Author: Joel Schofer, MD, MBA, CPE
Updated Fitrep Prep and More Detail on Fitrep and Promo Board Changes from Recent NAVADMIN 137/20
Because of NAVADMIN 137/20 and the increased focus it put on education in fitness reports, I updated Joel Schofer’s Fitrep Prep. The new portion is on page 15 and spells out the new requirements for block 41, which are spelled out below in detail, but later in the NAVADMIN it says in brief:
(2) For Block 41 (Comments on Performance), document professional military education, off-duty education and other educational and learning achievements pursued during the reporting period.
It also says this about promotion boards:
We will also update selection board precept and convening order guidance to direct board membership to review and brief specific education and learning contributions found in the official service records of eligible personnel, and to consider these documented accomplishments across the career of an individual when deliberating the best and fully qualified selection criteria. Statutory and administrative selection board presidents will be held accountable for ensuring compliance with this guidance in respect to board processes.
You better make sure you do some of this stuff and put it in your block 41, which I think would include CME/continuing education, JPME, Master’s degrees, service schools, and just about any other education related to your position that you do.
Here’s the detailed/longer portion of the NAVADMIN about fitreps:
3. To support these goals, and in conjunction with MyNavyHR efforts to
integrate education effectively into Sailor 2025 talent management
initiatives, FITREPs will include specific comments regarding education,
learning and support for a learning culture.
This requirement will allow us to identify, select and reward those officers
who have demonstrated the commitment and ability to learn, as well as those
who encourage and support the learning of others, by placing them into
positions of influence at the tactical, operational and strategic levels.
a. Reporting Seniors must document:
(1) All personal achievements in education and learning that
contribute to a culture of continuous learning, improved knowledge and
warfighting effectiveness at both the individual and unit level.
Resources include:
(a) Resident and non-resident professional military education
coursework,
(b) Professional and academic qualifications and certifications,
(c) Civilian education coursework,
(d) A personal reading program that includes (but is not limited
to) selections from the Chief of Naval Operations Reading List,
(e) Participation in discussion groups and military societies,
(f) Publishing in national security or military journals, and
(g) Involvement in learning through new technologies.
For purposes of this NAVADMIN, military societies are organizations that
exist specifically to support education, training and professional
development of personnel in a given community. The definition of military
societies does not include associations intended to promote the morale or
general well-being of Service Members.
(2) Individual commitment to intellectual growth in ways beneficial
to the Navy, including rigorous self-assessment and efforts to improve:
(a) Leadership,
(b) Decision making,
(c) Creativity,
(d) Analytic ability,
(e) Commitment to ethics,
(f) Geopolitical awareness, and
(g) Understanding of emerging military technologies and complex
military operations.
(3) The effort of the individual to support the continuing education
of subordinates they command or supervise.
(4) The degree to which the officer continued to assess self, develop
professionally, improve current skills and knowledge and acquire new skills.
(5) The extent to which these achievements increase the breadth and
depth of warfighting and leadership aptitude.
SG’s Message – The Flame That Cannot Be Extinguished
Dear Esteemed Navy Medicine Colleagues,
More than a hundred years ago, Florence Nightingale offered us the following words of wisdom: “Nursing is an art, and if it is to be made an art, it requires an exclusive devotion, as hard a preparation, as any painter’s or sculptor’s work.” The devotion to the “art of nursing” is on full display for the world to see as Navy nurses continue to answer our Nation’s call and serve on the frontlines in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
As we recognize National Nurses Week and the Nurse Corps Birthday on 13 May, we celebrate the care and evidence-based practice and innovation these medical professionals bring every day to help our Sailors, Marines, and fellow Americans get well and stay healthy.
A critical component to improve the wellness and readiness of our force as we battle COVID-19 is to increase our arsenal of knowledge about the virus. In previous weeks, I discussed the dynamic efforts of the Navy Medical Research and Development (NMR&D) Enterprise in adapting to the challenges caused by this pandemic. In addition to operating within sea, air, land, space, cyberspace, and logistical frameworks, we must now fight against emerging pathogens and infectious diseases to protect America and our national security interests. To this end, our teams of scientists and researchers have been spearheading innovative countermeasures that will successfully supply us with vital data needed to operate in what Adm. James Foggo calls the “seventh domain” of warfighting – the biosphere.
