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The New Medical Corps Career Progression Slide – What Does It Mean to You?
Navy Medicine has been undergoing a lot of change. We have a new Surgeon General, a new Corps Chief, and a renewed focus on readiness. With these changes come a new career progression and path for the Medical Corps (MC) Officer (PDF version, PPT version). Let’s take a look at the new model and discuss some of the ways it will impact you as your career progresses. We’ll start at the top of the slide and work our way down, translating it into action items for every MC Officer.
Intent and Expectations
What should a MC Officer note in this section? To be competitive for promotion, you need to have been operational AND clinical. The days of camping at Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) are over. Everyone needs to be operationally relevant, and this is consistent with the most recent changes in the O6 promotion board convening order. It can be with the Surface Force, Fleet Marine Force (FMF), Undersea, Air, Special Operations, Joint environment, Expeditionary Combat Command, or any other operational setting you find yourself in. It doesn’t matter how or in what setting, but everyone needs to be operationally relevant.
Action #1 – Deliberately develop your operational relevance.
Recommended Medical and Professional Development Path
Very simply, this spells out your educational pathway. Completing residency and becoming board certified is not a new concept or path for the MC Officer. What is new, though, is the expectation that everyone will serve in an operational setting by the time they are up for promotion to O5 and in a more senior operational role before they are up for O6. The concept of everyone becoming an Operational Medical Officer (OMO) is explained in detail at the bottom of the slide.
In addition to serving as an OMO, the expectation is that those who want to serve in more senior roles will complete Joint Professional Military Education Levels I and II (JPME I/II) and obtain formal management or leadership training, such as a Master’s in Business Administration or similar degree.
Action #2 – Start JPME I now if you haven’t already, and develop a strategy and timeline with your mentors to obtain more senior education.
High Reliability Organization Training
The new SG is a huge proponent of high reliability, and Navy Medicine is constantly striving to adopt the principles of a High Reliability Organization (HRO). Many of the classes mentioned on the career path slide are undergoing modifications and updates to incorporate high reliability education.
Action #3 – Attend or complete the listed HRO courses.
Example Assignments
The example assignments are divided into Fleet and Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command/Unit (NMRTC/U) positions. They are also stratified according to the typical ranks at which they would occur. These are general guidelines and variability will certainly occur, so be flexible. For example, we know that it takes a minimum of seven years to become a Neurosurgeon, so their path will vary. Other specialties that require longer training are in a similar situation. As a result of this, we are going to ask each Specialty Leader to take this generic career path and modify it for their own specialty.
Another takeaway from this portion of the slide is to alternate between operational assignments and NMRTC/U assignments where you are serving primarily in a clinical role, likely at an MTF. Time at the MTF will allow you to solidify your individual clinical skills and contribute to our Graduate Medical Education mission. After that tour, return to the operational setting in a more senior role. Rinse and repeat this pattern as your career progresses.
Action #4 – Print the career path slide and get a red and black pen. In black circle the jobs, roles, and courses you’ve already done. In red circle ones you’d like to do. When it is time for your next set of orders, jump from realm where you currently are (Fleet or NMRTC/U) to the other and aim for one of the positions to the right that you circled in red.
An Example – My Career Path
Just to visualize the way we are encouraging you to use the career path slide, let’s take a look at My Career Path. I circled the things I’ve done in black, and the things I’d like to do in red.
As a 19 year O6, I have a lot of black ink, but there are some red circles to the right indicating the things I’d like to do. As the Deputy Corps Chief, I am currently in a senior headquarters role toward the right end of the Fleet portion. Most likely, my next career move will be to obtain JPME II or enter Executive Medicine as an Executive Officer (XO) because completing an XO and Commanding Officer (CO) tour is mandatory before I can compete for the more senior leadership roles. Use a similar analysis of where you’ve been (black ink) and where you want to go (red ink) to come up with options for your next career move.
Summary
The new MC career path should serve as the basic framework around which you structure your career. A quick summary of the actions you should take include:
- Deliberately develop your operational relevance.
