The T+X Accession Program, as it is called, started with just four ratings that were scheduled to ship to boot-camp during Fiscal Year 2011. A Sailor’s enlistment obligation, instead of the hard and fast 4 year (48 month) enlistment, the formula “T+X” would be used to determine how long a Sailor’s obligation would be. The “T” in the equation is the average length in months of initial training (boot-camp, A School, etc.), the “X” is equal to the calculated length of the first operation tour for the rating enlisted. The initial ratings in the pilot program were Aviation Ordnanceman (AO), Electrician’s Mate (EM), Gas Turbine System Technician – Electrical (GSE), and Quartermaster (QM) – Ultimately, this is the reason why those ratings were officially adjusted to be 5 year obligation (5YO) ratings back in October 2011, as their T+X equaled close to 60 months.

Based on a change to the Navy recruiting manual, published today, the program has expanded.

Effective May 1, 2012 for those who DEP-in to leave during Fiscal Year 2013, the following ten additional ratings will now join the list of 5YO ratings. Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (ABE, F, and H), Aviation Structural Mechanic Safety Equipment (AME), Boatswain’s Mate (BM), Culinary Specialist – Submarine (CSS), Gas Turbine Systems Technician – Mechanical (GSM), Operations Specialist (OS), and Ship’s Serviceman (SH).

For those who join and leave for boot-camp in Fiscal Year 2012, you would not be affected by the change. The change only affects those who leave for boot-camp in the mentioned ratings who leave during Fiscal Year 2013 and beyond.

Additionally, the recruiting manual’s update included the facts that the SO rating (SEALs) ASVAB score requirement has changed, and that the MC rating no longer requires a typing test to qualify.

Missing from the manual update is any change to the educational requirements that many believed imminent because of the 180 day requirement as part of the “Equal Treatment for Secondary School Graduates” in the FY-2012 National Defense Authorization Act. Because the Act was signed on New Year’s Eve, we should hear by June 29, 2012, unless an extension is granted.

The approved 2012 Military Pay Chart for basic pay, effective January 1, 2012.
The 2013 Military Pay raise estimation based on ECI - Title 37, US Code.

ROUTINE
R 241711Z APR 12 PSN 611129K20
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC
TO NAVADMIN
ZEN//OU=DOD/OU=NAVY/OU=ADDRESS LISTS(UC)/CN=AL NAVADMIN(UC)
INFO ZEN/CNO WASHINGTON DC
BT
UNCLAS
***THIS IS A 3 SECTION MESSAGE COLLATED BY OIX GATEWAY NORFOLK VA*** QQQQ
SUBJ: SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUS UPDATE UNCLASSIFIED/ FM CNO WASHINGTON
DC//N1// TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// UNCLAS//N01300// 

NAVADMIN 143/12

MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/APR//

SUBJ/SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUS UPDATE//

REF/A/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/061740Z JAN 12//
REF/B/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/172244Z MAY 11//
REF/C/DOC/OPNAV/30JAN07//
REF/D/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/091648Z JAN 09//
REF/E/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/122232Z FEB 10//
REF/F/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/141500Z OCT 11//
REF/G/DOC/DOD/15DEC04//

NARR/REF A IS NAVADMIN 013/12, SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUS UPDATE.
REF B IS NAVADMIN 166/11, FY-11 SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUS AWARD LEVELS AND
POLICY UPDATE II.  REF C IS OPNAVINST 1160.8A, SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUS
PROGRAM INSTRUCTION.  REF D IS NAVADMIN 006/09, SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUS
POLICY CHANGE.  REF E IS NAVADMIN 051/10, ENLISTED SUPERVISOR RETENTION PAY
PROGRAM.  REF F IS NAVADMIN 308/11, ENLISTED SUPERVISOR RETENTION PAY PROGRAM,
EFFECTIVE 1 JAN 12.  REF G IS DODINST 1304.29, ADMINISTRATION OF ENLISTMENT
BONUSES, ACCESSION BONUSES FOR NEW OFFICERS IN CRITICAL SKILLS, SELECTIVE
REENLISTMENT BONUSES, AND CRITICAL SKILLS RETENTION BONUSES FOR ACTIVE
MEMBERS.//

RMKS/1.  THIS NAVADMIN ANNOUNCES REVISED SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUS (SRB)
AWARD LEVELS FOR ACTIVE COMPONENT (AC) AND RESERVE COMPONENT FULL TIME SUPPORT
(FTS), AND SUPERSEDES REF A.  THE SRB PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE EARLY
REENLISTMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR TOP PERFORMING SAILORS AS OUTLINED IN PARA 6
BELOW.  INCREASED AWARD LEVELS ARE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AND DECREASED LEVELS
ARE EFFECTIVE 30 DAYS AFTER THE RELEASE OF THIS NAVADMIN.

2.  CONTINUING WITH THE POLICY INITIATED BY REFERENCE B, REENLISTMENT REQUESTS
FOR THE FOLLOWING SRB AWARD LEVELS WILL BE APPROVED BASED ON QUOTA
AVAILABILITY.  AS WITH PTS, ELIGIBLE SAILORS DESIRING SRB REENLISTMENT ARE
ENCOURAGED TO WORK WITH THEIR CHAIN OF COMMAND AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE WITHIN
THEIR REENLISTMENT WINDOW TO MAXIMIZE POTENTIAL FOR SRB.  PERS-811 (SRB DESK)
MAINTAINS THE CURRENT LIST OF SRB ELIGIBLE RATINGS/SKILLS BASED ON AVAILABLE
QUOTAS AT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE:  HTTP://WWW.PUBLIC.NAVY.MIL/BUPERS-
NPC/CAREER/ENLISTEDCAREERADMIN/PAGES/SRB.ASPX.  FOR THOSE COMMANDS WITH
LIMITED INTERNET ACCESS, COMMAND CAREER COUNSELORS SHOULD CONTACT PERS-811
DIRECTLY FOR THE LATEST UPDATES.

