Shipmates:
As I have said the last few months, it has been my honor and pleasure to create the Navy Storekeeper.com for our sailors, and in 2 days I will taking it offline. My stength is decreasing quite a bit but I have awesome wife, some awesome friends, and some fantastic family coming back and forth from Chicago and New York (especially my brother) and it has been a godsend. You can't ask for anymore. And your personal prayers and support comments on this Blog adds more to all that.
If you wish, shipmates, you may email directly to my home email at czwierzynski@yahoo.com, and if I do not reply for sometime, please feel free to email my wife, Demetria, at demetria@usa.com. Our 8th anniversary is in April ---- I was I met this wonderful woman 10 years ago instead! She is an absolute joy!
So for now, have a great Navy Day! Your prayers and support are always a great part of our days!
Regards,
SKCS Chuck Zwierzynski
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Doing Well Health-Wise, Shipmates!
Good Morning Shipmates!:
Been receiving a large amount of emails and cards lately wishing my family and I well with prayers and support. It's like receiving holiday presents every day! My wife reads all of them as well and cannot believe how many sailors and friends we have met over the years who keep in contact .... and new ones that we have only met online or have heard about us. What great therapy!
So if I may, let you all know my current medical status as it is today --- as said in an earlier blog, it simply appears, after 18 months, that we have exhausted all treatment options for the melanoma cancer in the liver and brain, and actually, I am doing pretty good except for a few side effects. Legs are week, but am mobile getting around the house. Have entered into a TRICARE-sponsored Hospice program this month (30-day CONV Leave) and have a great 24/7 nurse living here (my gorgeous wife, Demetria!) that is ENSURING I stay with the after-care & follow-up programs. She does not miss a trick.
But not a worry, shipmates.... Demetria and I have PLENTY of family from Chicago, AZ and New York visiting the last 6 weeks...some great Chiefs and my bosses aboard the BUSH visiting all the time...and this house is NEVER without loads of noise, food, and partying almost every day. We are taking all this a day at a time, and have to tell you again: if you have anyone in your family now experiencing cancer or friends, neighbors, etc. the most important support group you can ever have is simply to create your own
We're not quitting and simply letting this crazy cancer get to us as you just never now what it's going to do. We're simply living our lives.
You all have a Great Navy Day! Demetria and I sure are.
SKCS Chuck Zwierzynski
Been receiving a large amount of emails and cards lately wishing my family and I well with prayers and support. It's like receiving holiday presents every day! My wife reads all of them as well and cannot believe how many sailors and friends we have met over the years who keep in contact .... and new ones that we have only met online or have heard about us. What great therapy!
So if I may, let you all know my current medical status as it is today --- as said in an earlier blog, it simply appears, after 18 months, that we have exhausted all treatment options for the melanoma cancer in the liver and brain, and actually, I am doing pretty good except for a few side effects. Legs are week, but am mobile getting around the house. Have entered into a TRICARE-sponsored Hospice program this month (30-day CONV Leave) and have a great 24/7 nurse living here (my gorgeous wife, Demetria!) that is ENSURING I stay with the after-care & follow-up programs. She does not miss a trick.
But not a worry, shipmates.... Demetria and I have PLENTY of family from Chicago, AZ and New York visiting the last 6 weeks...some great Chiefs and my bosses aboard the BUSH visiting all the time...and this house is NEVER without loads of noise, food, and partying almost every day. We are taking all this a day at a time, and have to tell you again: if you have anyone in your family now experiencing cancer or friends, neighbors, etc. the most important support group you can ever have is simply to create your own
We're not quitting and simply letting this crazy cancer get to us as you just never now what it's going to do. We're simply living our lives.
You all have a Great Navy Day! Demetria and I sure are.
SKCS Chuck Zwierzynski
Saturday, March 22, 2008
An Important Leadership Trait -- Commitment
Good Morning Shipmates:
Was inspired for this blog post after attending a Supply Corp Birthday Ball recently where the guest speaker was one of my heroes...former NFL Coach Mike Dikta (I am a life-long Bears fan!). And he made note of a very popular life & leadership training principle called "ACE" - Attitude, Commitment and Enthusiasm. The word that popped out at me (one of our Core Values, of course) was Commitment.
