3-1
CHAPTER 3
QUALITY OF LIFE
The Navy’s most valuable asset is its people. As a
future petty officer, you have the requirement to help
safeguard this asset. The Navy has taken great pains to
set up programs to train and help you manage and
nurture the quality of life of this resource.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide you
information on programs that support the Department of
the Navy Core Values Charter shown in figure 3-1. To
do this, the importance of promoting quality of life
issues will be presented first. Then you will be provided
with information on specific programs that benefit the
Sailor.
PURPOSE
Learning Objective: Recognize the purpose of quality
of life programs.
Why is it so important to know about these
programs? As a future petty officer and leader, you must
be able to help your people. You must be aware that
resources are available to help in different situations.
Then you must be able to direct your people to the right
person or source to get the information or help they
need.
I am a man, and nothing human can
be of indifference to me.
—Terence
The Self-Torturer
The purpose of quality of life programs is to
promote the effective use of the Navy's human assets.
Thus the various programs within this system have been
designed to allow individuals the chance to develop their
capabilities to the maximum. This development of
abilities promotes sound leadership, which strengthens
the chain of command. As the chain of command
exercises good leadership principles, the entire Navy
benefits by seeing an improvement in areas such as the
following:
Management
Order and discipline
Acceptance of responsibility
Authority and accountability
Pride and professionalism
Motivation
Retention
REVIEW 1 QUESTIONS
Q1. What is the purpose of quality of life programs?
Q2. How does the Navy benefit from quality of life
programs?
PROGRAMS
Learning Objectives: Recognize programs available in
the quality of life initiative. Recognize the purpose of the
personal excellence program. Recall the purpose of the
casualty assistance calls officer. Recall the equal
opportunity and human rights elements of leadership
programs and policies. Recognize the petty officer’s
responsibility in the Navy’s drug and alcohol abuse
prevention and control program. Recall the programs for
counseling and treating personnel with drug and/or
alcohol problems. Recognize health and physical
readiness program initiatives. Recall the Navy’s family
housing policy.
When individuals use their full potential, the Navy,
in turn, reaches its goal of improved combat readiness
and capability. The Navy encourages people to use their
potential by instilling a sense of pride and
professionalism as well as the desire for personal
excellence. The Navy achieves its goal through people
like you who work to improve and develop individual
