S5 E1: Celebrating our CPO Selectees!

Show Notes: Mike Stevens, CEO of the Navy League of the United States and Evelyn Honea, wife of MCPON James Honea discuss why selecting as a CPO is such a major career milestone, and talk about how family members can support their selectees and what to expect during Chief season.

Show Links:

• Navy League of the United States

Show Takeaways:

• Being selected as a CPO is a major career milestone

• Spouses and family members are provided with opportunities to be involved in season events

• CPO season is based in naval history and connects the past, present, and future to create chiefs who know the value of their role and the meaning it holds

• Chief Season can be a challenging time for selectees and their families, but also a time of celebration

Let’s Connect:

• NSFL Website

• NSFL Facebook

• NSFL Instagram

Ask an Ombudsman: How Your Command Ombudsman Serves to Support You

Show Notes:

Ombudsmen are Navy spouse volunteers who serve as a crucial communication link between a command and command families, and are trained in information and resources to support Navy families. In this episode we speak with one of the Navy’s two Ombudsmen-At-Large, Junifer Thomas, about the roles and responsibilities of an ombudsman, and how vital they are to mission readiness. We also speak with two current ombudsmen, Jessica Pugh and Sharon Kozak, who shed light on the ins and outs of their job and answer questions from listeners.

Show Links:

• Find Your Ombudsman Here
• USS Abraham Lincoln Ombudsman Facebook Page

• NTAG Heartland Ombudsman Facebook Group

• Military One Source

• Fleet and Family Support Program

• American Red Cross

• Navy Marine Corps Relief Society

• Courage to Call

Show Takeaways:

• Ombudsmen are volunteers who serve as the primary liaison between a command and their families.

• Ombudsmen are trained in numerous resources to ensure families receive the support and information they need to meet the challenges of military life.

• Families and Sailors must understand that for an ombudsman to communicate with a sailor’s family member, the sailor must first give permission.

• Ombudsmen work tirelessly to ensure the needs of their command families are met - but there are also ways to support and thank them for their dedication.

Let’s Connect:

• NSFL Website

• NSFL Facebook

• NSFL Instagram

Better Together: Naval Services FamilyLine and Blue Star Families Join Forces

Blue Star Families is an organization founded in 2009 to empower military families as they serve by connecting them with their neighbors to create supportive communities. Their platform, The Neighborhood, is a virtual community designed to help military families thrive by providing them with local resources, events, and gatherings. In an exciting partnership, Blue Star Families and Naval Services FamilyLine are joining together to launch the first ever service-specific Neighborhood, ensuring they’ll reach and support even more Navy families. On this episode, Blue Star Families’ CEO, Kathy Roth-Douquet and Executive Vice President, Ryan Callahan join Naval Services FamilyLine’s Chairperson, Tirzah Aiken to discuss this new venture.

Show Links:

• Blue Star Families

• The Neighborhood

Show Takeaways:

• Blue Star Families is an organization dedicated to providing military families with connections and a sense of belonging in their communities.

• The Neighborhood is Blue Star Families’ digital platform providing resources and sharing events to military families in their local areas.

  https://thebsn.org/

• Blue Star Families and Naval Services FamilyLine are partnering to offer the first service-specific Neighborhood for Navy families, moderated by FamilyLine volunteers

Let’s Connect:

• NSFL Website

• NSFL Facebook

• NSFL Instagram