The MCPON serves in an advisory capacity on
various boards pertaining to enlisted members,
including the following boards.
-
Board of Managers of the Navy Relief Society
-
Board of Administrators of the BUPERS
Central Nonappropriated Funds
-
Board of Equal Opportunity for Women
-
Rating Review Board
-
Navy Wives Club of America (Liaison)
-
Fleet Reserve Association (Liaison)
-
Navy Resale System Advisory Board
The MCPON, when called upon, testifies before
congressional committees and subcommittees. The
MCPON occasionally accompanies the CNO and
CHNAVPERS on official trips and the Navy Inspector
General on selected inspection trips. The MCPON
travels extensively throughout the fleet and serves as the
Navy enlisted representative of the DoN at special
events, celebrations, and ceremonies.
The MCPON recommends ways to develop
effective leadership and training at all enlisted levels
and to attain high standards of conduct and general
appearance within the enlisted community. The
MCPON acts always to maintain and promote the chain
of
command
and
its
associated
chain
of
communications. Further, the MCPON advises the
CNO about existing or potential situations, procedures,
and practices affecting the morale, retention, career
enhancement, human goals, and general well-being of
the Navy enlisted personnel and their dependents.
The MCPON does not work alone. In addition to
a staff, the MCPON relies on the quality and experience
of the fleet, force, and command master chiefs to carry
out the duties of the office.
THE OPERATING FORCES.The Operating
Forces of the Navy are responsible for naval operations
necessary to carry out the DoNs role in upholding and
advancing the national policies and interests of the
United States. The Operating Forces of the Navy
include fleets, seagoing forces, Fleet Marine Forces
and other assigned Marine Corps forces, the Military
Sealift Command, the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces
Central Command; Commander, Operational Test and
Evaluation Force; Commander, Naval Special Warfare
Command; Naval Reserve forces, and other forces and
activities as may be assigned by the President or the
Secretary of the Navy. The CNO is responsible for the
command and administration of the Operating Forces
of the Navy. The Pacific Fleet is composed of ships,
submarines, and aircraft operating throughout the
Pacific and Indian Oceans. The Atlantic Fleet is
composed of ships, submarines, and aircraft that
operate throughout the Atlantic Ocean and
Mediterranean Sea. Naval Forces, Europe, includes
forces assigned by the CNO or made available from
either the Pacific or Atlantic Fleet to operate in the
European theater.
Fleet Marine forces are under the administrative
control of the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
These forces operate, as do other types of commands,
under their respective fleet commander in chief.
The operating forces commanders and
commanders in chief (CINCs) have dual chains of
command. Administratively, they report to the CNO to
provide, train, and equip naval forces. Operationally,
as naval forces, they report to the appropriate unified
commander in chief. The units of a fleet also have dual
chains of command. As units enter an area of
responsibility for a particular Navy CINC, they are
operationally assigned to the appropriate numbered
fleet. Ships provided by type commanders make up the
operational (numbered) fleets. The Pacific Fleet
includes the Third and Seventh Fleets, the Atlantic
Fleet has the Second Fleet, the Fifth Fleet is under the
U. S. Naval Forces Central Command, and Naval
Forces Europe mainly consists of the Sixth Fleet. The
Navy units also have an administrative chain of
command in which the various ships report to the
appropriate forward-area commanders, known as type
commanders.
For example, administratively a destroyer may
belong to a squadron (DESRON) that is part of a
cruiser-destroyer group (CRUDESGRU). The
CRUDESGRU, in turn, is part of the surface force
(SURFLANT) that reports to the Commander in Chief,
5-12
Q5.
The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy is
assigned to what immediate office?
1.
Chief of Naval Personnel
2.
Chief of Naval Operations
3.
Secretary of the Navy
4.
Assistant Secretary of the Navy
REVIEW QUESTION