3.  FTS NEW REENLISTMENT CONTRACTS FOR SRB ARE NOT CURRENTLY BEING ACCEPTED.
AC SRB AWARD LEVELS ARE AS FOLLOWS (NOTE: AN "*"
INDICATES LEVEL LOCATED IN OTHER SECTIONS OF PARA 3, A "-" INDICATES A
REDUCTION FROM PREVIOUS AWARD LEVEL, A "+" INDICATES AN INCREASE FROM PREVIOUS
AWARD LEVEL):
TIER ONE:
30,000 DOLLAR AWARD CEILING
RATING      NEC        ZONE A  ZONE B  ZONE C  NOTES
ND          5343       -0.0     0.0     0.0
SB          5352        1.5      *       *
SO          5326        2.0      *       *
45,000 DOLLAR AWARD CEILING
RATING      NEC        ZONE A  ZONE B  ZONE C  NOTES
CTR         9138        2.0     0.0     0.0     B
FCA         0000        2.5      *      0.0     H
OS          0318        2.0     1.5     0.0
OS          0319        0.0     2.0     1.0
OS          0324        0.0     1.5     0.0
60,000 DOLLAR AWARD CEILING
RATING      NEC        ZONE A  ZONE B  ZONE C  NOTES
ETSS COMM   14XXA/EM/CM 4.0      *      0.0     D, E, F
ETSS NAV    14XXB/NM/XM 4.0      *      0.0     D, E, F
FT          11XX/13XX   2.5      *      0.0     D
HM          8402        0.0     4.5     2.0
HM          8403        3.0     4.0     2.0
HM          8425        0.0     4.0     2.0
HM          8427        3.0     0.0     0.0
HM          8494        0.0     4.0     2.0
STS         0000        2.5      *      0.0     H
ITS         27XX       +2.5      *      0.0     B, D
IT          2791        0.0    +2.5     0.0     B
75,000 DOLLAR AWARD CEILING
RATING      NEC        ZONE A  ZONE B  ZONE C  NOTES
CTI         9PES        3.0     0.0     0.0     A, B
CTI         9ARB        3.0    +3.0     0.0     A, B
CTN         0000        0.0     2.5     2.0     A, B
CTN         9308        5.0     5.0     5.0     A, B
EOD         5333        4.5     4.0     0.0
EOD         5335        4.5     4.0     4.0
ND          5342        6.0     4.0     2.5
NUC         3354/64     8.0      *      0.0     C
NUC         3356/66     9.5      *      0.0     C
NUC         3383/93     9.0      *      0.0     C
NUC         3384/94     7.0      *      0.0     C
NUC         3385/95     9.0      *      0.0     C
STG         0416        0.0     5.5     5.5
STS         0416        0.0     5.5     5.5     E
FCA         0000         *      3.0     0.0     H
90,000 DOLLAR AWARD CEILING
RATING      NEC        ZONE A  ZONE B  ZONE C  NOTES
EOD         5337        0.0     7.0     7.0
ND          5341        0.0     0.0     5.0
NUC         3353/63     11.5    8.5     0.0     C
NUC         3354/64      *      5.5     0.0     C
NUC         3355/65    +9.5     9.0     0.0     C
NUC         3356/66      *      6.5     0.0     C
NUC         3383/93      *     +8.5     0.0     C
NUC         3384/94      *      5.5     0.0     C
NUC         3385/95      *     +7.0     0.0     C
NUC         3386/96     10.0    8.0     0.0     C
SB          5352         *      5.0     5.0
SO          5326         *      7.0     7.0
TIER TWO:
45,000 DOLLAR AWARD CEILING
RATING      NEC        ZONE A  ZONE B  ZONE C  NOTES
CB          5931        0.0     3.5     2.5
QQQQ
CB          5932        2.5     1.0     0.0
CTT         1702/3X     0.0     1.5     0.0     B, D
CTT         9135        0.0     1.5     0.0     B
HM          8493        2.0     0.0     0.0
MMSS AUX    4230/31    +1.0     0.0     0.0     E
MMSS WEP    4233        1.5     0.0     0.0     E
IT          0000        0.0    +1.5     0.0     B, H
ITS         27XX         *     +2.5     0.0     B, D
STS         0000         *      2.5     0.0     H
HM          8485        1.0     0.0     0.0
HM          8541        0.0     1.0     0.0
ETSS NAV    14XXB/NM/XM  *      1.5     0.0     D, E, F
ETSS COMM   14XXA/EM/CM  *      1.0     0.0     D, E, F
FT          11XX/13XX    *      1.0     0.0     D
CTM         9225        1.0     1.0     0.0     B
CTM         9229        2.0     2.5     1.0     B
TIER THREE:
45,000 DOLLAR AWARD CEILING
RATING      NEC        ZONE A  ZONE B  ZONE C  NOTES
AWO         7841        1.0     0.0     0.0
AWS         7815S       1.0     0.0     0.0     D
CB          5633        1.0     1.0     1.0
MT          33XX        2.5     1.0     0.0     D
LCAC        0304        2.5     2.0     0.0     G
CTR         0000        1.0     0.0     0.0     B, H

4.  ESTABLISHMENT OF ITS RATING:  ALL ITS DESIGNATED SAILORS ARE NO LONGER
ELIGIBLE TO REQUEST SRB UNDER ORIGINAL SOURCE RATING AND MUST MEET CRITERIA
LISTED IN PARA 3.

