Naval Station Great Lakes Established to Improve Training Efficiency, Effectiveness

0 Comments | US Navy Press Releases, Oct 27, 2001

. Naval Station Great Lakes Established to Improve Training Efficiency, Effectiveness By Naval Training Center Great Lakes Public Affairs

GREAT LAKES, Ill. (NNS) -- To improve training efficiency and better align base operating functions, Naval Station (NAVSTA) Great Lakes was commissioned Oct. 19. Naval Station is a shore activity reporting to commander, Naval Training Center (NTC) Great Lakes. Capt. Gerald Hart has been named its first commanding officer.

"We're here today to mark a milestone in the history of Great Lakes," said Rear Adm. Daniel L. Kloeppel, commander, NTC Great Lakes. "What we acknowledge today is a new and better way to accomplish the Great Lakes mission."

The reorganization removes the day-to-day base operation management responsibilities from NTC, allowing the admiral and his staff to provide greater emphasis on their primary mission: improving the efficiency and efficacy of the training provided at Great Lakes. Base operating support requirements have increased significantly since all recruit training was consolidated at Great Lakes in 1993.

"Great Lakes has a unique place in the Navy. This is an enormous institution which requires and deserves the very best support to allow it to do its job -- that of molding America's most precious asset into Navy Sailors," Hart said. "I undertake this challenge with the awareness that much is expected of me. I take comfort in knowing Great Lakes has a tradition of excellence, for 90 years it has always given the Navy its very best."

Under the previous organization, functions such as security and fire, recreation, dining hall operation, facilities management and housing -- functions that are traditionally managed by a station commanding officer -- were managed by the commander of NTC Great Lakes. Under the new organization, these functions will be managed by the naval station commanding officer.

The reorganization is of negligible cost, as all existing manpower and facilities will be realigned from existing staff and physical plant resources.

The official mission of the commanding officer of NAVSTA Great Lakes, who reports to commander, NTC Great Lakes, will be to maintain and operate facilities, provide administrative and logistic support to tenant organizations and perform such other functions and tasks as directed by higher authority.

NAVSTA Great Lakes will be staffed with 403 civilian positions and 198 military billets, which includes 10 officers and 188 enlisted Sailors. These positions have been reassigned from existing assets of NTC Great Lakes.

For more information on NTC Great Lakes, go to http://www.ntcgl.navy.mil.