Did you contribute to rating elimination?

The elimination of Navy ratings caught me, like most others, by surprise. I had heard that there was a move to add letters to the end of NECs to capture the level of expertise, which would help bring better fit to our billets, which I thought was an excellent idea. The fact that this wasn't brought up makes me think that it was really a decision held at the highest levels. The lack of guidance we are getting from those at PERS is telling, because I honestly believe they are as surprised as we are.

One reason that was brought up for the change was that Navy personnel struggle to integrate into civilian jobs when they leave the service. I'm surprised to hear this. The Navy, probably more than any other service, makes a pretty concerted effort to set you up for success outside the Navy. Let's look at what we do right:

NPS Distance Education After Action

I spent about 4 years working on my masters.  During that time, I worked at two different duty stations, added a child to my family, promoted to O-4, and probably aged just slightly more than the average person my age.  My degree required a lot of effort on top of work and family commitments, and I'd be lying if I said that I didn't occasionally invent new swear words to describe my feelings of desperation at times.

Is your spouse interested in a free entrepreneurship course?

EBV logo from Syracuse University

Syracuse University provides a free entrepreneurship course to military spouses.
 
EBV-F is delivered through a three-phased approach, providing premier training and support
PHASE 1—is a 30-day instructor led, online course focused on basic skills of entrepreneurship and the language of business.
PHASE 2—is a nine-day residency at an EBV university where students are exposed to over 30 accomplished entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship educators from across the U.S. The residency includes more than 80 hours of instruction in the “nuts and bolts” of business ownership. The residency is intense, and designed to both educate and motivate.
PHASE 3—involves 12 months of support and mentorship delivered through the EBV Technical Assistance Program (EBV-TAP), a robust, comprehensive network of mentors, resources and national partnerships.

Joint Discretionary Points Update

JQS dual path, from JOM JQS

It has been a while since I've posted on Joint Discretionary Points, and after talking with some officers on a neighboring watchfloor, I realized it's probably long overdue.  First, the Joint Officer Management (JOM) office moved to the Pentagon after Joint Forces Command shut down.  They now have a nice website, located here:

https://wss.apan.org/s/JSOFUN/jom_jqs/SitePages/Home.aspx

Since it's APAN, I think it's easier for them to update it, because the site is very much up to date.  You can get an introduction to how the Joint Qualification System works here:

https://wss.apan.org/s/JSOFUN/jom_jqs/SitePages/JQS%20Paths.aspx

To submit for discretionary credit you do the following:

Navy Strategy Subspecialty and the Curse of Competence with Competing Requirements"

Navy Strategy Poster, from msc.navy.mil

The Navy released some further explanation of their Strategy Subspecialty:

http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/reference/messages/Documents/NAVADMINS/NAV2015/NAV15011.txt

If you remember, I noticed the addition over a month ago, and asked

4. Naval Strategy subspecialties are a start, but are they going to be required? Paid more? Used as intended? The Navy needs to get serious about subspecialties and employ people with that specialty in a place where they can use their knowledge.

I'm not a professor, but I was curious, so I found the curriculum at Naval Postgraduate School that would get you the 2301 Subspecialty.  You can view it here.

Before you start graduate education

Read the instruction!

https://doni.documentservices.dla.mil/Directives/01000%20Military%20Personnel%20Support/01-500%20Military%20Training%20and%20Education%20Services/1520.23C.pdf

You might owe time afterwards...check the tables at the end of the instruction (or look below):

Asia Pacific Hands (APAC) Program

Flags from APAC Hands Handout

The Asia-Pacific Hands Program is a four tiered program designed to build regional expertise in the Pacific Region. The idea is to get officers into NPS for regional studies and then place them in billets where their expertise is useful. It'll go on your record as a series of AQDs as you get more expertise.

You can get more information here: http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/career/language_culture/Pages/APACHands.aspx

I personally think it's a good idea, but the real kicker will be whether the communities place any value on it. If it goes into the priorities list on the LCDR, CDR and CAPT selection boards and actually results in preferential promotions, then it has a real chance of being viewed as important. One of the biggest flaws in the AFPAK Hands program was that the expertise wasn't valued and personnel often missed career milestones, so very quickly the hot running folks avoided it like the plague. Hopefully that is changed with APAC Hands.

Taking the time to read

Seth Godin nails it about taking time to actually read:

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2014/01/the-fatal-arrogance-of-tldr.html

It is AMAZING to me the number of people that don't read email.  The conversation I get normally goes like this:

"Hey, did you read my email? I need an answer about X."

"No man, I didn't have time. It was too long."

Even more amazing is the number of people that don't read papers that are routed to them.

Thinking about telecommuting?

Some thoughts from a techie that telecommuted. The lack of personal connections is probably the biggest downside for sailors, and something you would need to fend off as a leader.

http://tidbitsfortechs.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-realties-of-working-from-home-in-it.html

3rd Quarter Joint Discretionary Points

Although we can't seem to get 3rd Quarter Joint Qualification Report up, at least the Air Force has it:

https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil/ci/fattach/get/2693206/1373378432/redirect/1/filename/JQR_3rd%20Qtr%20FY13%202%20July%202013%20Final.pdf

I haven't had a chance to search for the Joint Force Commander Online Learning Package, but it's 0.5 discretionary points if you can find it on JKO.

Second Quarter Joint Discretionary Points

New list (well, kinda new, signed in March and finally posted) is here:

http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/officer/Detailing/jointofficer/Pages/JQSE-JDADiscretionaryPoints.aspx

No new distance classes though :(

Users that care

 One of the benefits of being a web-junkie is that I read a lot of websites (although I really do need to better configure my RSS reader) and stumble across all sorts of ideas, seemingly at random. Today's random idea was at the Center for International Maritime Security, in a post titled Tools of the Trade.

http://cimsec.org/tools-of-the-trade/

Changes to NPS certificate programs

Currently, NPS certificate programs don't entail a commitment after completion. This is controlled by OPNAVINST 1520.38B.

http://doni.daps.dla.mil/Directives/01000%20Military%20Personnel%20Support/01-500%20Military%20Training%20and%20Education%20Services/1520.38.pdf

Manager Tools "Basics"

Since you spend a lot of time being a manager (as much as you may not want to admit it), here are some podcasts giving good advice on how to best be a manager and streamline what you do.

http://www.manager-tools.com/manager-tools-basics

Same-sex partner benefits training

Command Triad (CO, XO and CMC) and chaplains are required to complete NKO training on same-sex partner benefits. Details here:

http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/reference/messages/Documents/NAVADMINS/NAV2013/NAV13152.txt

EMBA program

If you're O-4 select or higher, you can apply for the 24 month EMBA distance program. Details here:

http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/reference/messages/Documents/NAVADMINS/NAV2013/NAV13147.txt

Deadline is 21 June.

Want some free resources for learning another language?

LREC can help, go here:
http://www.public.navy.mil/BUPERS-NPC/CAREER/LANGUAGE_CULTURE/Pages/LearningResources.aspx

Space Cadre overhaul

Navy Space gets a new look, and new codes.

JPME

Probably can't beat the drum enough...

Navy tuition assistance, take...

I've lost count already...but good news for Navy TA.