5.  NOTES
    A.  THE SRB FOR THIS RATING NAVY ENLISTED CLASSIFICATION
(NEC) IS TIED TO AN INCUMBENT BILLET OR TO ORDERS NEGOTIATED FOR THE NEXT
BILLET.  COMMANDS MUST VERIFY THE MEMBER IS CURRENTLY IN, OR HAS ORDERS TO, A
BILLET REQUIRING THIS NEC AND ANNOTATE THIS VERIFICATION IN THE COMMENTS
SECTION OF THE PRECERT REQUEST.
    B.  AN SRB APPROVAL FOR ALL CT, IT, AND ITS RATINGS WILL BE CONTINGENT
UPON MEMBER HAVING A CURRENT SINGLE SCOPE BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION (SSBI), AN
ACTIVE SSBI OR RECENT SUBMISSION OF AN SSBI PACKAGE.  COMMANDS MUST VERIFY THE
MEMBER HAS A CURRENT SSBI, ACTIVE SSBI, OR HAS SUBMITTED A SSBI PACKAGE AND
MAKE NOTE OF THIS IN THE COMMENTS SECTION OF THE PRECERT REQUEST.
    C.  NUCLEAR NECS 3359 AND 3389 ARE INACTIVE NECS.  MEMBERS HOLDING THESE
NECS MAY REENLIST AT THE AWARD LEVEL SPECIFIED FOR THE LAST ACTIVE NEC HELD
WITH ECM APPROVAL.  REENLISTMENT COMPENSATION FOR ZONE C NUCLEAR TRAINED
PERSONNEL HOLDING A NUCLEAR SUPERVISOR NEC SHALL BE PROVIDED UNDER THE
ENLISTED SUPERVISOR RETENTION PAY
(ESRP) PROGRAM IAW POLICIES AND PROCEDURES DETAILED IN REFS E AND F.
    D.  LETTERS APPEARING WITH AN NEC ARE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE USE ONLY.
    E.  SUBSURFACE OR SURFACE DESIGNATION DOES NOT MEAN AN INDIVIDUAL MUST BE
SUBSURFACE OR ENLISTED SURFACE WARFARE SPECIALIST QUALIFIED, BUT INDICATES THE
COMPONENT OF THE RATING IN WHICH THEY CAN REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO SERVE.
TRAINING, QUALIFICATIONS, AND PREVIOUS OR PROJECTED DUTY ASSIGNMENTS AT SEA
WILL INDICATE THE APPROPRIATE RATING COMPONENT.  WHEN USING THE FORCE
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (FORMAN) AND THE OFFICER PERSONNEL INFORMATION SYSTEM
(OPINS) TO INPUT A SRB PRECERT REQUEST, USE THE RATING (WITH APPROPRIATE
SUFFIX DESIGNATION)/NEC AS SPECIFIED IN THIS NAVADMIN.  FOR EXAMPLE, SURFACE
ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN WITH NO NEC WOULD SUBMIT 'ETSW' ON PRECERT FOR RATING.
    F.  SUBSURFACE NECS.  SUBSURFACE ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN 14XXA IDENTIFIES
ALL SUBSURFACE ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN COMMUNICATIONS SAILORS WHO HOLD NECS
BEGINNING WITH 14.  SUBSURFACE ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN NAVIGATION 14XXB
IDENTIFIES SUBSURFACE ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN NAVIGATION SAILORS AND INCLUDES
ALL SUBSURFACE ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN NAVIGATION NECS BEGINNING WITH 14.
    G.  RATINGS ELIGIBLE FOR NEC 0304 ARE:  AWO, ET, QM, AND OS.
    H.  NEC 0000 (COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS "QUAD ZERO") IS LISTED HERE TO
ESTABLISH THAT SAILORS IN THESE RATINGS/CAREER FIELDS CAN HOLD ANY OR NO NEC
AND STILL BE QUALIFIED FOR SRB PROVIDED THEY MEET ALL OTHER APPLICABLE NON-NEC
RELATED CRITERIA.

6.  EARLY REENLISTMENT OPPORTUNITY:  SAILORS SERVING IN TIER ONE SKILLS, AS
WELL AS THE EXCEPTIONS OUTLINED IN PARA 12.A OF REF B AND PARA 4 OF REF C, ARE
ELIGIBLE TO REENLIST EARLY ANY TIME WITHIN THE FISCAL YEAR OF THEIR END OF
ACTIVE OBLIGATED SERVICE (EAOS).
NUCLEAR SAILORS MAY STILL CROSS FISCAL YEAR BOUNDARIES.
ADDITIONALLY, SAILORS SERVING IN TIER TWO OR TIER THREE SRB SKILLS WHO
RECEIVED AN EP IN BLOCK 45 OF THEIR MOST RECENT REGULAR PERIODIC EVALUATION OR
FITNESS REPORT WILL BE ALLOWED TO REENLIST EARLY ANY TIME WITHIN THE FISCAL
YEAR OF THEIR EAOS.  NO TRANSFER, CONCURRENT, OR SPECIAL EVALUATIONS WILL
APPLY.  SAILORS ADVANCED WITHIN THE 12 MONTHS PRIOR TO THEIR EAOS WILL BE
ALLOWED TO SUBSTITUTE THE LAST REGULAR PERIODIC EVALUATION OR FITNESS REPORT
IN THEIR PREVIOUS PAYGRADE.  PERSONNEL MUST FAX OR E-MAIL A SIGNED COPY OF THE
EVALUATION TO NAVPERSCOM (PERS-811) ONCE THEIR PRECERT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED.
THIS REQUIREMENT IS ONLY FOR THOSE THAT FALL UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
PARAGRAPH.

7.  SRB PRECERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
    A.  PERFORM-TO-SERVE (PTS):  COMMANDS ARE AUTHORIZED TO SUBMIT SRB
REENLISTMENT REQUESTS PRIOR TO A MEMBER RECEIVING A PTS QUOTA; HOWEVER, THE
PTS QUOTA REQUEST MUST HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED AND THE SRB REQUEST WILL NOT BE
PROCESSED UNTIL THE MEMBER HAS RECEIVED PTS CONFIRMATION.  SRB REQUESTS
WITHOUT PTS APPROVAL WILL STILL BE REJECTED IN THE OFFICER PERSONNEL
INFORMATION SYSTEM (OPINS) TO KEEP THE COMMAND INFORMED OF POTENTIAL SRB
APPROVAL ISSUES. ONCE A MEMBER HAS AN APPROVED PTS QUOTA, THE COMMAND SHOULD
CONTACT PERS-811 TO CLEAR ANY REJECTIONS.
    B.  COMMANDS ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT SRB REENLISTMENT REQUESTS TO PERS-811
VIA OPINS 35-120 DAYS IN ADVANCE OF THE SAILOR'S REQUESTED REENLISTMENT DATE.
REQUESTS SUBMITTED LESS THAN
35 DAYS PRIOR TO THE REQUESTED REENLISTMENT DATE WILL BE REJECTED; HOWEVER,
COMMANDS MAY CONTACT PERS-811 FOR WAIVER ELIGIBILITY AND PROCEDURES.  SAILORS
MUST HAVE APPROVED PRECERTS BEFORE REENLISTING.
THE SERVICING PERSONNEL OFFICE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR VERIFYING THE REENLISTMENT,
POSTING THE CONTRACT, RELEASING THE FIRST PAYMENT, AND VERIFYING THE MASTER
MILITARY PAY ACCOUNT.
    C.  SAILORS WITH APPROVED PRECERTS WHO DO NOT REENLIST ON THE DATE OR FOR
THE TERM SPECIFIED IN THE PRECERT MESSAGE MUST HAVE THEIR COMMAND CONTACT
NAVPERSCOM (PERS-811) TO INITIATE A REENLISTMENT CANCELLATION TO AVOID PLACING
SAILORS IN AN OVERPAID STATUS.
    D.  TO VALIDATE AN INOPERATIVE EXTENSION OF ENLISTMENT AND QQQQ EXPEDITE
PROCESSING OF AN SRB REQUEST, INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING IN THE REMARKS PARAGRAPH
OF THE REQUEST:  TERM, NARRATIVE REASON, AUTHORITY, AND EXECUTION DATE OF ALL
INOPERATIVE EXTENSIONS.
FAILURE TO VERIFY EXTENSIONS WILL CAUSE PROCESSING DELAYS AND MAY RESULT IN
REJECTION OF THE REQUEST OR AN APPROVAL AT A LOWER AMOUNT.
    E.  SAILORS MUST OBTAIN AN APPROVAL FOR EXTENSION FROM NAVPERSCOM (PERS-
811) IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE THE POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF SRB ELIGIBILITY.

