Uncategorized
Navy Implements SGLI On-Line
From Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs
MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) – The Navy announced in NAVADMIN 085/17 that Servicemember’s Group Life Insurance (SGLI) will be available online for Sailors to verify, update and change their insurance coverage amount and beneficiaries starting April 6.
To view or change information, Sailors may access SOES through My Navy Portal at https://my.navy.mil, by choosing the milConnect tab and logging into milConnect system. Once logged into milConnect, Sailors select the “SOES” option under the “Benefits” tab and follow the prompts. Users may access milConnect with a Common Access Card (CAC), DFAS (myPay) account, or DS LOGON account.
“Moving from paper to electronic beneficiary forms will provide a faster, easier method for Sailors to make changes to their coverage and beneficiary information,” said Ann Stewart, Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel for Pay and Personnel.
Using SOES, service members may manage coverage amounts and name and update their beneficiaries. Members may also elect coverage for their dependent children and nonmilitary spouses under the Family SGLI program.
The paper form will still be accepted if a change to beneficiaries must be made and the Sailor has no access to internet, but it is recommended that the change be made online at the first available opportunity.
If a married service member declines coverage, elects other than the maximum amount of coverage, or designates beneficiaries other than the spouse or a child of the member, the spouse is automatically notified by an SOES generated notification.
“This change will help Sailors more effectively manage their insurance needs,” said Alan Gorski, acting deputy director, Navy Casualty Office. “We encourage all Sailors to login and make sure that their SGLI information is uptodate to prevent unexpected stress on their loved ones should something happen to them.”
SGLI is a program of low cost group life insurance for service members on active duty, ready reservists, members of the National Guard, members of the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Public Health Service, cadets and midshipmen of the four service academies and members of the Reserve Officer Training Corps. SGLI coverage is available in increments of $50,000 to a maximum of $400,000. SGLI premiums are currently $.065 per $1,000 of insurance, regardless of the member’s age.
For more information about SOES visit: www.dmdc.osd.mil/milconnect. For more news from Navy Personnel Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/npc/.
Navy Global Health Specialist Program
Here is a message from the Director, Office of Global Health Engagement (M96). Note that there are a number of documents at the end of the message:
It is with great pleasure that I announce the establishment of the Navy Global Health Specialist Program (GHSP) signed by VADM Faison on 17 February 2017. Over the years so many have supported these efforts and have been committed to making this very moment come to fruition, and for that I live eternally in the “Red”.
As you are aware, the Services man, train, and equip, and through the GHSP we will do just that. As a community, GHE doesn’t own planes, trains, boats or automobiles per se, but we have the most valuable asset of all, and that is you. We are ensuring we have the most highly trained personnel to man the most critical billets, engagements or missions wherever the need arises. As you may notice I say “we” in much of my writing because I am well aware that all of our triumphs are the result of a collective effort and are truly a shared experience, and this achievement is no different.
The Navy Medicine seeks to create a strong community, a collective, a family of likeminded professionals who are on the front lines of positive change, creating stability and security for the U.S. and our allies. To this end, we have established an Education & Training (E&T)/Professional Development section as a part of the GHSP. This section will support us in obtaining continuing education and professional development opportunities from both civilian and military organizations to ensure we remain on the cutting edge of geopolitical and economic issues that impact our mission and the work we do. This section will also support personnel who wish to join the community, as well as those who wish to develop and advance their skills (see March GHE Professional Development Update).
I understand GHE is not for everyone, but to those few who see challenges as an adventure and a way of life, who understand diplomacy isn’t just a 9-5 job, that what you say and how you say it can determine our success or failure and that the world’s toughest environments may be the gateway to peace and stability, I say apply, welcome aboard and let the journey begin.
The official GHS AQD and Program application will be released on 15 April 2017, and we are accepting applications in phases (see phases below). All applicants who meet the requirements will be awarded the GHS AQD and stratified into GHS Associate or Professional eligible.
We will be hosting four 30 min information calls in April and again in May to provide guidance and answer questions for the application process. If you wish to participate in one of these calls, please email us at usn.ncr.bumedfchva.mbx.ghe-office@mail.mil and we will placed you on the GHE Community distribution email list to provide you call in details. When you email, please place in the subject line, “GHE Distro List” and in the body of the email provide your name, rank, corp, current command, position, phone contact, and an alternative email (optional).
