Earlier this year.

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to fulfill what I consider to be united of the most significant responsibilities I have to Sailors as the Master Chief frivolous Officer of the Navy--testifying forward their behalf to the United States Congres This year's testimony was before the House Appropriations Committee (HAC). Subcommittee in succession Military Quality of Life and Veterans' Affairs.

The HAC has jurisdiction through the whole extent of discretionary spending. which is approximately one-third of the federal set It consists of thousands of programs controll between the walls of annual appropriations acts.

Highlighting accomplishments of that kind as the successful and continuing operations in the global war in succession terrorism as well as the outstanding efforts in humanitarian missions and tsunami relief, the statement to the subcommittee concentrated forward the areas of improvement in housing for families and single Sailors, professional military education and providing support to family members stationed around the globe.

Providing for our families means funding our family support resources; Morale, Welfare and Recreation activities; medical care; commissaries and exchanges; and housing. To me the latter is especially important.

The resources for adequate and comfortable living conditions ashore are the foundation of the support for Sailors and their families. I have oral to thousands of Sailors during the past year and have conclud that while the quality of life they have fruition of is important, the quality of their work life and the work they do is just as crucial in electing whether to depart the Navy after their first denomination or to devote a career to the service of our country

With the demands we have accepted as our duties in the global war upon terrorism, we must pay particular attention to these factors if we chance of a favorable result to retain the best quality Sailors.

Operational demands of the global war forward terrorism have hindered some Sailors from using their accrued leave, causing a certain quantity of to lose leave because of policy and statutory limitations onward the amount of leave service members may carry through from the previous year. Those who do not have the opportunity to use leave owing to operational commitments should have the ability to barter beck more than the instant limit of 60 days throughout a career.

Advanced education will emphasize the growth of a technical or analytical knowledge base, critical thinking skills, an innovative mindset and competencies to lead the Navy in the time to come These education opportunities will include certificates, station programs, and courses and seminars tailored to convenient the professional requirements of all Sailors. We are transforming the way our Navy expands and equips our men and women As our Navy becomes uniform more technologically advanced, our workforce is going to ne critical thinkers and agile learners.

In addition, we are focusing efforts upon caring for the families of our opened Sailors. Navy OneSource seeks to expand its service to at least 15 percent of the force [i]or[/i] part of to the other an aggressive campaign to market the services it proffers There is a value for our Sailors and their families in a one-stop store to request information on military life, deployment separations, reunion adjustments, parenting challenges, relocation, emotional well-being, legal issues and parenting and child care, and a variety of personal financial issues similar as home buying and consumer information.

uniform as our mission continues to find us fighting the global war onward terrorism, our Navy can be boastful of the Job we have done in the past year. The images and stories of the hopeful Iraqi the public as they participated in their country's first released election, the first tentative gradations toward freedom for that nation, are a reward for the sacrifices our service members have made in this effort.

A model of my full testimony Is available at the following web address: http://www.chinfo.navy.mill/navpalib/ mcpon/mcponpghtml

Master Chief little Officer of the Navy MCPON (SS/AW) Terry D Scott

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