Why? Because it is one of the most important leadership principles I use in passing on my experiences to our young Chiefs, LPOs and upcoming Second Class Petty Officers. Take a look at what the Chief of Naval Operations defines as Commitment: simply, "Taking Care of our Sailors".
You, as a leader, make a Commitment to your sailors.....all the time. For example: I faithfully, for each sailor in one of my divisions, put together an Every 3-Month Review Program. It includes the following for discussion, follow-up, correction, and advice:
* Review last Career Development Board or schedule
* Ensure Semi-Annual Review scheduled & ensure sailor is aware
* Provide schedule for next Eval/FITREP & ensure sailor aware of prepping brag sheet
* Discuss: Qualifications (i.e. 3M, DC, etc.) including any rating school/course qualifications
* Discuss: Job Satisfaction (interested in learning other portions of rating)
* Division Officer Notebook updates, as needed
* Discuss: Personal (i.e. family, financial, time issues, command issues, etc.)
* Discuss: Career Plans Status (i.e. college, special programs, etc.)
* Provide review of sailor's leadership and mentor skills
* Discuss: Navy advancement exam study skills, references, any problems or questions
10 simple items that will take only about 15 minutes per sailor in your division -- and don't forget to delgate the junior personnel to your CPOs and LPOs so they learn this program as well. It pays ENORMOUS dividends.
Now I understand most of the above should be discussed at CDBs. However, over the year's period, things change, you get busy, and this program may suddenly, if you do not make a COMMITMENT to it, will fall by the way-side. Do it one period, and then the second, but then your schedule overwhelms you, and you forget the third 3-Month Period Review.
Don't let that happen! Why? Sailors will notice --- I guarantee it!
They will then think it simply was another program, with good intentions, that meant nothing.
Make a COMMITMENT to your sailors. Once you do, you will easily see a bunch of "ACE"s in your division.
Have a great Navy Day!,
SKCS Chuck Zwierzynski
Was inspired for this blog post after attending a Supply Corp Birthday Ball recently where the guest speaker was one of my heroes...former NFL Coach Mike Dikta (I am a life-long Bears fan!). And he made note of a very popular life & leadership training principle called "ACE" - Attitude, Commitment and Enthusiasm. The word that popped out at me (one of our Core Values, of course) was Commitment.
Why? Because it is one of the most important leadership principles I use in passing on my experiences to our young Chiefs, LPOs and upcoming Second Class Petty Officers. Take a look at what the Chief of Naval Operations defines as Commitment: simply, "Taking Care of our Sailors".
You, as a leader, make a Commitment to your sailors.....all the time. For example: I faithfully, for each sailor in one of my divisions, put together an Every 3-Month Review Program. It includes the following for discussion, follow-up, correction, and advice:
* Review last Career Development Board or schedule
* Ensure Semi-Annual Review scheduled & ensure sailor is aware
* Provide schedule for next Eval/FITREP & ensure sailor aware of prepping brag sheet
* Discuss: Qualifications (i.e. 3M, DC, etc.) including any rating school/course qualifications
* Discuss: Job Satisfaction (interested in learning other portions of rating)
* Division Officer Notebook updates, as needed
* Discuss: Personal (i.e. family, financial, time issues, command issues, etc.)
* Discuss: Career Plans Status (i.e. college, special programs, etc.)
* Provide review of sailor's leadership and mentor skills
* Discuss: Navy advancement exam study skills, references, any problems or questions
10 simple items that will take only about 15 minutes per sailor in your division -- and don't forget to delgate the junior personnel to your CPOs and LPOs so they learn this program as well. It pays ENORMOUS dividends.
Now I understand most of the above should be discussed at CDBs. However, over the year's period, things change, you get busy, and this program may suddenly, if you do not make a COMMITMENT to it, will fall by the way-side. Do it one period, and then the second, but then your schedule overwhelms you, and you forget the third 3-Month Period Review.
Don't let that happen! Why? Sailors will notice --- I guarantee it!
They will then think it simply was another program, with good intentions, that meant nothing.
Make a COMMITMENT to your sailors. Once you do, you will easily see a bunch of "ACE"s in your division.