- Start JPME I now if you haven’t already, and develop a strategy and timeline with your mentors to obtain more senior education.
- Attend or complete the listed HRO courses.
- Circle the jobs, roles, and courses you’ve already done in black. Circle ones you’d like to do in red. When it is time for your next set of orders, jump from the realm where you currently are (Fleet or NMRTC/U) to the other and aim for one of the positions to the right that you circled in red.
Military Times – The Military’s Travel Ban is Getting an Extension, SECDEF Confirms
Here’s a link to the article, which doesn’t confirm the length of the extension, simply that an announcement is coming later this week:
The Military’s Travel Ban is Getting an Extension, SECDEF Confirms
Bioethical and Legal Considerations Webinar Changed to 23 APR
The Bioethical and Legal Considerations During the COVID-19 Pandemic for Health Care Providers Special Feature Webinar is rescheduled to 23 April 2020. The Special Feature Webinar will take place from 1400-1600 (ET) and is completely virtual allowing participants to earn up to 2.0 Continuing Education/Continuing Medical Education (CE/CME) credits from anywhere in the world! Please note that the Special Feature Webinar is open to Department of Defense (DoD) and Federal Partners only!
To register for the event, please visit the following link: https://www.dhaj7-cepo.com/content/bioethical-and-legal-considerations-during-covid-19-pandemic-health-care-providers-live-0
*Access Code:*485021
The live webinar will discuss bioethical principles, ethical frameworks, legal considerations, and highlight case studies/problem-based discussions for Military Health System (MHS) health care providers during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.
Guest Post – COVID-19 Impact on Life and Disability Insurance
First, we would like to thank every service person who reads this for their tireless work and dedication during this pandemic. It is because of people like you we have confidence that the United States will lead the world out of this current crisis.
The impact the virus has had on the insurance industry, which usually moves at a glacial pace has been astonishing and compassionate. Under normal circumstances, all life and disability policies have a 30- day grace period from when premiums are due to when they need to be paid. Currently, this has been extended by at least 60 days for a total of 90. The procedure to obtain the extension differs by company but is very easy and accessible. Please contact us should you need assistance with your company.
Regarding underwriting, the process by which insurance policies are approved, the benefit amounts available without a medical exam or lab work have been increased substantially for both disability and life insurance. For disability insurance you can now obtain as much as $6,000 per month of specialty specific disability insurance without an exam if you are under age 51. The situation is even better for life insurance, as you can now obtain up to $1M of level premium term life insurance without an exam and have the coverage in effect within a few days if you are under age 46 (unless you have medical issues). Premiums are extremely competitive. For a male age 35 a $400,000 policy with premiums guaranteed level for 20 years, the monthly premium is $20-$40 per month depending on your risk class. For comparison, SGLI is $24 per month for $400,000. Since most individuals with a family should maintain 7- 10 times their annual income in life insurance protection, SGLI is not adequate. Hopefully these changes will become permanent but as of now that is uncertain. Please contact us for any assistance:
- Andy G Borgia CLU
- D.K. Unger
- DI4MDS
- 888-934-4637
- www.di4mds.com
Navy Medicine COVID-19 Reference Library
Here is a PDF files that explains how to access all the COVID-19 references:
Summary of COVID-19 ALNAV and NAVADMIN Messages
Here’s a document that summarizes and provides links to all the COVID-19 ALNAV and NAVADMIN messages that BUMED sent out:
Navy Publishes COVID-19 Mitigation and Prevention Frameworks
WASHINGTON (NNS) — The Navy has published its COVID-19 Mitigation and Prevention Frameworks.
These frameworks are applicable to deployable units and key enabling commands, allowing Fleet, Type, or Operational commanders to refine (expand or contract) this guidance based on the most recent lessons learned, local conditions, and operational requirements.
The Navy strives to be a learning organization, and will continue to update these Frameworks as the Fleet learns and shares how to best battle COVID-19, both ashore and at sea.
For more information and resources go COVID-19 U.S. Navy Response.
