training schools.

Draining the DEP pool to critically low levels brings many new challenges for the upcoming year. Around a third of those remaining in DEP are future Sailors who are seniors in high school, who cannot ship until after graduation in May/June 2023. So the Navy is expected to be in a contract-and-ship posture, where future Sailors are shipped to boot camp within weeks or even days of contracting to serve. This posture is expected to persist through FY23.

The goals for FY23 are below:
FY23 Goal
Enlisted (Active) 37,700
Officer (Active) TBD*
Enlisted (Reserve) 8,100
Officer (Reserve) 1,732
*Active Officer goals are usually released during the first quarter of the FY

In an effort to bring more future Sailors into the DEP pool, the Navy has been offering multiple incentives to generate a greater interest in naval service among qualifying applicants. In August, Navy Recruiting Command (NRC) announced enlistment bonuses up to $50,000 and student loan repayment up to $65,000. This offers the opportunity for future Sailors to earn a substantial sum as they begin their careers. The loan repayment program remains in place for FY23, and the bonus structure for the start of FY23 is posted at this link, with a maximum bonus remaining $50,000:
https://www.cnrc.navy.mil/Portals/87/Documents/Bonus%20Loans/FY22/CNRC_EB_LRP%20GENADMIN_SEPTEMBER2022_effective17SEP.pdf?ver=CiJD5usN-CcYkKX__9wvuw%3d%3d×tamp=1663602235466

“The maximum current enlistment bonus is $50,000, and the maximum loan repayment is $65,000,” said Walker. “They are not mutually exclusive, so if a future Sailor maximizes both, that adds up to a life-altering $115,000, and the opportunity to serve in the world’s finest Navy.”

In addition to bonuses and loan repayment, leadership throughout the Navy is engaged in helping to improve Navy recruiting numbers. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro has begun sending letters to high school principals to promote military service and to foster school access for recruiters. These initial letters will be followed up with a letter from Commander, Navy Recruiting Command (CNRC) to further foster a relationship with these centers of influence.

CNRC also began the “Every Sailor is a Recruiter” (ESAR) program in July. The goal of the program is for U.S. Navy Sailors all over the world to share their positive experiences of naval service with qualifying applicants and provide referrals based upon these interactions.

“Every Sailor has a voice, and it’s not just up to recruiters to represent the Navy back at home, but it is their duty to share their experiences and inspire people to serve their country,” Master Chief Navy Counselor Gerald Allchin, NRC National Chief Recruiter said. “Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, I know first-hand how rare it can be in non-fleet concentration areas to hear anything about the Navy. So, I tell my shipmates to share your stories!”

This program will be a force multiplier and will make the Navy more competitive in today’s challenging labor market. Navy leadership is currently determining the best way to recognize and award Sailors that provide referrals who ultimately join.

To address Reserve recruiting shortfalls, the Navy altered its recruiting command structure this summer, standing up Navy Recruiting Reserve Command (NRRC) to specifically tackle these challenges. Part of this restructure’s focus is on Canvasser Recruiter (CANREC) professionals. They make up 65% of NRRC and carry a critical portion of the NRRC enlisted goal and 100% of the officer mission goal.

“Our success depends upon CANREC professionals, and I am continually amazed at their commitment,” said CAPT Karen Muntean, Commander of NRRC. “These individuals are Selected Reservists (SELRES) and civilian professionals who have committed themselves to joining our challenging recruiting charge. Their role is to recruit for the reserve mission, educate active duty, civilians and veterans on the benefits of serving in the Navy Reserve, and partner with military and industry organizations.”

CNRC consists of a command headquarters, two Navy Recruiting Regions, NRRC, and 26 NTAGs that serve more than 1,000 recruiting stations around the world. Their mission is to attract the highest quality candidates to assure the ongoing success of America’s Navy.

For more news from Commander, Navy Recruiting Command, go to http://www.cnrc.navy.mil. Follow Navy Recruiting on Facebook (www.facebook.com/MyNAVYHR), Twitter (@USNRecruiter) and Instagram (@USNRecruiter).

Source: United States Navy

As we transition from the summer to the fall and winter seasons, the Naval Safety Command (NAVSAFECOM) continues to promote a safety-first mindset, with the release of its annual 2022 Fall and Winter Safety presentation Oct. 1.

As the Navy and Marine Corps team continues to meet our operational commitments, we want to ensure our Sailors and Marines are safe and making informed decisions while enjoying the cooler weather,” said NAVSAFECOM Command Master Chief, CMDCM(SW/AW/IW) Jimmy Hailey. “Each of us is responsible for making smart decisions both on and off duty. We need to get better at thinking about risk in everything we do so we can protect ourselves and each other.”

From Oct. 1 through March 1, over fiscal years (FY) 18-22, 139 Sailors and Marines were killed in off-duty incidents. Of these, 61 were due to automobile crashes, 47 from motorcycle crashes, nine were pedestrian-related and another 22 were killed during off-duty, recreational activities.

The Fall and Winter Safety presentation provides critical information and tips to raise awareness and assist Sailors and Marines in mitigating risks associated with the off-duty activities commonly associated with the fall and winter months, including seasonal driving safety; home fire prevention; avoiding slips, trips and falls, seasonal decorating safety; and cold weather tips. 

“Our goal is to ensure every Sailor, Marine, civilian employee and their families are aware of the risks associated with fall and winter activities so they can take appropriate precautions to minimize those risks both on and off duty,” Hailey said. “If a fellow Sailor or Marine, or a friend, is about to do something unsafe or risky, speak up. Supervisors, reach out to your subordinates, and talk with them about their activities and what they can do to minimize risk. We can’t afford to lose a single Sailor or Marine to another mishap that was 100% preventable.”

NAVSAFECOM will also be producing a variety of Fall and Winter Safety media products over the fall and winter seasons, which will be available on the NAVSAFECOM website and via social media. Download the presentation on the NAVSAFECOM website, at 
https://navalsafetycommand.navy.mil/Stand-Down/Safety-Stand-Down/