Have a great Navy Day!,
SKCS Chuck Zwierzynski
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
A Bit Of Humor To Lighten The Day
Good morning shipmates:
Thought I would share a short story that happened the other day that gave Demetria and I a good laugh.
Occured at the PCU BUSH weekly Department Head meeting with the CO & XO, when a fairly uninformed RP Chief wrote a note and passed it down the table to the CO. It said: "Senior Chief Z can go at anytime". The CO, who had just visited me the day before, chuckled, and forwarded the note to my Suppo, who promptly read the note to all and said: "Just so all are aware, Senior Chief is doing just fine".
Our Command Master Chief, Jon Port, looking startled, immediately piped up: "I sure hope so, I'm supposed to go over to his house at 6 o'clock for dinner tonight!!! He better be there!!!"
Geezz, I love this command.
Have a great Navy day!,
SKCS Chuck Zwierzynski
Thought I would share a short story that happened the other day that gave Demetria and I a good laugh.
Occured at the PCU BUSH weekly Department Head meeting with the CO & XO, when a fairly uninformed RP Chief wrote a note and passed it down the table to the CO. It said: "Senior Chief Z can go at anytime". The CO, who had just visited me the day before, chuckled, and forwarded the note to my Suppo, who promptly read the note to all and said: "Just so all are aware, Senior Chief is doing just fine".
Our Command Master Chief, Jon Port, looking startled, immediately piped up: "I sure hope so, I'm supposed to go over to his house at 6 o'clock for dinner tonight!!! He better be there!!!"
Geezz, I love this command.
Have a great Navy day!,
SKCS Chuck Zwierzynski
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Not Giving Up, Shipmates
Good morning shipmates:
A nice and understanding response to my decision to take Navy Storekeeper.com offline and provide the information to other sources to continue providing our sailors direction, advice, and tips on their navy advancement exam studies. Your thoughts, prayers, and kind words are truly appreciated as well. And not a worry -- this old Senior Chief is not giving up yet!
As a matter of fact -- GOOD LUCK to all our active duty sailors participating in the March 2008 exam cycle....First Class Petty Officer tomorrow, Second Class Petty Officer next week, and Third Class Petty Officer the following week. I know you have been studying hard, take a relaxing night the evening prior to the exam, and go get 'em!
Although, currently, all treatment options have been exhausted, my wife and I have options if a successful, and clear, Brain MRI results come out in 2 weeks. So hope never ends....neither do family and friends who are there every single day for us. How can you not love that?
Right now, I am pretty limber, feeling a little fatigued, but otherwise, each day is a blessing. Demetria and I do not dwell on this each and every day. It would be useless. Matter of fact, we have plenty to do each day, and my wife is one awesome cook! She even changed a famous recipe by Chef Wolfgang Puck the other day --- trust me, her's was better! Got an extra 4 pounds on my frame!
So have a great day, shipmates, and of course, your emails of support have been heartfelt and appreciated.
SKCS Charles (Chuck) Zwierzynski
A nice and understanding response to my decision to take Navy Storekeeper.com offline and provide the information to other sources to continue providing our sailors direction, advice, and tips on their navy advancement exam studies. Your thoughts, prayers, and kind words are truly appreciated as well. And not a worry -- this old Senior Chief is not giving up yet!
As a matter of fact -- GOOD LUCK to all our active duty sailors participating in the March 2008 exam cycle....First Class Petty Officer tomorrow, Second Class Petty Officer next week, and Third Class Petty Officer the following week. I know you have been studying hard, take a relaxing night the evening prior to the exam, and go get 'em!
Although, currently, all treatment options have been exhausted, my wife and I have options if a successful, and clear, Brain MRI results come out in 2 weeks. So hope never ends....neither do family and friends who are there every single day for us. How can you not love that?
Right now, I am pretty limber, feeling a little fatigued, but otherwise, each day is a blessing. Demetria and I do not dwell on this each and every day. It would be useless. Matter of fact, we have plenty to do each day, and my wife is one awesome cook! She even changed a famous recipe by Chef Wolfgang Puck the other day --- trust me, her's was better! Got an extra 4 pounds on my frame!
So have a great day, shipmates, and of course, your emails of support have been heartfelt and appreciated.
SKCS Charles (Chuck) Zwierzynski
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