Teleworking Kept Detailers in Touch During Crisis

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (AW) LaTunya Howard, Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs

May 13, 2010 - MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) -- A Teleworking initiative at Navy Personnel Command (NPC) proved invaluable throughout the recent flooding situation aboard Naval Support Activity (NSA) Mid-South and kept many detailers in contact with the fleet.

Flash flooding from heavy rains temporarily shutdown NPC systems, May 1, preventing many detailers from working in their normal workspaces.

"We were able to effectively implement teleworking and bring up limited operational capability within the PERS 4 Detailing Divisions," said Lt. Cmdr. Steve Shedd, NPC PERS-41 Division. "The first day we received 1,000 e-mails, making our efforts a success."

"Connection with our constituents is everything," said Shedd. "It's the most important part of us doing business and the starting point for detailing negotiations. If we can't communicate, we're out of business."

Teleworking was first tested by NPC nearly a year ago. Program coordinator Steve Veach stated that one of the primary objectives of the teleworking program was for just the type of emergency NSA Mid-South experienced.

"The ability for a significant portion of our workforce to continue working from somewhere other than their normal workstations adds depth to the Continuity of Operations (COOP) plan should something physically happen to NPC," said Veach. "The torrential rains and flooding to the region allowed for the activation of the proven program."

COOP is described in OPNAVINST 3030.5A as the capability of a Department of Defense component to continue mission-essential functions during emergencies and events requiring that all or part of the Department of the Navy relocate or reconstitute.

"There were two parts to our telework process; first being to communicate with the fleet Sailor and second, having access to the operational programs required to detail," said Shedd. "The first part was relatively easy using social networking but part two was a little more challenging. We realized that we were able to remotely access our systems, so for the most part we were able to get back to serving Sailors."

"As long as we have remote access to the right systems and all the right people in the order-writing process are connected, we can continue to push orders remotely and keep the fleet moving," said Shedd.