The pilot program aims to decrease the number of temporary additional duty sailors aboard destroyers. The policy suspension aims to "to keep our combat teams as strong as possible," said Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy James Honea. “Mental health is a vexing problem for us," Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday said. The commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command said industry needs to start delivering ordnance on time. The commander of Naval Surface Forces, Vice Adm. Roy Kitchener, said his goal is to reach a 35% or 36% retention rate among SWOs for 2023. The Navy will keep close tabs on ship readiness metrics to ensure at least 75 are combat credible on any given day and overall fleet readiness increases. The Navy is considering forward-deploying LCSs to Bahrain or relying on expeditionary mine countermeasures companies to conduct some of the mission. “I think the chaplain initiative was one of the best things we've done." The sea service is poised to establish “surface groups” meant to renew the Navy’s focus on maintenance and training. Army veteran Charles F. Krugh, president of Bath Iron Works, took over the Maine shipyard seven months ago. Load More