I am truly excited to be a part of the world’s greatest Navy, and I ask each of you to stay with us and as always, stay ENGAGED!
Phase 1: 1 – 31 May for past and current members on the GHEO billet files, Fleet, and MARFORS.
Phase 2: 1 - 30 June for officers currently posted in the research, public health, Hospital Ships, and COCOM communities
Phase 3: 15 July and onward are general acceptances
Carlos D. Williams, MD, MPH, MBA
(https://www.milsuite.mil/book/groups/navyglobalhealthengagement)
GHE Community Core Competencies Info Sheet
GHE Professional Development Update March 2017
How to Resign Worry Free
Recently Navy Personnel Command (PERS) has started enforcing some policies that had largely been ignored, and I’ve heard a few horror stories from people trying to resign from the Navy. With that in mind, here is how you can resign without encountering problems. Assuming that you’ve already decided to resign, here are the steps you need to take to make sure the ride is not a bumpy one.
STEP 1 – Confirm Your Obligated Service Date
There’s nothing like thinking you are eligible to get out only to find out that you are not. Your Detailer is your POC to figure out when you are eligible to resign.
STEP 2 – Negotiate Your Date of Resignation and Terminal Leave With Your Command
When you submit a resignation request to PERS, you specify the month you want to resign. The specific date and how much leave you get is between you and your command, not PERS. You need to approach your chain of command about the specific date you want to resign and how much leave they’ll give you.
STEP 3 – Submit Your Paperwork 9-12 Months Ahead of Your Desired Month of Resignation
This has always been the required timeline, but last minute requests were accommodated. Not anymore! PERS has recently reminded people of this timeline and widely advertised that any requests received less than 6 months before the desired resignation date will be returned to the officer and not processed. Because of this, you need to make your decision and then stick to the 9-12 month timeline. In addition, if you get within 6 months of your projected rotation date (PRD) and have not notified your Detailer of your intention to resign, he/she can write you orders whether you want to stay in or not! Don’t tempt the Detailer.
If you are deploying and you’ll be gone during this timeframe, you need to get the paperwork ready before you leave. You can’t submit a request more than 12 months early, but you can certainly have it ready to go so that you submit it when you hit the 9-12 month window.
STEP 4 – Track the Progress of Your Request Weekly
The Navy is filled with officers who did not track the progress of their request and paid the price. Because your request has to go to PERS with the endorsement of your CO, it needs to go various places at your command before it is submitted. Realize that each stop in the chain of command is a potential place for it to get lost.
STEP 5 – Make Sure Your Request is Submitted to PERS
Most officers will have a personnel department of some kind that will submit their request for them, but just in case you don’t, here are the official instructions for how to submit the request from the PERS resignation website:
“Resignation requests can be mailed to PERS-834F to the address listed below, by fax, or sent in PDF format by email to PERS-834F@navy.mil. Email submissions are highly recommended and preferred. All requests must be submitted 9-12 months prior to the desired separation date.”
Address/Fax (Please adhere to PII requirements when sending documentation):
COMMANDER
NAVY PERSONNEL COMMAND
PERS-834F
5720 INTEGRITY DRIVE
MILLINGTON TN 38055-8340
PERS-834F fax number: (901) 874-2625
STEP 6 – Make Sure Your Request was Received by PERS
Again, from the PERS website:
“After sending your resignation request to PERS-834F, you and your current Command will receive confirmation via message traffic and BOL that your request has been received for processing. If you do not receive confirmation within 2 WEEKS after your Command has forwarded your request to PERS-834F, please call NPC’s customer service call center, 1-866-827-5672 for routing to PERS-834F.”
STEP 7 – Check to Make Sure There are No Issues Every Few Months
This will probably make the Detailers cringe, but oh well. It is their job to serve as your advocate, and I think you should touch base with them every two months or so until you have released resignation orders in your hand.
That’s it! If you’re looking for templates for your request, you can find them here.
OIC of Medical Readiness Division for Commander, Naval Surface Forces Pacific – O5/O6
The POC if you are interested in this position is your Specialty Leader or Detailer.
ANTICIPATED FILL: Summer 2017
POSITION TITLE: Officer in Charge (OIC)
INTRODUCTION: The position is graded at the O-6 (Captain) level but is an ideal position for an 0-5 (Commander) desiring to demonstrate leadership abilities worthy of promotion to the 0-6 level. Individuals who fill this position have documented requisite training and experience and have successfully been screened and selected by the Force Surgeon, Naval Surface Forces Pacific. Incumbents are normally assigned for a three (3) year period.
