Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower, Reserve Affairs visits MCAS Iwakuni

Photo By Cpl. Joseph Karwick | Juan M. Garcia III, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, speaks with station Marines outside the Sakura theater here Aug. 28, 2012, after giving a brief on the Navy and Marine Corps-wide 21st Century Sailor Marine Initiative.  

IWAKUNI, YAMAGUCHI, JAPAN

08.28.2012

Story by Lance Cpl. Joseph Karwick 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

IWAKUNI, Japan - The station received a visit from Juan M. Garcia III, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Aug. 28, 2012, at the Sakura theater in order to inform Marines and sailors on the changes implemented with the new ‘21st Century Sailor Marine Initiative.’

The initiative encompasses five key points: safety, readiness, inclusion, continuum of service and physical fitness.

During the brief, Garcia stressed the point of physical fitness. Speaking not only of the physical training involved with staying fit,
but also how nutrition and proper diet help.

“We need everyone at the top of their game every day, so we are looking to give them the fuel to fight, to give them the most
nutritious, beneficial and health conscious fueling possible,” said Garcia. “We want to treat Marine physical fitness like the
professional athletes they are, give them the best techniques and best trainers available. Navy, we want to make sure that even in a shipboard setting and submarine settings they have the opportunity to train and keep their bodies honed in the best possible way for them to perform in the next decade.”

One of the major changes expected due to the 21st Century Sailor Marine Initiative is the implementation of Breathalyzers aboard every Navy and Marine Corps installation.

“By the end of the calendar year we plan to implement Breathalyzers in every command,” said Garcia. “We are still averaging about 108 DUIs a month on the Navy side, and more in
the Marine Corps side, and we cannot afford to lose anyone due to accidents.”

Also, due to the extreme operational tempo of the Navy and Marine Corps for the past 10 years, programs are in the works to assist families with home environment needs. “Navy and Marine Corps families need to know that we have tools in place to help with financial planning and help with the stress at home,” said Garcia. “That we have tools in place so that they find out about retention possibilities much earlier on in the selection process to alleviate the stress at home, that we are maximizing our daycare space across all bases and several other programs.”

The continuum of service portion of the brief laid many of the service members’ fears towards the rumors of forced separation to rest.

“I thought it was interesting that you could tell at the highest level of the military that they actually care about the lowest level,” said Lance Cpl. Vincent G. Barnett, Marine Aircraft Group 12 administrative specialist.

“They weren’t just going to kick us out to make numbers fit into place, that they care about making sure we get a proper education, make sure we get our retirement and benefits. They showed they actually care that we are going through hard times and that we all need some type of help.”

Given the scale of the 21st Century Sailor Marine Initiative, the changes are to take full effect within the next calendar year.

• Date Taken: 08.28.2012
• Date Posted: 09.06.2012 21:45
• Story ID: 94342
• Location: IWAKUNI, YAMAGUCHI, JP