Navy leaders visit Camp Eggers

Photo By Chief Petty Officer Shawn Graham | Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Joe Campa answer service members questions during a town hall meeting conducted Aug. 15, 2008, at Camp Eggers, Kabul, Afghanistan.  

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

08.15.2008

Story by Chief Petty Officer Shawn Graham 

NATO Training Mission Afghanistan

By Petty Officer 1st Class Shawn D. Graham
Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan Public Affairs

KABUL, Afghanistan – The Navy's top officer and enlisted leader visited the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines of Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, Kabul, Aug 15, 2008. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Joe Campa toured the camp and conducted a town hall meeting with the service members stationed at Camp Eggers.

"Our future world and Navy will be a better place because of your sacrifices," Roughead said. "Men and women like you make our military strong."

Throughout his 35-year career, Roughead served in every officer leadership position, from division officer and Commandant of the Naval Academy to his current position as Chief of Naval Operations.

"It is inspiring to meet the leaders of your organization," said Chief Petty Officer (select) Wayne Holloman, a communications technician. "Seeing Master Chief Campa was especially important for me."

"He is definitely someone that has been in our shoes. He cares about Sailors," said Holloman.

Campa said he was impressed by the strength and resolve of all the services, especially his fellow sailors.

"The Navy really brings a lot of technical experience to bear in dealing with complex situations," said Campa. "You are all doing great things on behalf of your nation," said Campa. "I'm proud of each and every one of you."

"We've invested a lot time and effort into our individual augmentees and global support augmentee sailors," said Campa. "And none of you have let us down yet."

During the town hall meeting, Roughead took the opportunity to recognize the CSTC-A sailor of the quarter Petty Officer 1st Class Alan Kellogg and bluejacket of the quarter Seaman Timothy Newborn.

"It was a distinct honor," said Newborn. "It's not often that you are given an award by
the CNO."

Roughead and Campa answered questions that ranged from promotion to deployment issues.

"It's a morale booster for the servicemembers here," said Lt. Cmdr. Craig Trent, "It's always good for troops to see their top leaders. It is their job to make sure they are getting correct information from the Sailors, to make correct decisions that directly affect them."

• Date Taken: 08.15.2008
• Date Posted: 08.15.2008 04:51
• Story ID: 22515
• Location: KABUL, AF