CRITERIA FOR THE POSITION:
- Medical Corps Officer with prior shipboard experience as a Senior Medical Officer (SMO) on an amphibious ship preferably LHD/LHA.
- Surface Warfare Medical Department Officer (SWMDO) qualified
- Minimum rank required 0-5
KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED BY THE POSITION:
- Leadership and management experience in history of assignments that demonstrates readiness for this position.
- Working knowledge of Surface Forces organizational structure, functions, and inter-relations.
- Experienced and knowledgeable on matters of shipboard administration and management of ship medical departments.
- Experience with the Medical Readiness Inspection process and management of equipment and material readiness.
- Familiarity with Navy Medicine’s medical privileging and quality assurance programs.
- Working knowledge of the Independent Duty Corpsman (IDC) program.
- Proven communication (written and verbal) and team-building skills.
- Ability to promote morale and teamwork.
- General knowledge of military and civilian personnel management procedures.
SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:
- The incumbent’s immediate Reporting Senior is the Force Surgeon, Commander Naval Surface Forces Pacific.
- The incumbent exercises complete and independent administrative and managerial control over assigned military and civilian employees assigned to MRD. (NOTE: Performance is evaluated in terms of objectives, methods, and results in meeting organization mission/goals).
- Incumbent is guided in the performance of duties by pertinent laws and regulatory requirements, higher echelon, and local command instructions, guidance and policy statements.
SCOPE AND EFFECT: The activities of this position include evaluation personnel quantity, quality, and assignment priorities in support of health care activities and support services; maintaining facility, personnel, and material readiness; formulation and execution of manpower requirements and budgetary plans; execution of high echelon directives, and development / execution of local directives in support of the organization’s mission; stimulates and coordinates performance improvement activities. Decisions directly impact all staff (military and civilian) personnel assigned.
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Leads MRD San Diego in ensuring over 66 ships and units maintain the highest state of medical readiness and that they adhere to prescribed medical standards.
- Oversees the Medical Readiness Inspection (MRI) program for the assigned afloat Medical Departments and units.
- Ensures Medical Departments are materially ready to deploy and notifies Force Surgeon of any equipment discrepancies.
- Provides support, advice and mentorship to 6 junior Medical Officers in their oversight of 66 shipboard IDCs ensuring compliance with Surface Forces policies and procedures.
- Ensures medical privileging and quality assurance programs are adhered to for assigned medical personnel.
- Provides oversight to the 9 Senior Medical Inspector IDCs (SMIs) assigned to MRD; monitors compliance with the IDC program requirements.
- Ensures IDC SMIs complete monthly quality assurance visits to their assigned ships consistent with guiding instructions.
- Assists Force Surgeon in updating instructions as requested. (i) Formulates and submits annual budget for MRD to the Force Surgeon
- Other duties as assigned by the Force Surgeon
Guest Post – Got JPME?
[Editor’s Note: The POC for anyone interested in War College is the Detailer. A cheat sheet of all the Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) options can be found here. If you’re interested in submitting a guest post, contact me here.]
By CDR Lanny Littlejohn, MC, USN (Lanny.Littlejohn < at > usnwc.edu)
I rolled out of bed at 0700 this morning to finish my paper on corruption in the Ukraine. Ukraine is currently the most corrupt country in all of Europe; its corruption destabilizes it to the point that it is subject to influence from its eastern neighbor, Russia. Russia is currently in a “hybrid” war with Ukraine, a new type of warfare that Russia has been perfecting for the past decade. The Chinese are perfecting a different type called “unrestricted” warfare. Then there is ISIS. Two months ago, I had very little insight into these issues. After finishing the paper, I went to class at the Blue Plate Diner in Newport wearing jeans, flops, and sweatshirt since it is cooling off a bit up here in RI. I have not put a uniform in quite some time. This week we have “seminar” for three hours each morning (M-Th), with the afternoons, and all of Friday, off to work on assignments. While not a walk in the park, it is different enough from medicine to serve as a well deserved breather I have enjoyed so far. You should strongly consider getting your Joint Profession Military Education (JPME) on.
