The amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) earned the Retention Excellence Award for fiscal year 2018 for the fourth year in a row.
This sought-after award is bestowed to commands annually that have demonstrated the ability to keep Sailors pro Navy. To achieve this accomplishment, commands must reach a number of benchmarks emphasizing career readiness standards, sustain superior percentages of retention for each reenlistment zone and maintain an attrition rate for first-term Sailors below five percent.
The Retention Excellence award also known as the Golden Anchor distinguishes commands meeting or going above and beyond retention goals for that year. As a benefit of achieving the Retention Excellence Award, commands are authorized to paint their anchors gold as a symbol of merit and fly the Retention Excellence Award pennant.
“These gold anchors show everyone on the waterfront Big 5’s Sailors are being educated on the benefits of staying in the Navy,” said Senior Chief Navy Counselor Laura Rudy, Bataan’s leading career counselor. “The Navy has so many great opportunities for Sailors that coincide with their desires and needs. It’s all thanks to our great team of command career counselors as well as department and division career counselors.”
This year’s goals were passing the annual career information program review with a score of 90 points or better; Bataan earned a score of 95 and met all combined benchmarks of 35 percent for zone A (Sailors that have been in for 0 to 6 years), 54 percent for zone B (Sailors that have been in for 6 plus to 10 years), 64 percent for zone C (Sailors that have been in for 10 to 14 years), and a total of five percent or less total attrition for fiscal year 2018 (FY-18).
Bataan’s Career Counselor team scorched reenlistment benchmarks with 65 percent for Zone A, 81 percent for Zone B, 100 percent for Zone C, and 2.5 percent aggregate attrition for FY-18.
“The Retention Excellence Award is significant to Bataan because it shows our Sailors and the fleet we take care of you and we genuinely care for you,” said Navy Counselor First Class Jose Plamarrero. “We want nothing but the best for our Sailors and we are here to help them be successful in future endeavors”
Bataan was 1 of 54 commands bestowed the honor of receiving this award.