FY18 Senior Executive Medicine Slate
The FY18 Senior Executive Medicine Slate has been released. To see it, go to this website (but make sure you select your e-mail certificate when logging on):
https://es.med.navy.mil/bumed/m00/m00c/pages/executive-medicine.aspx
Are We Getting New FITREPs in 2018?
I’ve been hearing about new FITREPs for at least a year now, but very few hard details or timelines are available. Here is a Navy Times article about it:
New in 2018: All new evals and fitreps
The most telling sentence is, “Officials are still hammering out details, but the Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. Robert Burke told Navy Times that he wants a transition in place soon.”
2017 on MCCareer.org – A Review
Thanks to all of you who have made 2017 a successful year for MCCareer.org. Here is a recap of 2017:
- Total Website Views – 86,019 (up from 43,673 in 2016 and 10,870 in 2015)
- Total Visitors – 32,541 (up from 18,373 in 2016 and 3,705 in 2015)
- Posts Published – 185 (up from 133 in 2016 and 69 in 2015)
- Joel Schofer’s Promo Prep – 3,091 views (up from 2,100 views in 2016)
- Joel Schofer’s Fitrep Prep – 1,793 views (new in 2017)
- Total Income – Negative $99 (the cost of the site for the year, same as last year)
- Total Hours Spent On It – Hundreds! (same as last year)
Here are the top 10 posts/pages that weren’t the announcement of a promotion list (which are always very popular):
- Joel Schofer’s Promo Prep
- Useful Documents
- Joel Schofer’s Fitrep Prep
- LCDR Fitreps – Language for Writing Your Block 41
- Useful Links
- Personal Finance
- Consolidated Special Pays
- About Me (who knew I was so popular and interesting?)
- Career Consult & Record Review
- What are AQDs and How Do You Get Them?
Thanks for your support!
End-of-the-Month Personal Finance Articles Summary
Here are all the personal finance articles I’ve written in the last month for your reading pleasure:
2018 Maximum Conforming Loan Limits for VA Home Loans
A Bunch of Blended Retirement System Blog Posts
Blended Retirement System 2018 Continuation Pay Rates
DoD Releases 2018 Basic Allowance for Housing Rates
DoD Releases 2018 CONUS COLA Rates
Homes.mil – A DoD Website to Find or Advertise Rental Properties
The Investment Company Price War (a military specific version that discusses the TSP is here)
The Military’s New Blended Retirement System
Military Dollar’s Step-by-Step Instructions to Opt-In to the Blended Retirement System
Military Relevant Aspects of The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
NY Times – Military Is Overhauling Its Retirement Systems
The #1 Easiest Way to Get Rich in the Military – Take the Leap and Just Stay In
Special Pays Update from the Medical Corps Chief and Surgeon General
Here’s a message about the special pays from the Medical Corps Chief (RDML Pearigen) and the Navy Surgeon General (VADM Faison):
From: “Pearigen, Paul RDML USN NAVMED WEST SAN CA (US)”
Date: December 27, 2017 at 11:33:05 CST
Subject: FW: MEDICAL SPECIAL PAYS UPDATE
Medical Corps Specialty Leaders:
Through email, newsletter, and other mechanisms, the MC Chief staff and I have kept you up-to-date on the ongoing issues related to transition to Consolidated Special Pays and, in particular, the challenges and problems DFAS has encountered in executing this in a timely and accurate manner for those officers from medical and other communities eligible for these pays.
The staff of BUMED Director, Total Force, in particular, Mr. Marin and his team in Special Pays, have worked diligently to assist and prod DFAS in getting this right, as well as to support the officers in your community as this conversion proceeds.
I know this has been, at a minimum, an inconvenience for our active duty physicians–and for some a financial hardship based on their expectations with respect to timing and associated commitments they may have entered. They deserve better, and it is not enough for us to simply say it is DFAS’s responsibility and out of our control. BUMED and the MC Chief’s staff continue to work this aggressively, including name-by-name efforts at resolution; the current status has been detailed for you in recent communications from the MC office. Thank you all for your patience and assistance in getting through this very rocky special pays program transition year.