8.  THE FOLLOWING GUIDANCE IS PROVIDED ON NEC-SPECIFIC SRB AND LATERAL
CONVERSIONS.  ACCEPTANCE OF A NEC-SPECIFIC SRB CONTRACT INDICATES AN AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE SAILOR AND THE NAVY TO UTILIZE SKILLS ATTRIBUTED TO THE NEC DURING
THE SAILORS ENLISTMENT TO MEET FLEET READINESS REQUIREMENTS.  IN SUBSEQUENT
TOURS, A SAILOR MUST BE WILLING TO BE DETAILED DURING THE NORMAL PROJECTED
ROTATION DATE WINDOW TO AN AVAILABLE BILLET WITHIN THE SRB CONTRACTED NEC,
CONSISTENT WITH SEA-SHORE FLOW REQUIREMENTS.  LATERAL CONVERSIONS MUST FOLLOW
REF B, PARA 12.D.  LATERAL CONVERSION REQUESTS WILL NOT BE PROCESSED MORE THAN
NINE MONTHS BEFORE THE EAOS.  CONVERSIONS TO A RATE WITH A LOWER AWARD LEVEL
WILL NOT BE APPROVED.  PERSONNEL IN A 'CLOSED-LOOP' NEC CAN REENLIST BY THE
NEC ONLY.

9.  OBLIGATED SERVICE TO TRAIN (OTT) AND THEN REENLIST.  SEE REF B, PARA
12.E., FOR OTT GUIDANCE. REQUESTS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED TO NAVPERSCOM (PERS-811)
VIA NAVPERS 1306/7, ENLISTED PERSONNEL ACTION REQUEST.  A COPY OF THE
AUTHORIZATION MESSAGE SHOULD BE RETAINED BY THE SAILOR UNTIL THE SRB
REENLISTMENT ON GRADUATION DAY FROM THE COURSE OF INSTRUCTION.  USE CODE 1CC
(1RC FOR FTS) FOR OTT SRB REQUESTS IN OPINS.

10.  INOPERATIVE EXTENSIONS POLICY.  IN KEEPING WITH DOD POLICY, PERSONNEL WHO
ACCEPTED AN ENLISTMENT BONUS FOR EXTENDED ENLISTMENT (EBEE), AS REFLECTED ON
THEIR NAVCRUIT 1133/52, ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO USE THIS INOPERATIVE EXTENSION
TIME IN THE SRB CALCULATION.
SAILORS WHO HAVE INOPERATIVE EXTENSION TIME THROUGH A FIVE-YEAR OBLIGATION OR
SIX-YEAR OBLIGATION PROGRAM, OR AS AUTHORIZED IN NAVADMIN 007/09, MAY CONTINUE
TO HAVE UP TO 24 MONTHS OF INOPERATIVE EXTENSION TIME COUNT TOWARDS THE SRB
CALCULATION PROVIDED THE REENLISTMENT RESULTS IN A NEW EAOS THAT IS AT LEAST
24 MONTHS DAY- FOR-DAY PAST THE CURRENT EXTENDED EAOS.  THIS CALCULATION IS
PERFORMED AUTOMATICALLY BY NAVPERSCOM (PERS-811).  LOCAL COMMANDS ARE NOT
AUTHORIZED TO CANCEL OR CHANGE EXTENSIONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF IMMEDIATE SRB
REENLISTMENTS.  COMMANDS MUST VERIFY AND ANNOTATE ON THE PRECERT REQUEST
WHETHER ANY INOPERATIVE EXTENSION TIME NOTED IS PART OF AN ENLISTED BONUS FOR
EXTENDED ENLISTMENT (EBEE) CONTRACT.

11.  LITTORAL COMBAT SHIP (LCS) GUIDANCE.  SAILORS ASSIGNED TO LCS PLATFORMS
OR WITH ORDERS TO AN LCS PLATFORM WHO POSSESS MULTIPLE NEC'S SPECIFICALLY
REQUIRED FOR LCS ASSIGNMENT ARE AUTHORIZED TO REENLIST FOR THE MOST LUCRATIVE
SRB-ELIGIBLE NEC, REGARDLESS OF ASSIGNED RATING.

12.  TO ENSURE ALL REQUIREMENTS AND TIMELINES ARE MET, VISIT THE FOLLOWING SRB
PAGE OF THE NPC WEBSITE:
WWW.PUBLIC.NAVY.MIL/BUPERS-NPC/CAREER/PAYANDBENEFITS/N130/PAGES/N130D.ASPX

13.  WE WILL CONTINUE TO ASSESS RETENTION BEHAVIOR AND ADJUST SRB AWARD LEVELS
ACCORDINGLY.

14.  POINT OF CONTACT FOR A SAILOR WHO HAS REENLISTED AND HAS NOT RECEIVED
THEIR SRB PAYMENT OR HAS QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE TAXATION OF THEIR SRB AND
ANNUAL INSTALLMENTS IS THE SAILORS SERVICING PAY OFFICE OR PERSONNEL SUPPORT
DETACHMENT.  SRB TAX INFORMATION IS ALSO DISCUSSED IN DOD FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
REGULATION VOL 7A, CH 44, TABLE 44-1, RULE 7.  THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR A
SAILOR WITH QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SRB PROGRAM OR ANY INFORMATION ON THEIR
BUPERS ON-LINE ACCOUNT IS THEIR COMMAND CAREER COUNSELOR (CCC).  FOR TECHNICAL
QUESTIONS OR CLARIFICATIONS, CCC'S, NOT THE INDIVIDUAL SAILORS, ARE ENCOURAGED
TO CONTACT NAVPERSCOM (PERS-811) AT (901) 874-2526/DSN 882, FAX (901) 874-
2623/DSN 882 OR E-MAIL EMCM(SS) IRISH AT DOUGLAS.B.IRISH(AT)NAVY.MIL, MR.
FRANK PALOMO AT FRANCISCO.PALOMO(AT)NAVY.MIL OR PSC BELLEW AT
JEFFREY.BELLEW(AT)NAVY.MIL.

15.  RELEASED BY VICE ADMIRAL S. R. VAN BUSKIRK, N1.//

BT
#3083
NNNN
UNCLASSIFIED//

The approved 2012 Military Pay Chart for basic pay, effective January 1, 2012.
The 2013 Military Pay raise estimation based on ECI - Title 37, US Code.

