This week, 30 senior enlisted leaders from across the Navy came together for the inaugural Enlisted Readiness Council to identify systemic barriers to readiness and develop actionable recommendations for Navy leadership. Established by Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle, the ERC creates a direct connection between senior enlisted leaders across the Fleet and the Navy’s highest levels of decision-making. Throughout the three-day council, members received guidance from the CNO, briefs from Capt. Charles Harmon, Enlisted Plans and Policy branch head, and Vice Adm. Scott Gray, commander, Navy installations Command, and received a Command Senior Enlisted Leader (CSEL) program update. Harmon provided updates on enlisted personnel policies and initiatives, including Senior Enlisted Marketplace and Billet-Based Advancement, while Gray addressed shore readiness and installation programs and services that support Sailors, families and Fleet operations. The discussions gave council members an opportunity to examine Fleet-raised issues alongside the leaders responsible for many of the policies, programs and resources that shape a Sailor’s service. Members worked through issue papers submitted from across the Fleet, examined potential barriers to change and identified issues requiring continued action through the ERC. The council will meet regularly and provide readiness assessments, recommendations, and issue-focused analysis to CNO for consideration, while issues requiring additional work will continue through the appropriate committee and tracked to ensure issues raised from the Fleet remain visible as decisions are made and actions move forward.