I am forwarding the below message from the Surgeon General, which I ask you to further forward to your specialty community.
Thanks, and with respect,
PDP
Paul D. Pearigen, MD, MMM, CPE, FAAEM
RDML, MC, USN
Commander, Navy Medicine West
Chief of the Navy Medical Corps (M00C1)
—————————————————————————————————–
Navy Medicine Team,
It has come to my attention that many of you have been directly impacted by the challenges DFAS Cleveland is having with processing special pays resulting in lengthy processing delays, errors in the rates DFAS is paying in addition to overpayment of Incentive Pay. In previous years, the individual Services were able to make these payments but they now must be processed by DFAS, resulting in delays of up to four months.
As background, Consolidated Special Pays were directed by the 2008 NDAA. As such, DoD was given 10 years to implement the change which ends in January 2018. However, ASD(HA) did not authorize the Services to convert until fiscal year 2017. I fully realize the financial impact this is having on you and your families. We are committed to doing everything possible both here at BUMED and working with DFAS to address this situation. I am personally
engaged on this and working this closely with our team. The BUMED Total Force team has been proactively working this issue on your behalf by engaging directly with Navy Manpower and DFAS Cleveland. Mr. Bill Marin, BUMED
Special Pays Program Manager, visited DFAS Cleveland in November to simplify the process and reduce the time it takes for DFAS to process and pay Medical Special Pays. In the meantime, DFAS also assigned additional personnel to focus on reducing the backlog. BUMED has and will continue to process all actions received.
Additionally, we are personally engaging the Director of DFAS who will continue to work this for you. Likewise, the BUMED team and I are committed to keeping you informed as updates become available on this issue. If you have
any immediate questions or concerns that need to be addressed, please contact the BUMED Navy Medical Special Pays Program at usn.ncr.bumedfchva.mbx.specialpays-bumed < at > mail.mil.
Very respectfully,
SG Sends
C. Forrest Faison III, M.D.
VADM MC USN
Surgeon General, U.S. Navy
Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
Physical Readiness Program Policy Changes
Those who like reading NAVADMINs (like me) can read it here. Those who don’t (the rest of you) can read a Navy Times article about the changes here. My quick summary of relevant bullet points for readers of this blog is:
- All commands will discontinue processing members for separation as a result of Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) failures.
- Officers with approved separation orders for PFA failure with a directed separation date prior to 1 March 2018 can request their separation orders be cancelled in order to remain in the Navy by contacting PERS-834, subject to Secretary of Navy (SECNAV) approval.
- MILPERSMAN 1910-170, Separation by Reason of PFA Failure, is cancelled.
- The following applies to all officers who:
- Fail one PFA will:
- Not be eligible for promotion. Commands are required to delay promotion and inform PERS-833. Members will regain eligibility for promotion by passing the next command-directed monthly FEP mock PFA.
- Be issued a Letter of Notification to inform them of the PFA failure.
- Be enrolled in the FEP until passing the next official PFA.
- Fail two or more consecutive PFAs will be submitted to PERS-834 for administrative separation processing under reference (e).
- If SECNAV determines the officer is to be separated (or retired), this action will occur at the PRD of the officer or upon the determination of SECNAV, whichever is later.
- If an officer passes an official PFA prior to the decision of SECNAV on retention or separation, processing will cease and the member will be retained upon notification to PERS-834. A special fitness Report may be submitted to document the officers satisfactory physical readiness status
under reference (c). - Additionally, officers who fail two or more consecutive PFAs will receive an adverse report that states Significant Problems on their fitness report under reference (c).
- Fail one PFA will:
- Additional information that applies to all members:
- Effective 1 January 2018 all PFA failures will reset to zero only for enlisted reenlistment policy and officer administrative separation policy as outlined in paragraphs 3.a and 4. No other records will be changed such as PRIMS, Fitness Reports or Evaluations.
