Essex 'Retains' Golden Anchor

[unhappycamper]

Essex 'Retains' Golden Anchor
Navy News | December 13, 2007

USS Essex, At Sea -- The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) has been awarded the annual Commander, Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT) Retention Excellence Award for exceeding annual retention benchmarks.

During Fiscal year 2007, 122 Sailors, more than 79 percent of the Sailors aboard the "Iron Gator," reenlisted. Combined, they received more than $300,000 in Selective Reenlistment Bonuses.

According to Essex's Command Career Counselor, Senior Chief Navy Counselor (SW/AW) Brent Emricson, the ship's retention successes are a result of good leadership.

"What makes a difference for Sailors is our senior leadership counseling their people to stay Navy," said Emricson. "Our career development boards throughout the year helped leaders find out what they could do to keep their Sailors in the Navy."

In addition to strong deckplate leadership, Essex's retention success can also be attributed to a proactive and well managed career counseling program.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,158223,00.html