Photo By Chief Petty Officer Jessica Vargas | SEATTLE – The United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps color guard parade the colors...... read more read more
Cmdr. Clinton E. Blankenship relieved Cmdr. John P. Hiltz as the commanding officer of Navy Talent Acquisition Group (NTAG) Pacific Northwest during a ceremony at the Seattle Yacht Club recently.
Commodore, Navy Recruiting Region West, Capt. David Webber presided over the ceremony and spoke about the significance of the change of command ceremony.
“The change of command is a long-honored tradition which celebrates our heritage as a Naval service, the accomplishments of the command, and the leaders that make the mission possible,” said Webber.
Capt. Webber went on to Commander Hiltz’s accomplishments as the commanding officer.
“His ability to expertly manage $1 million in resources in a fiscally constrained environment ensured the success of his command throughout a dynamic strategic recruiting environment. Under his leadership, the Pacific Northwest team shipped well over 2,000 enlisted Sailors and Naval officers to the fleet. To put those accomplishments into perspective, during commander Hiltz’s tenure NTAG Pacific Northwest manned the equivalent of a United States Navy Carrier Air Wing and a US Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, despite the challenges of a global pandemic, diminishing recruitable market, and historic civic unrest. Thank you for your exceptional focus and support Cmdr. Hiltz”
Before turning over command, Cmdr. Hiltz addressed the audience for the last time as the commanding officer.
“I come before you today, honored, humbled, and privileged,” said Hiltz. “Honored by both the pomp and the circumstance, and honored to have all of you here today. 18 months ago as I assumed command, my predecessor warned me with foreboding middle-of-the-night phone calls, disciplinary hearings, and decisions fraught with perilous outcomes. Those things didn’t happen.
Hiltz credits his success to the professionalism and dedication of NTAG Pacific Northwest Sailors.
“It was due to the maturity and dedication of recruiters in far-flung places like Fairbanks Alaska, Lewiston Idaho, and Billings Montana. They are great sailors and it has been an honor to lead them. They honored me last summer when for the first time in years, NTAG Pacific Northwest accomplished our mission for four consecutive months and earned their commander the right to wear this gold recruiting wreath on my uniform.”
Hiltz also acknowledged the historic recruiting challenges he faced during his tenure.
“These honors have been memorable but I have also been humbled. I’ve been humbled by the unrelenting mission,” said Hiltz. “At the end of a three-year tour of recruiting, you have essentially run 36 consecutive one-month sprints. I wish we had ended more of those races victoriously. No recruiting commander would expect a tour with a global pandemic, social unrest, limited high school access, and several enterprise-wide reorganizations. Despite all of that, the mission continues. The command must rally around each other and Commander Blankenship’s leadership to continue your winning ways. I've had the privilege to serve on some impressive teams in my career but never as the commanding officer. This team has made my tour memorable. To all the Sailors and civilians, thank you for the privilege.”
Upon assuming command, Blankenship expressed his gratitude for the opportunity.
“I stand before you, a kid from West Virginia, humbled, honored, and truly grateful to serve as your commanding officer of the finest NTAG in the Navy,” said Cmdr. Blankenship. “My dad, a Marine machine gunner in Vietnam, raised me to dedicate myself to making a difference in any way possible. Whether it was playing baseball, serving the community, or leading Sailors and Marines in the Fleet, it was always with the goal of making a difference. So the opportunity to lead a command that will ultimately make a difference in people's lives and man the fleet to fight and win is a dream come true.”
Blankenship promised to dedicate every second of every day to mission success and taking care of Sailors.
“To my Sailors in Washington, Alaska, Idaho, and Montana. The machine doesn’t stop running and it doesn’t care about your last at-bat. Keep holding the line and keep getting after it. We will find, encourage, and inspire the best and most fully qualified personnel out there in the PNW communities to ultimately defend the homeland,” said Blankenship. “I promise you this, I will spend every minute of every hour of every day of my time as your Skipper to love, inspire, appreciate, empower and celebrate all of you. I am looking forward to this journey. Let’s continue to find ways to win and be great in all that we do. Keep hammering.”
Navy Talent Acquisition Group Pacific Northwest’s area of responsibility includes more than 36 Navy Recruiting Stations and Navy Officer Recruiting Stations throughout Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska. Their mission is to attract the highest quality candidates to assure the ongoing success of America’s Navy.
| Date Taken: | 09.02.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 09.16.2022 15:06 |
| Story ID: | 429504 |
| Location: | SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 241 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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