Photo By 1st Sgt. James Wagner | Army Brig. Gen. Timothy Lake, Joint Task Force Guantanamo deputy commander,...... read more read more
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GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba — Joint Task Force Guantanamo welcomed more than 30 newly-promoted Navy petty officers — first, second and third class — during frocking ceremonies held last week.
The promotion ceremonies were held following results of the Navy's fall advancement test results, which service-wide saw a drop in petty officers third and second class promotions and a slight gain in the petty officers first class promotions. Overall, approximately 18,000 service members were promoted to petty officers third class through petty officers first class this cycle.
Sailor advancement at the junior ranks has slowed considerably the past couple years as Navy officials deal with record highs in recruiting and record lows in attrition rates, according to Navy officials.
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Noel Galarza, a postal clerk deployed in support of JTF Guantanamo, advanced after taking his test for the third time. Despite the frustration of missing a promotion last cycle by only one point, he cites award points and a lot of studying as the key to making rank.
He also had one other piece of encouragement.
"I've been in six years and at eight years is my high year of tenure for E-4s," he said with a slight laugh. "It was make or break this time around."
According to officials, the advancement percentage this cycle for to petty officers third class and to petty officers second class was 19.86 compared to 24.53 percent the past four exam cycles. The promotion percentage for to petty officers first class, on the other hand, increased 1.5 percent this exam cycle.
The numbers are no surprise to JTF Guantanamo Troopers like Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Janelle Pooler of the Navy Expeditionary Guard Battalion, who advanced to E-4 after taking the test three previous times with no success.
She said her rate, aerographer's mate, is overmanned, making promotion difficult as airmen throughout the Navy vie for limited billets. However, now that she's got her "crows," the common name for the eagle appearing on the rank insignia, Pooler intends to live up to being a non-commissioned officer.
"You're getting up there now [in rank]," she said. "You now have more responsibilities and have men you're responsible for."
That sentiment was echoed by Navy Rear Adm. Tom Copeman, JTF Guantanamo commander, who spoke to the newly-frocked Sailors during ceremonies, held last week. He congratulated the Sailors, saying promotion in the Navy these days is especially tough and their advancement is quite an achievement and a testament to their sustained performance in their duties.
He had a special message for the incoming to petty officers third classes.
"When you go back to your home station, people are going to be looking at you differently," Copeman said. "You won't see it so much here, where people have been working with you every day, but at your home station they are going to see the crows and expect different things from you."
The Navy promotes junior enlisted twice a year, with promotions awarded to Sailors based on performance evaluation reports and rate examinations of their technical knowledge. Depending on the number of eligible Sailors and billets, a baseline score is determined to see who does or doesn't advance — if they score higher than the baseline they are promoted.
Frocked Sailors go through a six-month probation period before they are paid at their new rank.
| Date Taken: | 12.18.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 12.21.2009 17:18 |
| Story ID: | 43015 |
| Location: | GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 266 |
| Downloads: | 241 |
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