Recognizing the importance of collecting medical data to help our country defend against COVID-19, Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC) recently initiated the first-ever comprehensive research study to examine the serologic, clinical, and epidemiological aspects of the virus among young, healthy populations. The aim is to support the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island’s medical mission to achieve maximum recruit health and meet graduation requirements and standards during the pandemic.
On May 4, NMRC commenced the COVID-19 Health Action Response for Marines (CHARM) study at Parris Island and the Citadel. All study findings will be provided in real-time, in an effort to inform operational leaders with actionable information to help protect our Force and preserve war-fighting capabilities and readiness. This study will help inform future decisions regarding isolation and quarantine, identify personnel infected with mild or no symptoms, and help determine when recruits can safely return to training. Additionally, we hope to grasp a better understanding of how our bodies fight the virus by obtaining blood, saliva, and nasal samples that we can use to develop or improve tests, vaccines, drugs, and other countermeasures.
The road ahead will not be without challenges, but with the expertise of our NMR&D scientists, our public health teams, and Navy medical professionals on duty around the world, we will come out of this stronger and more mission ready. Every day our scientists, nurses, corpsmen, doctors, and medical support staff actively continue to leverage the principles of rapid-cycle feedback to share lessons learned and inform future decision which help Navy and Marine Corps leaders mitigate the long-term impact of COVID-19. Through it all, the spirit and light of Florence Nightingale’s raised “little lamp” is kept alive and burning brightly because of the skill and dedication our One Navy Medicine Team brings to the fight every day.
With my continued respect and admiration, SG
V/R,
Bruce L. Gillingham, MD, CPE, AOA
RADM, MC, USN
Surgeon General, U.S. Navy
Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
Greater Emphasis on Education and Learning in FITREPs
Just one more reason to get JPME…
MILLINGTON, Tennessee (NNS) — The Navy’s recent deep dive into the value of higher education moved from idea to reality as the service will now require officer fitness reports to detail an individual’s educational and learning achievements as well as how these pursuits contributed to their unit’s mission effectiveness during a reporting period.
Announced in NAVADMIN 137/20 on May 7, this latest initiative shows Navy leadership’s commitment to the idea that career-long military learning isn’t only community or job-related technical or tactical training. Navy senior leadership wants this knowledge to be combined with higher education, a commitment to continuous learning, and the resulting critical thinking and analysis skills to build the Navy of the future.
This change is a logical next step in a path the Navy has been on for nearly two years, starting with the Education for Seapower Study which was published in December 2018.
“To deter and outfight potential opponents in a world defined by great power competition, our force of professionals is going to have to outthink them, and we can only do that through continual learning and education,” said the acting Secretary of the Navy James E. McPherson of the performance system changes.
“Our action today will ensure that our talent management system rewards officers who advance warfighting effectiveness through intellectual development and represents an important milestone as we implement our comprehensive Education for Seapower Strategy.”
According to the message, officer fitness reports must now detail what each individual in the service has done since their last report to further their education and support a culture of continuous learning. This will provide necessary information to Navy selection boards that will be directed to place an even greater emphasis on education and learning during their deliberations.
“The value that education and continuous learning brings to our Navy team is undisputed and directly supports our ability to deliver decisive naval power when called,” said Rear Adm. Jeff Hughes, deputy chief of naval personnel who oversees Navy selection boards at Navy Personnel Command. “It is imperative to document an individual’s commitment to intellectual growth in ways beneficial to the Navy, and the extent to which these achievements increase the breadth and depth of warfighting and leadership aptitude.”
The Navy updated its Navy Performance Evaluation System instruction – BUPERS Instruction 1610.10E to reflect these changes. It details where and when reporting seniors must document and assess each individual’s educational and learning achievements during a reporting period as they would things like their tactical performance or military bearing/character for example.
