Navy's New Retention Policy

VA, UNITED STATES

01.29.2018

Story by Seaman Michael Botts 

USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73)

Every year the Master chief petty officer of the Navy (MCPON) and the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) team up with other high-ranking government officials to address issues affecting the fleet. They assess instructions and make changes to outdated regulations to better suit Sailors and commands throughout the fleet. One of the major changes made this fiscal year was on Dec. 21, 2017, with the release of naval administrative (NAVADMIN) 307/17, which affects command manning levels and Sailors retention.
This NAVADMIN has brought some significant changes to the way the Navy handles its business pertaining to the retention of its Sailors. In the past, Sailors with projected rotation date’s (PRD) after their end of active obligated service (EAOS) were able to push their EAOS to match their PRD, only if they were a first term Sailor on sea duty. This was able to be done without any additional paperwork or applications. Any future extensions of EAOS required a career waypoints (C-WAY) application to verify that the Navy could support the manning level in that rank and rate. This process resulted in Sailors transitioning out of the Navy, and leaving billets unmanned for months to a year.
In an effort to both retain Sailors and ensure billets stay manned, the new NAVADMIN, mandates that Sailors’ EAOS and PRD match.
“With this new NAVADMIN coming out, those Sailors who are about to transfer out of our command to a new one are being told that they are going to have to serve until their PRD at their next command,” said Chief Personnel Specialist Tiffany Jordan, the leading chief petty officer for the educational services office aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). “If the Sailor chooses not to extend, and is planning on separating from the Navy, we must inform the detailer of their decision. Then, the detailer will determine if that Sailor will still execute those orders and meet the needs of the Navy, or if they will have to extend their contract and remain aboard the ship.”
NAVADMIN 307/17 does not affect those Sailors who have already been given their orders to their next command. For those Sailors currently aboard George Washington, the command is here to offer guidance on the best plan of action.
“The command is responsible for the counseling of the Sailors aboard and making them aware of what their options are,” said Jordan. “You should make your intentions known on whether you plan on staying in the Navy or getting out to your chain of command. Depending on your intentions, your chain of command should be able to provide you with the information you need to help determine what is best for your specific circumstance.”
Another change brought on by NAVADMIN 307/17, is the change to the previous extension policy. Sailors will now be able to extend to a maximum of 48 months, as where previously they were only able to extend up to a total of 23 months.
“This NAVADMIN makes it easier for Sailors to extend,” said Chief Navy Counselor Shaquanta Chukwuma, a Sailor aboard George Washington. “It removes the C-WAY requirement for Sailors who fall into the category where they would need to extend their soft EAOS to meet their PRD. Before, we required a C-WAY quota to extend anything over 24 months, now we are able to extend up to 48 months without having to have a C-WAY quota”
Change is something every Sailor goes through during their Navy career. Whether it is a change of station or a change in an instruction, change can be difficult. If Sailors have any questions, or are looking for more information on this NAVADMIN, personnel can read NAVADMIN 307/17 at www.npc.navy.mil or speak with one of the ships command career counselors.

• Date Taken: 01.29.2018
• Date Posted: 01.31.2018 12:17
• Story ID: 264095
• Location: VA, US