Center for Personal Development brings new vision to navy - Around the Fleet

All Hands, March, 2003 by Edward Flynn

The Center for Personal Development's (CPD) goal is to maximize a Sailor's human potential to enhance their professional potential. To accomplish this, CPD is working to create a Navy culture that promotes and encourages whole Sailor development.

"The Revolution in Navy Training is about developing Sailors professionally and personally," said Commander, Naval Personnel Development Command RADM Kevin Moran. "We are going to give Sailors every opportunity to be successful in their personal lives because this will give the Navy Sailors who are successful professionally."

The five areas of focus on the Personal Development Vector are interpersonal relationships, life skills, values, personal financial management and health (including physical fitness and wellness). In addition to these areas, the Personal Development Vector will also provide opportunities for Sailors to complete a college degree and earn certain industry certifications.

As the single point of contact for personal development, CPD will create a more manageable continuum of training and education for Sailors throughout their personal lives, as well as their Navy careers.

"Because the Navy believes its people to be its No. 1 resource, individualized personal development of Sailors is a major component of the training revolution," said Moran.

The recent establishment of CPD formalizes the process associated with that development. A product of the Navy's Revolution in Training, CPD will serve as the single resource for more than 200 programs once managed by the Navy's Bureau of Medicine, Chief of Naval Education and Training, and Navy Personnel Command. The center is ultimately a response to the Navy's commitment to leadership and an environment of excellence.

"The Navy is competing with industry for top talent, so you can expect the Navy to start competing like an industry," said CPD Commanding Officer CAPT Jamie Barnett. "Private industry now is interested in the way that the Navy plans to provide career advancement incentives for personal development. It is the revolution within the revolution."

By creating an environment of learning, Sailors will be given the most up-to-date training, education and tools available to ensure their success.

"Our goal is to create a Navy in which all Sailors, both active and Reserve, afloat and ashore, are optimally assessed, trained and assigned so they can contribute their fullest to mission accomplishment," said Chief of Naval Operations ADM Vein Clark. "We owe those who promise to serve the best possible training throughout their Navy experience, so they can succeed and prosper in their professional and personal lives."

To learn more about the Navy's Revolution in Training and the Center for Personal Development, visit www.nko.navy.mil or www.excel.navy.mil.

For related news, visit the Naval Personnel Development Command/Task Force EXCEL Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/tfe.>

COPYRIGHT 2003 U.S. Navy

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