Understanding Reenlistment Opportunity in Career Navigator...

Story Number: NNS130613-13Release Date: 6/13/2013 3:24:00 PM
From Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs

MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) -- With the introduction of Career Navigator, Sailors have improved opportunities to stay Navy, officials said June 13.

"This new program is a change to how we do business for enlisted Sailors," said Navy Personnel Command Force Master Chief (SW/AW/EXW) Leland E. Moore. "We dismantled PTS and created a reenlistment process more advantageous for Sailors."

Under Career Navigator, Sailors who desire to reenlist can now request approval 13 months prior to the end of their enlistment, or operative extension if they extended service. Knowing Sailors' desires to reenlist or separate is critical to accurately predict the number of Sailors the Navy will have in each skill set, rate and pay grade in order to manage manning needs of the Fleet.

In return, most Sailors will receive a reenlistment quota on the first look. The new policy is as follows:

* All non-nuclear E-6 Sailors with command approval will receive reenlistment approval on their first application.

* Sailors E-5 and below who desire to reenlist and have command approval and are in the open category for reenlistment will receive a reenlistment approval on their first application.

* Reenlistment for Sailors E-5 and below in skill sets included the balanced category will be based on manning in their year group. A Sailor's year group is based in the fiscal year they attend Recruit Training (i.e., entered boot camp December 2009 makes them YG 2010). Command approved Sailors in undermanned year groups will receive approval on their first application.

* Sailors E-5 and below in skill sets that are competitive or overmanned year groups in the balanced category will be compared to their peers and any special reenlistment requirements when they apply in Career Navigator and the available in-rate re-enlistment quotas will be awarded to the top performers.

Sailors can only request an in-rate quota four times, 13 to 10 months prior to the end of their contracts. That way, all Sailors will know at least 10 months out from the end of their contracts if they will be able to reenlist in their current rating. Even though there are fewer times a Sailor can request an in-rate quota, the number of quotas hasn't been reduced. Instead, more quotas will be granted each month so Sailors don't have to wait as long for a result. Non-nuclear Sailors who are not approved to reenlist in rate may apply for rating conversion or apply for transition to the Selected Reserve in Career Navigator. These Sailors will have up to four more looks for conversion nine to six months from their end of service.

Command approval to reenlist is a major part of the new process; your chain of command will have a big say in whether or not you are approved to reenlist.

Sailors may improve their conversion opportunity by taking the Armed Forces Classification Test to improve their initial ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) score. This may expand the number of ratings they qualify for.

Sailors not granted an in-rate or conversion opportunity will still have additional time to request to join the Navy Reserve, all the way up to three months from the end of their active service. In-rate or conversion applications are not authorized at this stage 5 to 3 months from the end of their contract.

Currently there are only nine overmanned ratings, accounting for approximately 800 Sailors. Sailors in overmanned year groups applying for a reenlistment in overmanned ratings have limited opportunity and should consider a rating conversion to remain in the Navy.

"Approximately 75 percent of Sailors requesting reenlistment will receive approval on their first application and all Sailors will know at least 10 months from the end of their contract whether they will be able to reenlist in their current rate," said Moore. "For most Sailors E5 and below who are command-approved to reenlist, you will have approval on your first request, within approximately 30 days."

Sailors can check manning levels in their rating by viewing community health slides published monthly in the Enlisted Community Management section of the Navy Personnel Command Web site. This information can help a Sailor determine the career opportunity within their community. The slides feature a snapshot of community health by year group. Sailors can also see if their skill set is in the open, balanced, or competitive reenlistment groups by reviewing this information, also posted on the NPC website.

To review a community health slide visit the enlisted community management section of the NPC website at http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/enlisted/community/Pages/defa... , then select the community followed by specific rating in the left column. Complete details and guidance for nuclear and Reserve communities can be found in NAVADMIN 150/13.