1) Over 280 sailors have applied for the Voluntary Sea Duty Program which allows sailors to extend their sea duty or take back-to-back sea assignments. 2) Commanders are encouraged to help PACT sailors strike into ratings through the Fleet RIDE system which has streamlined the rating entry process. 3) The weekly newsletter provides updates on personnel matters, sexual assault awareness, the Command Master Chief program, naval history facts, and an inspirational quote.

1. 09 April –
NPC FORCM WEEKLY 13 April 2012
Career progression, community management, personnel matters, and general information from the desk of the
Navy Personnel Command, Force Master Chief, FORCM Jon Port
Voluntary Sea Duty Available
Since its announcement two months ago, more than 280 Sailors have applied for the Voluntary Sea Duty Program (VSDP). Under the program,
Sailors may apply to extend their enlistment in their current sea duty billet beyond their prescribed sea tour, terminate their shore duty early in order
to extend their enlistment to obtain new orders to a sea duty billet, or accept back-to-back sea duty orders. The sea duty assignment may be on
board ships, squadrons, or other qualified sea duty assignments. Sailors accepted into VSDP will be able to defer their Perform-to-Serve (PTS)
window to the minimum obligated service requirement for the orders negotiated, typically 24 months. Volunteers will not be required to accept a
billet they do not desire. The detailers will work with volunteers during two CMS/ID cycles to find desirable orders. If no match is found during
this time period, Sailors can reapply. This program does not change eligibility or benefits for the Sea Duty Incentive Pay Program and Sailors may
take advantage of both programs concurrently. For complete information on eligibility, restrictions and application procedure as well as benefits of
VSDP, read NAVADMIN 043/12 at www.npc.navy.mil.
Help your PACT Sailors strike
Based on Fleet commanders' desires, the Navy has been increasing Professional Apprenticeship Career Track Sailor accessions, and currently there
is a healthy level of PACT Sailors in the Fleet (and more coming in behind them.) Commanders, career counselors and career development teams
should be working to ensure PACT Sailors are striking into ratings and the REGA module in Fleet RIDE is the way to accomplish this. Fleet ride
has streamlined rating entry qualification screening, application submission, and approval processing. Enlisted community managers continue to
improve rating inventory health through a closely monitored quota management plan with monthly updates to REGA quotas for eligible pact
sailors. There are multiple methods that sailors can use to request to be designated in REGA: direct rating entry designation announced in ref a,
navy wide advancement exam requests, and "A" school requests. All applications, regardless of designation method, are submitted monthly and
decisions are published monthly. The method with the most immediate impact on rated apprentice manning is direct rating entry designation; when
direct designation is approved, the sailor's permanent record and the command manning documents are automatically updated to reflect the rated
status. Direct rating entry designation quotas are only available for ratings that do not require "A" school; many of the gaps at sea are in these same
ratings. The minimum requirements for sailor eligibility to direct designate are: meets desired rating qualification standards; minimum 12 months
onboard permanent duty station; and direct designation quota available as published in fleet ride.
PTS Alerts
*** PTS Alert: New Business Exam Rules *** If you had any Sailors who did not take the March 2012 Advancement Exam who had received a
final denial from Perform To Serve (PTS) - they have until today, 13 April to order the late exam due to the policy change under the current
business rules. It is also important to ensure that Sailor meet all the other eligibility requirements for advancement prior to ordering the exam.
Please get the word out today is the deadline.
Suggestions to promote Sexual Assault Awareness
April is Sexual Assault Awareness month. As leaders, we know this and undoubtedly have been working over the last two weeks especially hard to
convey the message that Sexual Assault hurt. Consider the following options as alternative methods to communicate the message: Add link to
SAPR page on unit/base websites; Change your online profile picture to include the Teal Ribbon; Dedicate April base/unit newsletter to sexual
assault awareness; Write an article in the base newspaper. Get active! Host a “Meet Your SARC” event; and Host a sexual assault reporting
drill/exercise.
CMC Program
The CMC program is intended to ensure our Sailors are effectively led and professionally developed. The senior enlisted Sailors selected for these
programs provide leadership to the enlisted force and advise commanders and commanding officers while upholding the highest standards of
professionalism and integrity. OPNAVINST 1306.2G dated 4 April 2012, delineates procedures for selection, assignment and utilization of fleet
master chiefs, force master chiefs, command master chiefs, chiefs of the boat, command senior chiefs, and collateral duty command senior enlisted
leaders. The instruction provides guidance for the Flag level slating process and will encourage a greater level of communication between O-6
Commanding Officers and the Force Master Chief.
This Week in Navy History
April 9TH, 1941 - USS NORTH CAROLINA, which carried 9 16-inch guns, is commissioned
April 10TH, 1963 - During diving tests USS THRESHER is lost with all hands (112 crew and 12 civilians) east of Cape Cod, MA.
April 11TH, 1991 - U.N. ceasefire ended Persian Gulf War.
April 12TH, 1962 - U.S. Navy demonstrated new landing craft with retractable hydrofoils, LCVP (H).
April 13TH, 1847 - Naval Forces began 5 day battle to capture several towns in Mexico.
Quote of the Week
“The United States Navy is the envy of every other navy in the world. They don't want to be like us - they want to be us.”
- Admiral Leighton Smith