Navy Week New Orleans will have many of the same events that you have come to expect during such an event. There will be ships from the United States Navy other nations that you may be able to tour, the “Blue Angels”, the U.S. Navy’s flight demonstration team, a Navy Band will perform, and the “Leap Frogs”, the Navy’s parachute team will demonstrate their expertise in falling to the ground with style, but New Orleans’ Navy Week will offer what other Navy Weeks have not, a battle to the death.

Okay, maybe not to the death for the entrants, but many a good sea creatures will meet their peril during the Great Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off. On Friday the 20th, at 1330 in Waldenburg Park on the banks of the Mississippi River, the Culinary Specialists from each of the various nation’s participating ships will partake in the first ever cook-off that utilizes only the best seafood Louisiana has to offer.

When the day begins, the cook-off participants will take a trip to Rouses Market, located in downtown New Orleans, to shop for their recipe’s ingredients. Each team has a $200 spending limit, donated by Rouses, and will be assisted by the award-winning and nationally famous New Orleans chef, Susan Spicer.

For the battle, each team will be paired up with a well-known Louisiana chef, and will have just 30 minutes to prepare a dish using any ingredients they want with at least one of Louisiana’s crab, oysters, shrimp, fish, or crawfish.

The Teams

Team Canada (HMCS St. Johns): Alfred Singleton, Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse
Team Ecuador: Vinny Russo, Ritz Carlton
Team USS Mitscher: Kevin Belton, New Orleans School of Cooking
Team USS DeWert: Gus Martin, Muriel’s (Navy)
Team France: Jack Leonardi, Jacques Imo’s
Team Navy Reserve: Bart Bell, Crescent City Pie and Sausage (Army)
Team England (HMS Montrose): Cory Bahr, Cotton – Monroe, LA
Team Indonesia: Manny Auguello, Jolie Louisiana Bistro – Lafayette, LA
Team Coast Guard: Diana Chauvin, La Thai
Team U.S. Marines: Stacy Hall, Dick & Jenny’s
Team USS WASP: Johnny Blancher, Ye Olde College Inn

The six very lucky judges, made up of local celebrity chefs and military dignitaries, will grade the dishes based on three factors; presentation, creativity and, of course, taste. After the event, at 1630, the winning team will be announced.

Go U.S. Navy!

Lord, help us if the Marines win.

The approved 2012 Military Pay Chart for basic pay, effective January 1, 2012.
The 2013 Military Pay raise estimation based on ECI - Title 37, US Code.

Of course, any rating and program for which you qualify may be available when you go to MEPS to enlist, but those ratings and programs I will be listing below as a result of the current, short term incentive AAA, the chances are much better than average they will be available; well, until they fill up that is; so, get’em while they are hot.

For the third quarter, April – June 2012, the AAA defines certain rates and programs; those programs (along with Nuke and the Challenge Programs) for those who qualify, should be available when you go to MEPS, and they are;

Aircrew Rescue Swimmer (females). AIRRs may be required to risk their lives during a rescue over-land or at-sea. They will be required to enter the open ocean from a hovering helicopter and swim to the survivor.

Musician. MUs perform on one or more designated instruments to provide ceremonial and entertainment services afloat and ashore to enhance Navy presence and coalition building initiatives.

Ratings that have a real good chance of leaving for boot-camp prior to October 1, 2012;

Information Systems Technician (both surface and submarine). ITs perform core and specialty functions of communications operations, message processing, network administration and security.

Submarine Electronics/Computer Field (ET, FT, STS). An individual selecting SECF will receive training in electricity, electronics, computers, digital systems, fiber optics and electronics repair.

Culinary Specialist (Submarines). CSs operate and manage dining facilities and living quarters established to subsist and accommodate Navy personnel.

Steelworker (Reserve, New Accession Training Program (NAT)). SWs perform tasks directly related to fabrication and erection of pre-engineered structures, including steel reinforcement, and they perform various welding and cutting operations.

Construction Mechanic (Reserve, (NAT)). Construction Mechanics repair and maintain heavy construction and automotive equipment including, buses, dump trucks, bulldozers, rollers, cranes, backhoes, pile drivers, and tactical vehicles.

Note: The NAT program allows for the accession of Non-Prior Service personnel to complete basic training, rating-specific Class “A” School (and “C” School if applicable), and affiliation as a SELRES with the Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) closest to your permanent residence. NAT is a Navy Reserve program, and understand that you may not apply for active duty while in the NAT program until you have completed a minimum of 24 months of your mandatory drilling obligation.

The approved 2012 Military Pay Chart for basic pay, effective January 1, 2012.
The 2013 Military Pay raise estimation based on ECI - Title 37, US Code.

Time to Paddle
By
ETSA Slebodnik, D.V.

In the previous article, I mentioned that everything in the compartment had a specific place, and I add that there is no room for error in Recruit Training Command. Grading the effectiveness of the Division and the Recruit Division Commanders is the Fleet Quality Assurance (FQA) who actively searches for hits against you and your Division. Don’t be surprised if your RDCs take your failures personally, as every hit is a deduction from the graduation totals. To protect the totals from any hits, many in your Division will be given jobs as Petty Officers in a chain of command.

The top of the Recruit chain of command is the Recruit Chief Petty Officer (RPOC) and he is the direct connection to the RDCs by maintaining orders and the plan of the day. This guy can get annoying but keep in mind that the RPOC is taking flak from both above and below. Unless he is actively on a power trip give the guy a little slack. When the Division is in ranks, the RPOC is the one driving the bus giving commands on the march for the direction, maneuvers, and calls out roads guards.

The next link in the chain is the Assistant Recruit Chief Petty Officer (AROC) as he backs the RPOC’s commands and keeping tabs on the Division and generally picking up any slack the RPOC cannot handle on his own. The position of AROC requires a high level of trust and dependence to aide in carrying the Division to graduation. As the RPOC is the one driving the bus, the AROC is the engine as he sings the cadence and sets the pace for the march. Be confident in your voice and know what you’re doing or you’ll run the Division into the ground.

Third in command is the Master -at-Arms (MA) whom oversees the section leaders of the compartment as it is further micromanaged by being broken down into sections each with its own leader each chosen by the RDCs. The section leaders then relay conditions to the MA that everything is on spot. In the compartment, the section leaders overlook their sections by tutoring their recruits in folding and stowing if needed as well as making certain it is a done correctly on top of cleanup every evening. On the bus, the section leaders will be heading the ranks as they will be holding the Division flags (Sticks) when marching.

