It appears sailors aren’t trusting the Navy’s promise of anonymity on the recently launched Personal and Professional Choices Survey.

Email invitations were sent out Jan. 17 to 80,000 randomly selected active-duty sailors, asking them to participate in what the service has called a “voluntary, anonymous survey” discussing a variety of topics, including work-life balance, career development, family planning and adoption leave.

Navy leaders would like to see more sailors participate and are asking fleet leaders to help.

As a result, Vice Adm. Robert Burke, the Navy’s chief of naval personnel, is appealing to COs, XOs and CMCs to help increase the response rate before the survey’s Feb. 23 closing.

“Many Sailors doubt the anonymity and value of the survey or simply experience survey-fatigue,” Burke wrote in the message. “Communication from leadership on the importance of participating will help mitigate these factors.”

This year’s results are expected to be released in August and will be posted on the Navy’s Inclusion and Diversity website.

Navy leaders insist the survey is totally anonymous and are hoping for frank answers and suggestions for improvement. Navy leaders are encouraging doubting sailors to look at past survey results to get an idea of what to expect.

Mark D. Faram is a former reporter for Navy Times. He was a senior writer covering personnel, cultural and historical issues. A nine-year active duty Navy veteran, Faram served from 1978 to 1987 as a Navy Diver and photographer.

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