CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (June 6, 2018) -- Naval Health Clinic Corpus Christi honored seven Sailors during a frocking ceremony in the command’s auditorium May 31.
Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Christopher Dean Mabe, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Curtis Lamar Richmond, Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Robert C Cano, Jr., Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Joseph Anthony Herrera, Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Georgy Sergeevich Kotov, Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Michael Thomas Alvin Moore, and Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Antonio Romo were selected for advancement from the March 2018 Navy-wide enlisted examinations (Cycle 239).
According to All Hands online, more than 24,000 active duty, Selected Reserve (SELRES) and Full Time Support (FTS) Sailors selected for advancement to E-4, E-5, and E-6 this spring.
The frocking ceremony is a Navy tradition that precedes actual advancement, and Sailors receive the right to wear the uniform and assume the responsibilities of their next rank.
“This select group of Sailors are the movers and shakers at their paygrade,” said NHC Corpus Christi Senior Enlisted Leader HMCM (SW/FMF) Andy Burnett. “They're the ones that don't see obstacles, they see opportunities to overcome. They always greet staff or patients with a smile and are eager to help and learn, so I can only ascertain that is what made them successful enough to get great performance evaluations thus making it easier to advance.”
Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Christopher Michael Austin, NBHC Fort Worth; Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Khari Ian Daniels, San Antonio Detachment; and Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Daniel Richard Frink, San Antonio Detachment were also frocked at their individual locations.
“Their daily conduct is a force multiplier in their career, not just rating knowledge which they seem to not be in short supply of either,” said Burnett about the command-wide group of ten who were frocked. “I'm extremely proud of them and the effort that they put into being a professional Sailor.”
Each Navy examination consists of 25 professional military knowledge and 150 job-specific rating technical questions.
Medical supply as well as administration and dental were the most challenging aspects of the exam according to Richmond and Moore respectively.
“Stay focused and sacrifice your extra time to study,” advises Richmond, a Griffin, Georgia native who enlisted in the Navy in June 2010.
When he learned that he was advanced, he said that he was excited because, “It was about time!”
Moore, from Tucson, Arizona, enlisted in the Navy in November 2013, and says, “I just got lucky.”
Whether you are lucky or not, now is the time to begin preparing for the next exam.
The September 2018 Navy-wide enlisted advancement examinations (Cycle 240) testing dates for active duty, full time support, and canvasser recruiter Sailors who are advancement eligible to the paygrades of E4-E6 have been announced in Naval Administrative Message (NAVADMIN) 110/18, released May 2.
The Navy-wide examination dates are September 6 (E6), September 13 (E5), and September 20 (E4). Examination results are anticipated to be released to command Triads in November, prior to posting on the Navy Enlisted Advancement System (NEAS) website.
The Navy Advancement Center (NAC) updates bibliography information as fleet instructions and manuals change, and it is recommended that candidates check their bibliography a few times prior to the exam administration date.
To download the bibliographies and an exam-specific topic list for the upcoming cycle, go to the Navy Advancement Center's My Navy Portal bibliography page: https://www.mnp.navy.mil/group/navy-advancement-center/bibliographies or the Navy Credentialing Opportunities Online (COOL) website: http://www.cool.navy.mil/usn, under the Find & Select Related Credentials, Enlisted tab.
Specific information on exam eligibility and requirements are detailed in NAVADMIN 110/18 and BUPERSINST 1430.16F.
Time is of the essence, and September will be here sooner than you think. So heed this recommendation:
“Study, study, study,” advises Mabe, from Floresville, Texas.
“If you don't score high on the exam, you won't advance,” he said. “Start studying early so you can get the most amount of studying in before the exam.”