One major role that we all in the Navy take part in is guard duty as we all must qualify for it, and at some time or other we all must stand the watch. The two major elements to standing your watch on guard duty are the Watch Bill and the Deck Log and to maintain both are the Port and Starboard Watches. The two assign duties to those in the Division on the watch bill, a sort of schedule and shifts for recruits to stand watch over the compartment the entire day through. The Deck Log documents every action of the Division and the status of the compartment hence the deck log is to be treated like gold with every entry written clearly and every minute accounted for. Also gaining a spot on the bus, the ranks are divided into port and starboard and are headed by the Port and Starboard Watches.

When assigned to Watch Stander we will stand as either the Petty Officer of the Deck (POOD) or the Roving Watch. The POOD mans the Quarterdeck or in the case of the compartment, the entry way and receives any RDCs that may enter with a salute and identifying oneself. The POOD also is the one who documents everything on the deck log including the times that the Rover begins and finishes his tours of the compartment. The Roving Watch follows a route through compartment to check the racks, the head, and the laundry room for any hits and corrects them be it a sneaker out of place or too many recruits out of their racks at night. Anything that can be counted as a hit should FQA or the Officer of the Deck (OOD) show for a random search must be fixed before found.

During your time in Boot Camp, the Division will be visiting classes on material written in your recruit handbook. To tutor the Division in the compartment is the job of the Education Petty Officer (E.P.O.) and will be allotted time before evening routine to keep the recruits’ minds sharp. I do recommend for the E.P.O. to break down the material “barney style” and really explain the meaning behind the material and not rely solely on repetition. Not only do the test scores count toward the totals, but there is also one more Division flag on the line.

Every organized PT will be led by the Athletic P.O. who demonstrates the different exercises and stretches as well as leads the exercise count. However, don’t be surprised if the RDC takes the lead in PT and adds a few exercises not in the manual. Make sure you can keep up with your boys and lead them to one more flag for graduation. The APO also has the responsibility of choosing the teams for the various events held in the final weeks of RTC known as the “Captain’s Cup”. Know your recruits, learn their strengths, and choose wisely.

The Head Crew is responsible for keeping the Head (restroom) on spot led by the Head P.O. and he is responsible for waking the head crew before the division and is out the door to early chow and return to the compartment in time to clean house while the Division is at the Galley. Another benefit is the Head Crew showers first to gather supplies and be ready to clean by the time the Division finishes hygiene. The Head has by far the most possible hits from the position of the toilet paper rolls to the position of the wheels on the oversize trash can. To the Head P.O., learn the hits as well as the most common mistakes and be the last one to leave the head knowing that everything is on spot. Also a big help every morning when I was Head P.O. is to arrange with the morning Roving Watch to wake you at the right time.

The next position is a keystone for evening routine is Forward Hold P.O. who maintains the gear locker that holds all the cleaning supplies and brushes for the compartment and the head distributed every evening routine. Every brush, sponge, spray bottle and swab (mop) has a specific place treated the same as you would your rack. Along with clean-up, an equally important position to evening routine is the Laundry P.O. After the assignment of the day during hygiene, the dirty laundry is collected, washed, and distributed during evening routine. You can also bet your last dollar that the laundry room must be kept tip top.

Every evening during lights out; once the laundry is out the recruits must iron their uniforms, oh yes there is even an Iron P.O. (in my Division, I nicknamed our “Iron Man”). Responsibilities include laying out the irons, boards, maintaining the iron bill, and has everything returned to its place before the RDCs show in the morning. Make certain somebody is ironing when the OOD checks in on the compartment…trust me. Another word to the Head P.O.; help the Iron P.O. collect the gear, you’re already up anyway.

An important part to having a successful Division is to have everybody where they need to be on time and to achieve this are the roles of the recruit Admin, Dental, and Medical Yeomen. The Admin Yeoman calls muster (attendance), maintaining the sign-out sheets and recruit files, and dispenses walking chits. The Dental and Medical Yeomen individually leave the compartment to collect the appointment slips for the recruits and posts them on the appointment board in the fish bowl (RDCs glass office). The essential element for the entire Division is 100% accountability for everyone in it.

The final two P.O.s are saved for last and are by far the most important to the recruits themselves, not for any flags or scores, but for the general morale. The Mail P.O. collects and dispenses mail either coming to or from loved ones abroad. Phone calls are very few and far between so the old fashioned snail mail is the common form contact the Division will have with the outside world. The Mail P.O. could be comparable to Santa Claus passing out envelopes filled with letters and pictures from home; however any oversized envelopes must be inspected by the RDCs. The Religion P.O. leads those who wish to take part in an evening prayer lasting anywhere between five to ten minutes before lights out. Without any specific denomination, the P.O. or another recruit may give an encouraging sermon be it about strength, brotherhood, or reflection it will be in uninterrupted peace.

Appreciate the moments dedicated to you and your shipmates and find your strength as every job has a vital daily function to the Division throughout Boot Camp all the way to graduation. Those without a job also have a great responsibility; to respect the chain of command, watch out for your shipmates, and to look professional doing it. Perception is reality in the Navy and if everyone acts as one crew, this bus will be respected as a well oiled machine.

Part one of the series: Welcome to the Deep End
Part Two of the series: Treading Water

The approved 2012 Military Pay Chart for basic pay, effective January 1, 2012.
The 2013 Military Pay raise estimation based on ECI - Title 37, US Code.

Treading Water

By
ETSA Slebodnik D.V. USN

Are you still here, Recruit? Good work, you’ve made it through the first phase. Your next evolution will be life in the compartment. Every morning when the Recruit Division Commander (RDC) enters, morning routine will commence. Where within fifteen minutes all 60+ of your Division must wake up, dress in uniform of the day, shave, brush your teeth, make your rack and be on the toe line in time for chow.

The Galley will very well be the best part of your day. Every meal you get two choices of entrée and sides that do taste good, the people are nice and every Sunday you’ll get ice cream for dessert. However, you must still remain silent the entire time keeping your face to the wall or in your notebook (given to you at first issue and always in you left hand while outside of the compartment), or be written up by the RDC that catches you.

During the first days of training, you’ll begin with the most complicated of daily tasks you will encounter in your time at Recruit Training Command (RTC), folding and stowing your laundry. Everything from your uniforms to your socks must be folded exactly as your RDC will instruct you, and each item is to be placed in your rack, each with a specific location. All instructions on folding and stowing are to be copied in your notebook for future reference. Soon to come will be the second most difficult skill to perfect …shining your boots.

