NORFOLK, Va. – Several Navy chief petty officers (CPO) and first class petty officers from Naval Station Norfolk participated in a community relations (COMREL) project at the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore Jan. 29.
Sailors helped sort, bag and deliver food to people in need. The effort was inspired by the MCPON’s CPO 365 initiative.
CPO 365 was designed for chief petty officers to train first classes in professionalism, quality leadership, appearance and living in accordance with Navy core values 365 days a year.
“This takes training outside the class room,” said Culinary Specialist 1st Class Nicholas D. Josshua, a participant. “The chief’s mess and the first class mess worked together hand and hand to be Navy ambassadors for our community.”
Chief Culinary Specialist Eric Johnson, the project coordinator, said the Sailors are taking their training outside the base into the surrounding communities.
“This boils down to Core values and who you are as a leader,” said Johnson. “As a chief petty officer you’re expected to lead from the front, set the example and be the example.”
The comrel was a way for chief petty officers and first class petty officers to work together, build camaraderie, and become better acquainted all while giving back to the community.
“It is really a great opportunity to provide this kind of service to the community,” said Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Michael Jon Sandberg, a comrel participant. “I hope this can be a trend for us.”
Everyone in attendance was pleased to be a part of the project. Many felt a sense of pride in what they were doing and for some it was a humbling experience, but everyone was pleased.
Within an hour and a half the Sailors had filled more than a hundred bags with non-perishable food items. They filled three large boxes with bags of fresh beets they hand-sorted, and placed into sealed variety bags.
“There is no way the handful of employees here could have accomplished what all these volunteers accomplished in the time they have,” said David Powers, production manager at the foodbank. “We depend on people like them.”
All the sailors had similar reasons for their desire to participate in the comrel. They were extremely passionate in sharing.
“If I aam going to be a service member who is willing to give life and limb for my country then I should be willing to give back to my community also,” said Josshua. “It feels good and it is a good thing to do.”
| Date Taken: | 01.29.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 01.30.2013 11:33 |
| Story ID: | 101239 |
| Location: | NORFOLK, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 62 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Freedom, food, and the CPO 365 Initiative, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
LEAVE A COMMENT