Programs and Prerequisites
There are two primary programs of study at the Naval War College (NWC): the junior (JPME-1) and the senior program (JPME-2). The junior program (JPME-1) is completed as a resident or nonresident. Nonresident options include the fleet seminar program, NWC online program, and from war colleges of other services. I received my JPME-1 via the NWC online program several years ago. There is also a rare opportunity for officers at the 12-15 year mark to attend JPME-1 as a resident here [limited to O4 and below]. However, medical officers will likely need to obtain JPME-1 as a nonresident.
The senior program is via the College of Naval Warfare (CNW). Officers selected have typically completed JPME-1 and apply through their detailer at the 15-20 year mark (O5 or O6). Completion of this residency program grants a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies. Accreditation is via the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
For both JPME-1 and JPME-2, there are three courses: Joint Military Operations (JMO), National Security Decision Making (NSDM), and Strategy and Policy (S&P). The main difference between the two programs is that the junior course focuses on the Tactical/Operational level and the senior course on the higher Strategic level. As a resident at the NWC, you are also required to take an elective each trimester. I just finished the Political Warfare elective – super cool.
Additional Qualifier Designations (AQDs) are awarded for JPME-1 and JPME-2. Many elective pathways also result in an AQD. So that’s three AQDs you can receive if you are an AQD collector – I know you’re out there. [And promotion boards know that these AQDs are difficult to get, unlike some of the others.]
The Environment
NWC is academia at its best. Students wear business casual so that neither service nor rank are distinguished. All services are in attendance including the Coast Guard. You will find that there are several interagency (State Department, Justice Department, CIA, etc.) students and many international students as well. There may be one lecture per week with the entire student body, but most classes are in a seminar (12 students, two instructors). My seminar includes students from Greece, Lebanon, and Singapore along with two “agency” students and six other service students. Teaching is Socratic (You know, that method you thought you would be using before receiving the letter of rejection from Harvard). Exams are essay – not multiple choice. You do not have to publish, but many of the best papers are submitted for publication. This should definitely help your Google H-index.
Follow on Assignments
Medical officers who complete JPME-2 are highly valued at the higher levels in operational medicine. This may be as a joint force command surgeon, fleet surgeon, a Pentagon tour, or in any of the various naval service operational commands. This follow-on assignment is not a requirement, however. Your Detailer and Specialty Leader will ultimately work with you on what your next assignment will be. Some have returned to the MTF after NWC only to go operational on the very next tour. Commitment after obtaining JPME-2 is two years, served concurrently with any existing obligations.
Benefits
There are several beneficiaries of a tour at the NWC. First, you and your family. Newport and surrounding vicinity is a great place to live with good schools and lots of history and activities. If you have been in the MTF for multiple tours, you may need a break so a brief sabbatical here can help recharge the batteries. You will still work hard (tons of reading and paper writing) but time structure is on your terms. Second, your specialty and our Navy. Every specialty in Navy Medicine (with rare exceptions) has elements that operationalize to support the mission of the Navy. To have the 30,000-foot strategic view of how your part comes into play is a great benefit to your specialty and service. Third, the nation needs thinkers and leaders. We all have the feeling that something has gone sideways in the last few decades. We need strong leaders who have the integrity to make the tough calls and argue for the right decisions on the national level. After you leave the naval service, this education and degree will go with you and will likely have great utility no matter how your large your future circle of influence may be.
Medical Director and Chief of Clinical Operations Position at the Defense Health Agency
Description: See this position description
Homeport: National Capital Region
Rank: O6 preferred, but will consider all ranks
Fill date: Summer 2017
Application Due Date: 1st come, 1st serve
POC for CV/BIO: Detailer
Households Goods Move Timelines Compressed Due to FY17 Continuing Resolution
From Naval Supply Systems Command Global Logistics Support Office of Corporate Communications
SAN DIEGO (NNS) — The Navy Household Goods (HHG) global team announced Feb. 8 Sailors should expect a compressed timeline for planning and scheduling military moves through the end of the Continuing Resolution (CR) for fiscal year 2017.
As a result, once Sailors are in receipt of orders from their detailers, they should submit those orders to the HHG website within 72 hours to initiate the HHG shipment process. The website for submitting orders is www.navsup.navy.mil/household.
The consequence of the CR is service members will receive their orders only approximately two months prior to their expected move timeframe. Due to the way resources are phased and allocated under a CR, the Navy currently does not have sufficient funds in its manpower accounts to allow for the normal three to four month lead times for Sailors’ PCS orders.
