RADM Roegge’s Message to Sailors and Families in Guam

Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting with our Sailors and families during a Town Hall in Guam before presiding over the USS Emory S. Land change of command. I really appreciated the opportunity to provide feedback on some of the things we’re doing to improve quality of life and quality of service for our Sailors and their families. For those who were unable to join us, here are some of the things we discussed at the Town Hall:

Redesign of the “Go Guam!” website
With your feedback, the “Go Guam!” homepage has been completely redesigned with a new layout and updated content, including the addition of the “1st Fifteen” PCS Checklist. This tool is a consolidated list of recommended things to do upon receipt of orders to Guam to support a smooth inbound transition. Additionally, COMSUBRON 15 is developing a “Final 15” PCS Checklist to assist Sailors and families as they transfer from Guam. Look for this at COMSUBRON 15 and on the “Go Guam!” website in the near future.

Geographic Bachelors
Naval Base Guam leadership has been supportive of our concerns over lack of facilities for Sailor assigned here as Geographic Bachelors and has made additional rooms available at Unaccompanied Housing. For more information on how to pursue housing as a Geographic Bachelor, please reach out to your sponsor or your command.

COMSUBRON 15’s True North
These monthly sessions are designed to support service members and families on Guam by creating a structured forum to discuss topics such as communication, finding balance, cycles of deployment, stress management, and many more.

COMSUBRON 15 and FFSC Guam’s Spouse Job and Education Workshops
COMSUBRON 15 promotes and works with existing resources on base and in the military community to connect spouses with employment and education resources on island.

Virtual mailboxes
Staff members at COMSUBRON 15 and COMSUBPAC are working together and with wider Navy entities, including NAVSUP, to determine if and how dependents can receive personal mail through a Virtual Mailbox (or other process) while their service member is underway.

Several new topics were raised concerning base housing and medical services. My staff in Pearl Harbor is working closely with the leadership on Guam to get you answers and, where possible, get the resolutions to help us support you – the Sailors and families at the tip of the spear.

Please continue sharing your feedback, concerns and success stories through the comment boxes below. The SUBPAC Spotlight blog is meant to facilitate two-way communication between Sailors, families and the COMSUBPAC leadership team. Use the Spotlight as a means to not only raise issues and ask questions to your leadership but also to highlight the great things you’re doing every day in support of our Submarine Force. 
To those who provided feedback; thank you, and please stay tuned. To all our readers; I look forward to hearing from you soon.