Expanded Opportunity for Retire/Retain for Officers with Pending Statutory Retirement
Anyone with an upcoming statutory retirement that would be interested in staying on active-duty should read the NAVADMIN below. Statutory retirements include retirements required by law for age, years of commissioned service, years of active service, or pursuant to twice failure of selection to the next higher grade.
This is not for people who are voluntarily retiring or separating and want to stick around for an extra 6-12 months, perhaps because you can’t travel to interview, you are not sure of the civilian job market, or you just want to continue to serve. That one can be read at this link.
NAVADMIN 105/20
PASS TO OFFICE CODES:
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
MSGID/NAVADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/APR//
SUBJ/EXPANDED OPPORTUNITY FOR RETENTION ON ACTIVE-DUTY IN A RETIRED STATUS
FOR ACTIVE-DUTY OFFICERS WITH PENDING STATUTORY RETIREMENTS//
REF/A/NAVADMIN/OPNAV/212007ZMAR20//
REF/B/NAVADMIN/OPNAV/261427ZMAR20//
REF/C/DOC/BUPERS/23APR12//
NARR/REF A IS NAVADMIN 080/20, NAVY MITIGATION MEASURES IN RESPONSE TO
CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK UPDATE 3. REF B IS NAVADMIN 089/20, VOLUNTARY
EXTENSIONS FOR ACTIVE COMPONENT NAVY MEMBERS WITH APPROVED SEPARATION OR
RETIREMENT DATES. REF C IS MILPERSMAN 1811-010, RETENTION ON OR RECALL TO
ACTIVE-DUTY IN A RETIRED STATUS.//
RMKS/1. This NAVADMIN expands the deliberate path of the Navy to mitigate
the effects of COVID-19 as announced by references (a) and (b). Due to the
uncertainty regarding the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to
maintain operational, Sailor and family readiness, this NAVADMIN will help
provide additional stability to both the Navy and our families.
2. The Navy is accepting applications from active-duty and full- time
support (FTS) officers in the rank of captain or below with a statutory
retirement date between now and 1 December 2020 who desire to be retained on
active-duty in a retired status (often referred to as retire/retain).
Statutory retirements include retirements required by law for age, years of
commissioned service, years of active service, or pursuant to twice failure
of selection to the next higher grade. The period of retention, if granted,
would extend through 31 December 2020, or earlier if requested, and is only
applicable to retention at the current command of the officer.
Officers granted retire/retain are not eligible for permanent change of
station (PCS) orders.
3. Reference (c) provides many details regarding retire/retain.
However, the limit on the authorized number of retired officers retained in
an active status and the submission time requirements for a retire/retain
request are relaxed. Requests submitted per this NAVADMIN must be received
prior to the retirement date of the officer to enable review and adjudication
of the request before retirement, but not later than 1 July 2020.
Interested, eligible officers are encouraged to submit applications as soon
as practicable.
4. Requests for retention in a retired status are submitted by the officer
via their commanding officer to Navy Personnel Command, Officer Retirements
Branch (PERS-835) by e-mail to pers_835_retirements(at)navy.mil. The
retire/retain request shall include the following information:
a. Retirement date of the officer and a request for a retention duration
ending on 31 December 2020, or earlier if desired.
b. Justification and reason for request (cite this NAVADMIN).
c. E-mail address and phone number of the officer.
5. Requests will not be approved for officers who have approved retirement
as a result of:
a. Disability,
b. Selection for early retirement by a selective early retirement board
(SERB), or
c. Secretary of the Navy direction for misconduct.
6. Notification of approval or disapproval will be provided to officers via
their chain of command.
7. Questions regarding retire/retain should be referred to PERS-835 at
pers_835_retirements(at)navy.mil.
8. Released by Vice Admiral John B. Nowell, Jr, N1.//
3rd Marine Logistics Group Supports USS Theodore Roosevelt
NAVAL BASE GUAM (NNS) — A team of medical professionals assigned to 3rd Medical Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force deployed to Guam in order to augment the COVID-19 response efforts by USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71).
Approximately 230 Sailors and Marines arrived in Guam throughout the first weeks of April and are supporting Theodore Roosevelt’s onboard medical staff in assessing, managing and treating the symptoms of COVID-19 cases while the ship is in port.