When your Division goes anywhere outside of the ship, all will be marching every step of the way; all formed up in ranks like a bus, trained in formation, commands and cadences. This is the Division’s chance to shine to all of RTC as you all will be demonstrating your teamwork, cohesion, and military bearing. Marching in step with eyes front while following commands and singing cadence. I promise you Recruit, marching done well you will have as much pride as you will fun.

Three days out of the week, the Division will have organized physical training (PT) either in the gymnasium or the compartment itself. The organized PT is surprisingly rather light, on the condition that the Division finishes each exercise in unison; otherwise, the count rolls back to zero. Sound like fun? Actually, this promotes uniformity between you and your shipmates, to watch out for one another and to encourage each other to finish as a team.

After the day’s activities, the Division will hygiene (shower) before evening chow. Everybody will gather their hygiene gear and a fresh set of clothes and stand at the toe line waiting for word from your RDC. Grab a spot on the bench while they last and avoid placing your clothes near the urinals on the bathroom floor, you’ll have enough germs to worry about already without the possibility of pink eye. When washing, just keep your eyes on the walls and you won’t creep out being bunched with naked recruits trying to wash the soap away.

Also, don’t be that guy that turns down the nozzle to hog the water. Your shipmates don’t like the situation either, you’re all just dealing with it. On the same subject of hygiene, wash your hands every head call for at least two minutes, and do not use the hand sanitizer more than three occasions or your hands will begin to peel. Once you’re dressed and out of the head, you’ll take your dirty clothes to the laundry sacks to be washed.

Before lights out finally comes around, the evening routine will commence. Beginning with laundry distribution, the clean clothes are dumped in the middle of the compartment and tossed to the recruits as you all practice marching around the compartment and singing cadence while returning clothes to your shipmates’ racks. This is about the most laid back it gets all day with the RDCs present. Afterward will be the full cleanup of the compartment, right before evening prayer for those who wish to participate; it does help.

Finally, keep this in mind as the days pass by being thrown together with a group of guys that are scared, tired, and homesick; believe it or not, not all of you will get along. It is human nature to be butting heads. The entire Division consists of people of different ages and backgrounds from all over the country if not the world, of course there will be friction. There does come a point where shipmates must simply have to agree to disagree. At this point, keep your mind on the task at hand and get the job done; afterward, simply avoid them.

However, if you do find yourself unfairly targeted or bullied by other shipmates after asking them to cease and desist, take that to your chain of command because hazing is not tolerated in the Navy. The last thing any recruit should have to worry about is getting harassed by some trash talker who can’t hack it in the military needing an ego boost. You’re all working toward the same thing, graduation. After that, you’ll part ways going to your “A” schools and moving forward in the U.S. Navy. Whether or not it will be with lifetime friends or enemies depends entirely on you, Shipmate.

Part one of the series: Welcome to the Deep End
Part three of the series: Time to Paddle

The approved 2012 Military Pay Chart for basic pay, effective January 1, 2012.
The 2013 Military Pay raise estimation based on ECI - Title 37, US Code.

Rest in Peace, Sir. Thank you for everything.

Tributes to Lex
Whisper: Open Thread – Whisper @Neptunus Lex
Ave Atque Vale – Steeljaw Scribe
Neptunus Lex – Thank You and Farewell – CDR Salamander
Pardon Him, Theodotus: Neptunus Lex: Carroll LeFon – Chap
One of Our Own – AW1 Tim
Lex – Instapinch
Beat the drum slowly -Eagle One
Heavy Heart – Galrahn
Remembering Captain Carroll “Neptunus Lex” LeFon USN (Ret.) 1960-2012 – Doc in the Box
Don’t Blink – The Wood Shed
Carroll “Lex” LeFon, you are cleared due West… – The Sand Gram
We were bloggers once, and young. – Castle Argghhh!!!
Neptunus Lex: 1960-2012 – Susan Katz Keating
GOD SPEED, CAPT CARROLL LEFON (NEPTUNUS LEX) – McQ @B5
Fair skies and following seas – Chuck
RIP- Carroll LeFon “Neptunus Lex” – XBRADTC
A tragic loss – Skippy-san
Tears – Exile In Portales
Loss of CAPT Carroll LeFon, USN (Ret) – ADM J.C. Harvey, Jr USN

The approved 2012 Military Pay Chart for basic pay, effective January 1, 2012.
The 2013 Military Pay raise estimation based on ECI - Title 37, US Code.

Welcome to the Deep End
By
ETSA Slebodnik, D.V. USN

Congratulations Recruit, it seems like just a short time ago that you decided to join the United States Navy. You have been to MEPS and you have passed your physical, your ASVAB test, and you signed your contract, after doing your homework learning the rates of course. Now, your time in the Delayed Entry Program is finished, and you’re ready to ship out to Great Lakes, IL to be the latest addition to Recruit Training Command, also known as Boot-Camp. My how time flies. You have completed your final ship-out processing at the MEPS, and now your on the bus to the airport. When you exit that bus, have your family meet you at the airport; trust me, it helps to kiss them goodbye before you set foot on that plane.

When you take off, the adrenaline running through you will be intense. You’re taking the first steps toward a career and a cause bigger than yourself. You’re going to be trained in technology that will defend your family and destroy the enemies of our United States. What you cannot do is let the excitement keep you awake, get as much sleep on that flight as possible because once you get on that bus to Great Lakes, you will find that time to sleep is a very precious. Next, upon landing you’ll be following your “group leader”, a.k.a. the guy holding all the paperwork, to check in with your RTC contact at the airport. I also highly recommend that you eat first. I wanted to be the good little Sailor wanting check in first before eating, but once we met him, we could not leave his sight as we sat on the floor in silence and starvation.

The first forty-eight hours after touchdown, the RTC staff can begin to separate the Sailors from the civilians. As you take that long ride on the bus, you will not be allowed to sleep if you do you will be screamed at loud enough to keep you awake until the end of the ride. Once you enter RTC, you’ll have ten minutes to kiss your old life goodbye with your first phone call home, just to tell your family you got there safely, before being screamed at once again to move on to the next stage. After that you move on to your first issue of goods, beginning with an empty cardboard box where you follow a line of everything you need for the first few days from underwear to your first Navy sweat suit or “Smurfs” then told to strip down as naked as the day you were born and all of your things going in that small box to be sent home, after changing. Whatever does not fit inside goes in an outside dumpster (I suggest you pack light). All the while your every action seems to deserve one insult after another; some of you might think your back in high school.