What will be considered includes formal education and learning such as resident and non-resident professional military education coursework, professional and academic qualifications and certifications, and civilian education courses.
Even more informal learning is encouraged, including personal reading programs that include, but are not limited to selections from the Chief of Naval Operation’s Reading List. Also, participation in discussion groups and military societies, writing in national security or military journals, as well as involvement in learning through new technologies will qualify.
This program is initially starting with the officer community based on their smaller numbers and existing educational opportunities and will be rolled out force wide once it is determined how to effectively measure the additional inputs. The continuing education of the entire force is extremely important. A full rollout will be done in a deliberate manner to ensure the Navy’s enlisted warfighters remain focused on their technical trades while balancing formal education and continuous learning. Ultimately, this program, and the continuing education it encourages is designed to ensure that the Navy is developing and deploying more capable and effective leaders and technical experts.
Exactly which trait grades and how seniors are to use the updated evaluation criteria are detailed in the message.
More information is available on these changes can be found in NAVADMIN 137/20 at http://www.npc.navy.mil.
To read about the importance of these changes directly from the Chief Learning Officer and Chief of Naval Personnel, please visit their co-authored blog titled “Education and Learning an Operational Imperative” at the NavyLive blog.
Finance Friday Articles
Here are my favorites this week:
Introducing Coverage Critic: Time to Kill the $80 Mobile Phone Bill Forever
The ‘Great Fall’ and the road to recovery
The Stock Market’s Behavior is Anybody’s Guess
Here are the rest of this week’s articles:
‘A Bargain With the Devil’—Bill Comes Due for Overextended Airbnb Hosts
A Budget With No Payments: The Dream Life
Bucket Strategies – Challenging Previous Research
Don’t Give Up On Your Small-Cap Value Strategy
Five Important Financial Goals for Physicians
How Affluent Parents Can Teach Their Kids About Money
How to spend your stimulus check
How Will the Crisis Impact Housing Prices?
Is Buying an Annuity in a Bear Market a Good Idea?
Is Buying an Annuity in a Zero Interest Rate Environment a Good Idea?
It’s Just Another Manic Market
Retire That Life Insurance Policy?
Sorry, Naysayers. Coronavirus Is NOT the End of the FIRE Movement—It’s Exactly What We Planned For!
The 1% Rule for Evaluating Rental Properties
The Importance of Finding Contentment Today
The White Coat Investor: It’s time to follow your plan
Want to Be Successful? Model Successful People (Here’s a Way)
CNO Message to the Fleet
WASHINGTON (NNS) — The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic brought an invisible enemy to our shores and changed the way we operate as a Navy. The fight against this virus is a tough one. But our Sailors are tougher, and each of you plays a critical role in defeating this virus.
We have embraced the challenge of COVID-19 and are learning, adapting, and improving by the day and by the hour. There is no better example of this than our actions and response on the USS Kidd (DDG 100).
As we continue to learn about this virus and how to mitigate its risk, the widespread public health measures you are actively, practicing–physical distancing, face coverings, minimizing group events, frequent hand-washing, sound sanitation practices, a questioning attitude on how we are feeling – -must be our new normal. We must harden our Navy by continuing to focus on the health and safety of our forces and our families. The health and safety of our Sailors and their families is, and must continue to be, our number one priority. Fleet operations depend on it.
As the forward deployed force of our country, we have a duty to ensure we are ready to respond. We cannot simply take a knee or keep everyone in port until this enemy is defeated. We are America’s away team. The uncertainty caused by COVID-19 makes our mission of protecting America at sea more important than ever. That is why the U.S. Navy continues to operate forward every day.
As state and local officials begin to re-open communities, we must continue to focus on the health and safety of our Sailors and their families. It is vitally important for every individual to take personal responsibility to minimize risk to themselves, to their loved ones, as well as to the members of our team who may be more susceptible.