- All members must have a Body Composition Assessment (BCA) completed within five work days of reporting to a new command. This BCA spot-check will not count as the official BCA for newly reported members during the command PFA cycle, regardless of the status of the official command PFA cycle. Members exceeding Age Adjusted Body Fat Standards (AAS) during spot-checks must be enrolled into Command FEP.
- FEP enrollment and disenrollment determination: Upon either a BCA spot-check failure or PFA failure, members must participate in FEP until they pass an official PFA and are within AAS.
- All members who have regained promotion/advancement eligibility are reminded of their ability to communicate in writing to promotion and selection boards as outlined in MILPERSMAN 1420-010 of reference (b) and reference (d).
- Anyone with questions about these policies is referred to Physical Readiness Program, Mr. Bill Moore at
(901) 874-2210 or PRIMS < at > navy.mil. For all other personnel related policies: NAVPERSCOM at 1-866-827-5672 (U-ASK-NPC).
My Guest Post About the Blended Retirement System on the White Coat Investor
Here’s a link to my guest post on the White Coat Investor about the new Blended Retirement System:
National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY18 Summary
Here is a summary of the NDAA for FY18:
Things of note that are related to Navy Medicine include:
- Over the last several years, the Department of Defense has expressed concerns that some military officer career management laws were overly restrictive and outdated. The NDAA requires the Department of Defense to conduct a comprehensive review of the Defense Officer Personnel Management Act (DOPMA) and Reserve Officer Personnel Management Act (ROPMA) to identify deficiencies in the law and what steps the Department of Defense can take within existing authorities to improve officer career management. The important analysis required by this report will help inform Congress as to whether DOPMA and ROPMA reform is needed.
- It continues the important Military Health Systems reform by further clarifying the roles of Commanders or Directors of Military Medical Treatment Facilities and the Service Surgeons General.
- The report also prohibits the reduction of inpatient care for military Medical Treatment facilities located outside the United States, until a certification is completed ensuring no operational impact for the Geographic Combatant Commander or impact on a beneficiary’s access to the same quality health care currently provided throughout the Military Health System.
- In addition, the NDAA also provides commonsense resources to help families manage challenges like relocations, permitting the Services to reimburse a service member up to $500 for a spouse’s expenses related to obtaining licensing or certification in another State because of a military move.
Navy Medicine Communication Playbook – Winter 2017
The BUMED Public Affairs Office put together a communication playbook that reviews all of the strategic initiatives and issues in Navy Medicine. Reading it would be great for interview prep and a way to brush up on the latest Navy initiatives. Here it is…
Navy Announces Uniform Policy and Initiative Updates
Nothing like posting while kids await the arrival of grandparents before opening presents…
The Navy announced a change in uniform policy and initiative updates. The parts pertinent to a Medical Corps officer included:
- Embroidered Navy-certified subdued matching NWU Type II and NWU Type III pattern “Don’t Tread On Me” and reverse U.S. flag patches are authorized for optional non-tactical wear in garrison at unit commander discretion. Patches are available for purchase at Navy Exchange Uniform Centers and Uniform Call Centers beginning February 2018.
- The policy governing the occasion for wear of NWUs is revised as follows: wear of NWUs is authorized for commuting and all normal tasks and associated short stops (i.e. child care, gas station, off-base shopping, banking and dining) before, during and after the workday. The NWU is not a liberty uniform. After working hours, NWU wear is not permitted while conducting official business when business attire is appropriate and participating in social events. Also, consumption of alcohol in NWUs on base is authorized except where regional commanders promulgate otherwise.
And who hasn’t had their Bates heels fall apart?
- Lastly, upon Sailor feedback regarding Bates “LITE” dress shoe heel disintegration, Bates reformulated the chemical composition of sole material to rectify this defect and the Navy Exchange Command purged inventory of the affected shoes. Sailors who experience heel or sole failure (blowouts) of their dress shoes, or any other mechanical defect that occurs within 36 months of purchase from the Navy Exchange Uniform Centers, should return the shoes to the navy Exchange and address the issue with a uniform center associate.
Joel Schofer's Career Planning Blog 