As you move forward the treatment really turns sour as you meet your Recruit Division Commanders. Going into Boot Camp must not be taken lightly, you must become like water being able to absorb and pass what is thrown at you or you will wet yourself. When you reach the compartment of your barracks building or “ship”, you will get your first meeting with your RDCs (you’ll recognize them by the red ropes on their left shoulder). They walk in, making their presence known as your Chief gets inches from your face shouting you to do…whatever. The intimidation factor alone makes you fumble even the simplest of commands. Especially after medical clears you as “fit for full duty” and your RDCs are now allowed to enforce what’s called Intense Training (also known as a beat down) where RDCs command you to perform gut wrenching exercises from jumping jacks to eight counts as punishments for failure to perform the simplest of tasks. Everything in Boot Camp is a challenge to be overcome, to rise or fall depends entirely on your honor, courage, and commitment.

The key to avoiding such harsh conditions is to not be a cowboy. Keep your head clear in making any decision, because not only will you get beat but your entire division will as well. I remember back at RTC when my division was on the toe line waiting for chow we have stood there just waiting. As the boredom set in, a few shipmates were getting chatty after being told to keep quiet and our petty officer had us all do pushups for fifteen minutes. There is no individual responsibility, there is no single person to blame; it is one crew and one punishment. Keep this in mind if you’re a dirt bag that thinks he can do whatever he wants and take the punishment, because you will be responsible for much of the pain on your division. One thing that you have to know going into RTC is that it is all part of your training, your discipline. The RDCs want pass you on to the fleet knowing that you will relieve our brothers and sisters without fail. They want to know that if you approach a Captain wearing an eagle on his collar, you know to salute that Captain. Saluting that Captain shows your desire to be an aspect of the U.S. Navy by showing you have earned your spot and your uniform.

Going into Boot Camp, you must keep in mind your reason for joining, a goal, an ideal, anything that you may focus on to do your best in passing your trainers and tests. Hell…let your goal be rocking those dress blues for the girls after graduation because when push yourself and encourage your division to do so IT will be a thing of the past and your RDCs will lighten up. After one trainer, an RDC was answering questions for us and our Brother Div. One question was “Why are the RDCs so mean?” His answer was, “The RDCs get nicer when you get smarter.”

This is all part of your basic training entering the United States Navy, the key is to break you down and build you back up. As you’re broken down with your every failure you get built back up with your every success. As you are solely responsible for your own success, you are also an essential part of your part of the success of your division as you watch your back and each other’s. Every drill you perfect, every question you answer correctly and every test you pass will get you through RTC much more smoothly all the way to graduation, maybe even a promotion. Once you graduate you get your orders and move on to your next command. By that time the Navy is a job, no more IT, no more harsh treatment that you don’t deserve. You go to work on time with a clean shave and a clean uniform and you will have a long and exciting career in the U.S. Navy.

Part Two of the series: Treading Water
Part three of the series: Time to Paddle

The approved 2012 Military Pay Chart for basic pay, effective January 1, 2012.
The 2013 Military Pay raise estimation based on ECI - Title 37, US Code.

Okay, bad play on the Eurythmics original, but anyway…

When the budget proposal for FY-2013 was released, Department of Defense (DoD) officials laid out a five year plan for military pay. For 2013 and 2014, the current law that dictates the use of the Employment cost Index will be utilized. DoD’s plan for 2015 through 2017 is to ask congress for a special provision that would provide for raises less than currently expected for those years based on the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates of the cost of employment for the private sector. The CBO’s estimates are a reported 3.3% for 2015 and 3.5% for each year after.

DoD’s plan is to ask for just 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% military basic pay raise for 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively. If the full five year plan goes forward as originally articulated and the CBOs estimates hold true, a majority of the gap in pay that took over a decade to close would once again be in place.

The approved 2012 Military Pay Chart for basic pay, effective January 1, 2012.
The 2013 Military Pay raise estimation based on ECI - Title 37, US Code.

Today, I would like to introduce ETSA Slebodnik with his first essay, “Anger: Us and Them.”

“Anger: Us and Them”
by
ETSA Slebodnik, D.V. USN

Everyday it creeps into our minds like a parasite. It finds a way in, finds a corner and slowly spreads. Taking away from our family, our job, and our own joy. Replacing all the goods things in life with hate, resentment, pain, and regret. This parasite that lives off of our own misery is “Anger.”

Pick your poison on how you get it. Some punk in your class, losing the promotion you bust your guts for, your own cowardice. Makes no difference how it gets in you, the difference is what you do with it. There are two roads anger can take you, either destructive or constructive.

Like a parasite, it feeds. When you first feel it, you think about the stressor. Soon after is the thought of payback, but you contain yourself when you think of the consequences. When you see that wrong go unanswered then comes the feeling of helplessness and that is when anger really makes itself at home.

As the anger lingers, it fills like a cup under a faucet until you do something about it and the act of relief washes the pain away. What if relief came from exercising or talking? What if it were taking a shot or a needle? Picking a fight or bullying somebody you never met?

Basic principle is that everything has a cause and effect. A stressor causes your anger and the effect disolves it. What must be accepted is that you’ll be turning to that effect for the rest of your life along with the consequences.

Starting with the destructive, suffice it to say it is road most common in dealing with anger. I say the most common because the anger takes a physical form and feeds off of others. Imagine you’re sitting at the pub on base after getting masted. The beer can’t shake the CO’s words from your head, nor do the shots return your confidence. From across the room you see a guy sitting alone.

You stumble into him to get a reaction and he disimisses without care, you think he’s weak. You begin to yell at thinking of your CO and feel the anger build. The Stranger raises his hands not wanting trouble, he fears you as you yank him from his chair. Control is returning to you once again.

You bring back your fist ready to unload on this random victim and next is the sound of a bottle shattering against you head. Blood runs down your cheek and your vision fades. The next morning you wake up in the base jail with a bandage covering half your face and asking yourself how you ended up there.

Now the constructive; starting over after your mast with that same loss of control and that same parasite growing, difference this time you go to the gym and tie on some gloves to unload on the bag. Not enough though, you keep thinking about the punishment coming. You return to your barracks where your shipmates offer a slice of pepperoni. Talking with your pals about the how and why, you realize that you may not like the idea of restriction but it’s not the end of your world.

Returning to your room, the last weight on your mind are those effected by your action that put you before the CO in the first place. Sitting at your desk staring a blank laptop screen, you open your email and type out your remorse, owning up to your mistakes and apologizing for them. The next morning you wake up in your rack and go to the head to shave. You feel a little more refreshed, calmer, and accepting. You can still look at yourself in the mirror with dignity and say, “I’m still a U.S. Navy Sailor.”

The approved 2012 Military Pay Chart for basic pay, effective January 1, 2012.
The 2013 Military Pay raise estimation based on ECI - Title 37, US Code.