Norfolk Submariners Boast High Retention Rates

Since 06-21-04

From NSL UPDATE 01-19-2004

Norfolk Submariners Boast High Retention Rates
By Journalist Seaman Apprentice Andrew Zask, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Twenty-nine Atlantic submarine commands, including three Norfolk-based submarines and two Norfolk submarine shore commands, have earned the 2003 Golden Anchor award for maintaining high retention rates throughout the year. USS Hampton (SSN 767), USS Scranton (SSN 756), USS Newport News (SSN 739), Submarine Squadron Support Unit (SSSU) Norfolk, and Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (COMSUBLANT) staff were announced as winners of this year’s Golden Anchor.

In order to earn the Golden Anchor, each command had to retain at least 56 percent of its military employees through at least two quarters of 2003. Winners of the award are authorized to paint their anchors gold. However, shore commands don’t have anchors, and submarine anchors are on the bottom of the boat where they are rarely seen. Fortunately, the award includes a plaque and a pennant depicting a golden anchor, so these commands will be able to proudly display their accomplishments.

Newport News Career Counselor Sonar Technician 1st Class (SS) John E. Crowell attributes the boat’s high retention to a successful deployment. “We had at least 15 or more reenlistments in the last half of our deployment.” That deployment was a rapid-response wartime patrol in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, which ended April 23. Crowell added that Newport News has had 12 reenlistments since April.

“We’ve gone a long way to improve morale and improving the quality of the command,” said Crowell.

COMSUBLANT Command Career Counselor Signalman 1st Class (SS) Dujuan E. Hogue says COMSUBLANT has a 78 percent retention rate. He says this is largely due to the amount of senior personnel in the COMSUBLANT staff. “The percentage is not that high for E-1 to E-4,” he said, “but the percentages are outstanding for E-5 to E-6, and E-7 to E-9.” Hogue has reenlisted 69 people in his 2 1/2 years as COMSUBLANT command career counselor.

COMSUBLANT Force Career Counselor Master Chief Machinist’s Mate (SS) Robert T. Koehler says more Sailors reenlist on deployments because of tax-free reenlistment bonuses. He also says overall retention rates for Atlantic submarine commands is up from last year, and says the increase is due in part to Operation Iraqi Freedom and the increase in submarine deployments. “We’re doing better for retention, said Koehler. “The trend is going up. A lot of people reenlist because it’s tax-free.”

Crowell said if a Sailor reenlists in a tax-free zone, not only will his initial bonus be tax-free, but every anniversary payment is tax-free, as well. “That’s a big chunk of money,” he said. Due to the high retention rates in the submarine force, submarine career counselors are busy people. They handle reenlistments, bonuses, transfers, officer training programs and retention programs. Unlike most shore commands and surface ships, submarine career counselors like Crowell do their career counselor job as a collateral duty. Thanks to their efforts, five Norfolk submarine commands will soon fly golden anchor pennants.