Besides the time constraints, the impact of the CR will be exasperated by the usual annual peak season challenge of private-sector capacity limitations across the industry; shipping, packing, and transportation.
“We are operating under a compressed timeline due to the current CR, and our personnel working at Navy Household Goods are doing everything in their power to facilitate PCS moves once Sailors provide their official orders online,” said Rear Adm. James McNeal, commander, Naval Supply Systems Command Global Logistics Support.
Navy HHG is providing scheduled, live webinars in an effort to help educate Sailors and their families on the HHG moving process. The schedule for the webinars is available on the www.navsup.navy.mil/household website.
“We are making extra effort to ensure our Sailors and their families are taken care of during the PCS move process; however, I cannot stress how critical it is that the service member follow the guideline to submit their official orders to our website online as soon as possible once in receipt,” said Deborah McGlennon, HHG program manager.
“PCS moves are always a team effort between the Sailor, the family members, and the Navy HHG team, but they begin with that first action — submitting the official orders online,” said McGlennon. “That must be initiated by the Sailor.”
FY18 Medical Corps Promotion Opportunity 80%
Here are the just released FY18 Staff Corps promotion board members and convening order, which states that the promotion opportunity is 80%. Below is the section of my Promo Prep document that explains how promotion board math works, because this does not mean you have an 80% chance of promoting. That said, it is the highest its been in a long time:
WHAT ARE MY CHANCES OF PROMOTING?
See the tables below for the actual promotion statistics.
| FY13 | FY14 | FY15 | FY16 | FY17 | FY18 | |
| LCDR | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | |
| CDR | 80% | 80% | 70% | 70% | 65% | |
| CAPT | 60% | 60% | 60% | 50% | 70% | 80% |
Promotion opportunity. This percentage is multiplied by the zone size to give the number of officers to be selected for promotion. For example, if the promotion opportunity is 60% and there are 100 officers in-zone, then 60 will be selected for promotion. This 60, however, may come from officers who are below-zone, in-zone, or above-zone. For example, maybe 50 of the 60 are in-zone, and 10 are above-zone. That is why the percentage of people in-zone who are selected for promotion is always lower than the promotion opportunity. See below…
| FY13 | FY14 | FY15 | FY16 | FY17 | FY18 | |
| LCDR | 97% | 89% | 90% | 93% | 88% | |
| CDR | 58% | 66% | 49% | 53% | 44% | |
| CAPT | 55% | 43% | 47% | 39% | 34% |
Actual percentage of in-zone candidates selected for promotion.
Reimbursement for Board Certification Exams & Maintenance of Certification
This is a process that physicians mess up all the time, leading to much frustration. Here are the key points to note from the explanation below:
- You must submit the request 6 weeks before you need to leave for the exam.
- You must have 1 year of active duty service left following the exam date.
- You must request the travel ahead of time. You can’t do it after the fact.
- You have to request the reimbursement request in the same fiscal year as the test.
This is straight from the Medical Corps Funding website, which is where you should go for the most up-to-date information on this topic:
In accordance with BUMEDINST 1500.20, Navy Medicine Professional Development Center may provide funding to Medical Corps Officers for certification examinations, recertification examinations, maintenance of certification (MOC) examinations and MOC fees. Only funding requests for Medical Specialty Board Examinations approved by American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) are authorized to be considered for funding.
Funding requests must be submitted to the funding group email address usn.bethesda.navmedprodevctrmd.list.nmpdc-cme-funding@mail.mil at least six weeks prior to the member’s travel or examination. Members requesting certification funding must have at least one year of active duty service following their examination date. Examinations must be taken at the closest available testing center.
Travel must be requested in advance; it cannot be funded after the fact. Only MOC fees paid during the current fiscal year will be considered for reimbursement.
To create your funding request, view the document MC Board Funding Request Checklist. Use the other documents, as required by the checklist, to complete your request:
Obligated Service Date Statement
Sample Endorsement for MC Board Certification
Sample Request for MC Board Certification
Should you need it, detailed information regarding the funding process can be found in the last document titled MC Funding Guidance.
FY17 Senior Executive Medicine Slate Released
Congrats to all the officers who were slated to these senior leadership positions:
Joel Schofer's Career Planning Blog 