Each Fleet, region and installation will be on a conditions-based timeline to open. OSD and Service guidance will be released to assist Commanders in making these decisions. When we entered this pandemic, we quickly closed down services to minimize interactions and the spread of the disease. We will need to take a measured approach to opening up these services to prevent a recurrence of the disease. I expect local commanders to understand area conditions and to communicate prudent expectations and guidance up and down the chain of command. I trust our Sailors to follow these guidelines.
Each of us must continue to practice and follow all public health measures necessary to minimize risk to our force and our families. Take responsibility. Show courage in speaking up if you see shipmates falling short. We have obligations for operational readiness and stringent requirements for health protection measures.
Continue to gather lessons learned at all levels, and prepare for another wave of COVID so that we can minimize the impact and be prepared, if that happens.
While I know we are asking a lot of our Sailors and families right now, with measures such as extended deployments and pre-underway Restriction of Movement (ROM) periods, these sacrifices are necessary to maintain a healthy force around the world. I appreciate your commitment to selfless service.
I know our Sailors’ ability to adapt and respond has been nothing short of amazing and I am grateful. Your resiliency gives us all hope and assurance during these uncertain times.
Throwback Thursday Classic Guest Post – Now is the Time to Develop Future FMF Leaders
Here is an article from Leatherneck Magazine by a former MEF Surgeon and the current Brigade Commander at USUHS, Dr. Sean Hussey:
Happy Nurses Week – Newest Nurse Corps Admiral is RDML(s) Cynthia Kuehner
The latest admiral is RDML(s) Cynthia Kuehner:
https://www.congress.gov/nomination/116th-congress/1767?s=1&r=49
In addition, here is a message about Nurse’s Week from the ASD(HA):
MHS Team:
Tomorrow marks the start of National Nurses Week. As we celebrate the long history of military and civilian nurses who have served our nation, we recognize the unique contributions nurses have made – and continue to make – to military medicine in both peacetime and wartime. This year, Nurses Week coincides with the 200th anniversary of nurse pioneer Florence Nightingale’s birth, further reminding us of the critical role nurses play in our national life.
To the dedicated nurses across the Military Health System: thank you.
Thank you for your service to the nation, working to keep our forces ready to answer the call, anywhere and anytime. Thank you for serving our 9.5 million beneficiaries – whether across our military hospitals and clinics, in our research laboratories, in our military medical classrooms, or in the office performing data analytics. Thank you for serving on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19, directly delivering on Secretary Esper’s priorities to protect our people, maintain readiness, and support the national response. Thank you for your enduring commitment to protect, promote, and improve military health care and readiness every day, building a stronger, more effective Military Health System for those depending on us.
To the MHS team: thank a nurse this week and recognize them for their efforts – big and small – that are so integral to caring for our patients and advancing our mission. Share their successes through photos, comments, or stories, on MHS social media platforms using the hashtags #NursesWeek, #YearoftheNurse, and #MHSNurses. And be sure to visit the Nurses Week spotlight page on Health.mil to learn more about how our nurses are going above and beyond the call of duty every day:
Tom
Thomas McCaffery
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
Aide de Camp for LTG Place (DHA) – O4
LTG Place is looking for a new Aide de Camp. This is open to an O-4 from any Corps; the PD is here. Candidates must be PCS eligible to Falls Church, Virginia and report NLT Jan 1, 2021. If Medical Corps, they should be post-residency training and preferably in an overmanned specialty. Packages should be submitted to CAPT Anthony Keller NLT 1 July 2020 (contact is in the global) and should include CV, Bio and OSR/PSR (single PDF file) along with PERS’ concurrence for the move.
OPERATION BUSHMASTER: Faculty Application Link
See the e-mail message below if you are interested in becoming faculty for OPERATION BUSHMASTER, the field exercise for USU students. I’ve done it before, and it is a great experience.
Good afternoon everyone,
- Iteration 1: 3-7 October 2020 (travel on 2 October)
- Iteration 2: 12-16 October 2020 (travel on 11 October)
- Applications must be submitted by 1 July 2020
- Notifications of acceptance will be sent by 15 July 2020
Joel Schofer's Career Planning Blog 