In this group the young, single Sailor serving on their first enlistment, living in the berthing compartment even in homeport has my own personal highest priority. I believe we owe them the best we can do in terms of Quality of Life. The issues I address with you today are the issues those Sailors tell me are most important to them. Better educated Sailors are better qualified Sailors. They trained better, serve the Navy better and advance faster.
PACE provides both instructor driven and computer interactive college level programmed courses.
In the past few years we have had to reduce the TA benefit to ensure PACE affords the maximum number of Sailors the maximum opportunity to take advantage of educational opportunities. The adoption of a uniform Department of Defense TA policy may well best serve the interests of Sailors and members of every service, but only if all concerned recognize that TA does little for Sailors serving on ships and in constantly deployed squadrons. The Navy operates a limited number of Academic Skills Learning Centers. These facilities are paying great dividends as Sailors complete academic skills refresher courses. Sailors are qualifying for new jobs, improving their chances for advancement, successfully meeting college entrance requirements and increasing their training for their Navy jobs.