New Ombudsman Program Information Online to Assist Commanders

[Sonya Ansarov]

By Bruce Moody, Fleet and Family Support Program, Commander, Navy Installations Command

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy Ombudsman Program now offers online information and support through the Ombudsman Program Command Leadership Toolkit.

Navy ombudsmen are professionally trained information and referral volunteers who serve as a vital two-way communication link between the command and family members. The program enhances the exchange of information and ideas between the leadership of the command and the family members of those serving within the unit.

An Ombudsman Program Command Leadership Toolkit was recently launched to enable command leadership to more fully and effectively support their command Navy Family Ombudsman Program.

The Toolkit includes program information, checklists and forms to assist the command with all aspects of the Ombudsman Program including selection, appointment, and support of command ombudsman.

"This toolkit is one-stop shopping for commanders," said Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON)(SS/SW) Rick West. "It's ideal for the commander who does not yet have an ombudsman and needs to know what steps to take to get started."

Also available is a new group page on Facebook called U.S. Navy Ombudsman Program Discussion Group. This group allows ombudsmen, commanding officers and certified ombudsman trainers to discuss best practices, program news and information. This page is available at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=242277432495. Access to this page is limited to those who are listed in the Ombudsman Registry, http://www.ombudsmanregistry.org.

"Ombudsmen who are not in the registry need to sign up because the registry is a prime source of communication and program information for our ombudsmen to keep the lines of communication open between commands and families," said West. "When our families respond to challenges of deployments or family emergencies, our ombudsmen are there providing guidance and helping families regain a sense of normalcy while promoting resiliency and self-reliance."

The registry was established by Task Force Navy Family in August 2005 in response to the hurricanes in the Gulf Coast region. Its initial purpose was to communicate directly with ombudsmen and determine what is needed for Sailors and Navy families to respond and recover from a natural disaster.

Recent upgrades give review authorization and direct communication to Type I and Type II commanders to review commands that fall under their area of responsibility. This review authority is also available to fleet and force master chiefs.

In addition, West will be able to send real-time updates and information to commanders/command designees, ombudsmen, and ombudsman coordinators so that they can keep Navy families up-to-date on resources, information, and program changes.

"Our ombudsmen work tirelessly to improve the readiness of commands and the lives of our Sailors and Navy families," said West. "I am proud to be associated with the extraordinary people volunteering as Ombudsmen, and prouder still of their service at this critical time in our nation's history. We owe it to all our Navy families to continue supporting the Ombudsman Program."

The Ombudsman Program Command Leadership Toolkit is located on the Fleet and Family Support Program Web site https://www.nffsp.org/skins/nffsp/home.aspx.

The toolkit is also available on disc. Commanders can contact their local Fleet and Family Support Centers for a copy. Reserve commanding officers can obtain a copy by contacting their family support administrator at the regional component command.

For more news from Commander, Navy Installations Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/cni/.

For more information on the Master Chief Petty Offcer of the Navy, visit www.navy.mil/mcpon and www.facebook.com/MCPON