“As a Maritime Force, we need to work together as a Navy and Marine Corps team to stop the spread of COVID-19 in order to remain a ready force in the region,” said U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Keith D. Reventlow, 3rd Marine Logistics Group Commanding General. “Soon after receiving the request for support, we rapidly deployed a team of highly skilled medical professionals to augment Theodore Roosevelt’s existing capabilities with manpower and resources to effectively assist with COVID-19 cases. Our combined efforts to combat the virus and protect the health of our force will allow us to continue our mission in Indo-Pacific theater.”
The team adds to the professional medical care already available aboard Theodore Roosevelt, including more than 70 embarked officers and corpsmen and a team from the Biological Defense Research Directorate, Fort Detrick, Maryland, which has been on board Theodore Roosevelt conducting early-warning surveillance testing for Sailors who present with influenza-like symptoms.
The 3rd Medical Battalion, based in Okinawa, Japan, maintains a deployable force ready to intervene to support natural disasters, humanitarian assistance and various other missions. After receiving official notice of the mission to support Theodore Roosevelt, the joint Navy and Marine Corps team was ready to deploy within 48 hours.
“The rapid response by the 3rd MLG was incredible,” said Rear Adm. Stu Baker, commander, Carrier Strike Group Nine. “Their footprint ashore will ensure our Sailors off ship are well cared for.”
Although Theodore Roosevelt recently conducted joint exercises with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, this deployment marks the first time the ship and the 3rd Marine Logistics Group have worked together in recent years.
The medical team, which is based at Naval Base Guam, will comply with all quarantine requirements set forth by Governor Leon Guerrero and will only be travelling to conduct critical official business on military installations.
Theodore Roosevelt is currently on a scheduled deployment to the Indo-Pacific and pulled in to Guam on March 27.
Navy Rolls Out Officer Promotion Dashboard on MyNavy Portal
Arlington, Va. (NNS) — The newest features of MyNavy Portal (MNP) allow officers to better manage their promotion and lets all Sailors better communicate with MyNavy Career Center through a new chat feature, released Apr. 4.
The Officer Promotion Dashboard provides helpful links and checklists to navigate the selection board process for both active and Reserve officers. The dashboard can be found under the Advancement & Promotion Career and Life Events section of MNP and is organized to provide officers support during the pre-and-post promotion process.
“The checklists will walk officers through the process prior to the board meeting and after the results are released,” said Jeff Bowell, principal assistant program manager for the Sea Warrior Program (PMW 240) who led the development of this new MyNavy Portal capability. “We have specific checklists for officers who are selected for promotion and for those officers who were not selected.”
Bowell said preparation is key when presenting before a selection board and sometimes critical information may be missing from an officer’s record. By following the checklists, officers can ensure they are presenting an accurate and complete record to board members.
In addition to the checklists, the Officer Dashboard provides a connection to BUPERS Online (BOL) to submit a letter to the board or an official photograph. Officers will also have the ability to view their Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) data and their lineal/precedence number. The selection board results will also be available through the Officer Dashboard.
Sailors will also find two new features to help them better interact with MyNavy Career Center. The first one is an updated chat feature. A green chat icon now appears at the bottom of each page that connects Sailors directly to customer service representatives at MNCC. This chat feature allows Sailors to get help with HR-related questions that don’t require sharing personal information, such as date of birth or Social Security Number. It is available 24/7/365. The second function allows Sailors to track and monitor the trouble tickets they have submitted to MNCC.
“We’re committed to improving the Sailor experience by enhancing and incorporating a more robust interaction on MyNavy Portal so Sailors can efficiently manage their career from this one location,” said Bowell. “These latest updates continue us on the path of making MyNavy Portal the single point of entry for Sailors to manage all their human resource needs.”
The Sea Warrior Program (PMW 240) is the provider of choice for MyNavy HR IT solutions. The program office works directly with MyNavy HR to strengthen our Navy Team through IT and business solutions for Navy human resource management and personnel readiness.
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