Finance Friday Articles
- 15 Tips for How to Be Rich
- Do I Need to Spread My Assets Between Different Brokerages?
- Historical U.S. Stock Market Returns Through 2023
- Hug the Center Lane
- Should Your Portfolio Be 100% U.S. Stocks?
- Sound money’s return: Not a risk shield but a long-term plus
- These States Passed New Military Income Tax Cuts in 2023
- Updating My Favorite Performance Chart For 2023
Congrats to RDML(s) Kevin Brown, MC, USN
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced today that the president has made the following nominations:
Navy Capt. Kevin J. Brown for appointment to the grade of rear admiral (lower half). Brown is currently serving as commander, Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
What is a “Don’t Pick Me” Promotion Board Letter? Why Would You Send One?
If you go to the Navy Active Duty Officer Promotions Page, you’ll find this at the bottom:
Sample “Don’t Pick Me” Letter to the Board
Removing the introductory portion, here is what the meat of this letter says:
- Per reference (a), please do not select me for promotion by the FY-[XX] [ActiveDuty Navy/Navy Reserve] [Grade] [Line/Staff Corps] [Competitive Category] Promotion Selection Board.
That’s it. All it says to the promotion board is, “Don’t pick me.”
Why would or should a physician send a letter requesting NOT to be considered by a promotion board? Here are a few reasons:
- You know that you are resigning/separating, not joining the Reserves, and will not be hanging around long enough to accept the promotion.
- You are an O4 or O5 who is retiring but you know that if selected for promotion you won’t accept it – Why would someone not accept a promotion? Because a promotion to O5 or O6 obligates you for 3 more years if you intend to retire. And the Navy still isn’t letting anyone get out early. If you want to get out as fast as possible with a 20 year retirement, taking a promotion to O6 in year 18 means you must stick around until year 21 at least.
So…if #1 or #2 above are applicable, consider sending a “Don’t Pick Me” letter. Make sure, though, that you are 100% POSITIVE that nothing in your situation will change. Lots of people who think they are going to get out, not join the Reserves, or want to retire right at 20 years later change their mind.
And remember, they are now due 10 days before a board convenes (not 24 hours like before).
A Message from the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
Colleagues,
Happy New Year! I hope that you all enjoyed the holiday season and got some much deserved rest and relaxation.
As we enter this new year, I will tell you that 2024 will be a pivotal year for our organization, as we build on the accomplishments of last year, particularly the completion of the MHS Strategy and the issuance of the MHS Stabilization Memo from the Deputy Secretary of Defense. These documents are closely related, as the goals of MHS stabilization are tied to the successful implementation of our strategy. We will be talking about these efforts regularly, asking for your help in achieving our objectives and communicating those achievements.
In this first month of the year, I’m asking you to familiarize yourself with the strategy https://health.mil/Reference-Center/Publications/2023/12/15/MHS_Strategic_Plan_FY24_29 and the Stabilization Memo. Strategic decisions about programs and resources should be made through the lens of the four strategic goals outlined in the strategy: Take Care of Our People, Stabilize the MHS, Modernize the MHS, and Integrate MHS Capabilities.
Implementation of the MHS Stabilization Memo is underway with a task force chaired by Dr. David Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Health Readiness Policy and Oversight. The task force’s first job is to jointly develop business rules for determination, resourcing, manning, and accessibility to medical forces to manage and balance risks.
I’ve spent the past ten months visiting our people across the country and around the world. I have listened to your concerns and am determined to keep listening, to deliver improvements, and to make sure you understand what the strategy and stabilization efforts mean to you and what you can do to move us forward. Stay tuned.
Very Respectfully,
Lester
Lester Martínez-López, M.D., M.P.H.
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
Joel Schofer's Career Planning Blog 