NOFOLK, Va. –
I’m Vice Adm. John Mustin, Chief of Navy Reserve and Commander, Navy Reserve Force.
Today, I want to address a very serious issue: Extremism in our ranks.
Make no mistake: extremist behaviors have no place in our Navy or our Navy Reserve. But I can’t ignore its existence in our military. Sadly, recent events have demonstrated we have work to do.
Our core values: honor, courage and commitment… are our guideposts and I expect each of you to embrace, lead and live by those values EVERY day.
As Chief of Naval Operations Gilday said in his message to the Fleet recently: “No doubt, this is a leadership issue. We will own this.”
To be clear, we, as a Reserve Force, will own this.
The Secretary of Defense has mandated that every command will conduct a stand down to address extremism in the ranks. As a Navy, we will do this no later than April 2nd, 2021.
Every unit must conduct the training. Command triads must work with their Command Managed Equal Opportunity Advisor and JAGs to execute this training, and the group sessions to follow. Please read NAVADMIN 044/21 for specific guidance on conducting these important sessions.
Like other approaches to intolerable behaviors, we must root out both the individuals that are part of the problem as well as the underlying causes.
We have much to be proud of, not the least of which is a 106-year history as a capable, trustworthy, resilient Navy Reserve Force. A force that the Navy, Marine Corps and Joint Forces depend on for strategic depth and operational readiness. A Force that generates and delivers augmented sea power. A Force that enables power projection and sea patrol. And a force the nation depends on to be warfighting ready on day one.
I look forward to the feedback from your stand down conversations… and know we will be a healthier Force as we acknowledge and tackle this issue together, head on.
Shipmates, thank you for your integrity, honesty and hard work to solve the difficult problem removing any trace of extremism in our ranks. This is something we have to get right.
Vice Adm. John Mustin
Chief of Navy Reserve
Commander, Navy Reserve Force