NAVCENT leaders, Mobile Support Team visit Kabul

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Olivia Giger | Command Master Chief Petty Officer David Anderson, Naval Forces Central Command Master Chief, talks to Individual Augmentee sailors deployed to North Kabul Afghanistan International Airport at an all hands call Jan. 5. Approximately 2,200 sailors are currently deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.  

KABUL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, AFGHANISTAN

01.05.2012

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Olivia Giger 

ISAF Joint Command

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Approximately 40 Individual Augmentee sailors stationed at North Kabul Afghanistan International Airport left the camp’s newly built chapel feeling recharged and empowered thanks to a visit from Naval Forces Central Command Forward Afghanistan Headquarters and Mobile Support Team today. One sailor said, “I needed that.” Another commented, “Go Navy,” as they walked away with questions answered, and morale restored.

There are approximately 2,200 sailors filling IA billets in Afghanistan today - about the population of an amphibious ship with embarked Marines. The difference is: IA sailors cannot be found on one big ship of steel and non-skid. They’re spread out over miles and miles of desert, so it’s more than just a matter of talking over the 1MC or holding an all hands call in the hangar bay to communicate with them.

That’s where NAVCENT’s Mobile Support Team comes in. Chaplain (Lcdr.) Carey Cash, along with his security guards, RP3 Blake Jefferson and NC1 Ryan Miletello, must reach out to sailors in Afghanistan and travel to them. Miletello, who also serves as a Mobile Career Counselor, said he’s traveled 27 of the 33 days he’s been in country.

Together the Mobile Support Team has traveled 7,000 miles in the last five months to ensure sailors are accommodated and succeeding in their deployments. Some sailors are working at bustling airports, like NKAIA, and some are on remote forward operating bases, making them a little more difficult to find.

“It’s the Mobile Support Team’s objective to get out a map and a roster, and beat feet to find our sailors,” said Cash. In the five months that Cash has been in country he’s visited more than 50 FOBs in support of his very important mission. Cash says his team’s mission is to “deck plate the desert for sailors.”

The Army and Navy are two very separate branches of the military that operate much differently, explained Cash. There is bureaucracy with the Army that might be difficult for a sailor to understand at times. That can be stressful for a sailor, and can sometimes make him or her feel like an outsider in already harsh surroundings.

“This can be a scary environment – it’s a much different deployment environment than sailors are used to. But Navy service members handle stress remarkably well. My observation is that you’re probably under more stress than you know. It catches up with you if you don’t have an outlet,” said Cash.

Chaplain Cash encouraged IA sailors to find an outlet for their stress, to find a space and have a plan to relieve stress when necessary. He also stated the importance of sailors staying in contact with their Navy comrades.

“You have a Navy community to lean on. Use each other. Pay attention to yourself, and pay attention to each other. There’s no doubt in my mind that each one of you is going to do great things in Afghanistan, and have a successful deployment, if you take care of your shipmates,” Cash said.

One of the aspects of separation that many sailors feel while deployed to Afghanistan is that, unlike the Army, they are not with their command while in country. Sailors train and deploy alone, while generally, the Army trains and deploys in units.

Capt. Dan Forney, NAVCENT Forward Afghanistan Headquarters officer in charge, explained that because Navy IA sailors deploy as individuals, it’s important for the Navy to do what they can to show that they care, so that IA’s don’t feel alone.

“I never want to hear an IA say the Navy doesn’t care,” said Forney. “We are the world’s strongest Navy, and we take care of our people. We are here just for you. It’s our job to make sure you’re taken care of while supporting the Army in Afghanistan.”
NAVCENT Forward Afghanistan Command Master Chief David Anderson also spoke to sailors about key topics like warfare qualifications, and the Perform to Serve and Enlisted Retention Board programs.

“A sailor's career doesn’t go on hold just because they are deployed,” said Anderson. Certain actions need to be taken during deployment to ensure a sailor’s career will excel when they return, he explained.

Anderson also talked about remissioning and the importance of the Army utilizing sailors for specific positions.

“It’s important that when a billet is advertised for a specific skill set, it’s that specific skill set that is utilized when a sailor is deployed to Afghanistan. The Army gives us their needs and we are happy to satisfy, or at the least, lessen those needs. Truth in advertising is important, and if it’s not happening, we need to know,” said Anderson.

Questions were taken by the leadership before the meeting adjourned. Sailors asked about the redeployment process and timeline, extensions, combat service awards, uniform requirements, evaluations and fitness reports.

“I have a sailor that’s redeploying soon, and I know this meeting was very helpful to her. There were a lot of questions answered today, and I think everyone got a good dose of Navy morale,” said HM1(SW/AW) Alesha Lee.

At the close of the meeting Anderson gave the group some Navy trivia.

“I do Navy trivia for two reasons: One, because we are in the land of hooah, so we’ve got to remember our roots. Two, because it’s the chief petty officer’s job to keep our heritage as U.S. Navy sailors. I’ll take every opportunity I can get to make sure our traditions, or history and our heritage are kept close to our hearts,” he said.

Anderson said he’s happy to be able to visit sailors to ensure they know the Navy appreciates the sacrifices being made.

“Out here we dress like the Army. We eat, sleep and breathe ‘hooah.’ I’ll do all that I can to make sure every sailor knows they are valued.” said Anderson. “Because the Navy has stepped up, an entire brigade does not have to deploy. We won’t let that go unnoticed.”

• Date Taken: 01.05.2012
• Date Posted: 01.06.2012 07:16
• Story ID: 82098
• Location: KABUL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, AF