Pay, Housing, Healthcare, Retirement: Congress Faces Thorny Military Decisions
This Military Times article summarizes all of the issues currently being debated in Congress, almost all of which would affect our pay and military medicine:
Pay, Housing, Healthcare, Retirement: Congress Faces Thorny Military Decisions
Chief of Naval Personnel’s Message Regarding PCS Orders Delay
Here is a link to the CNP’s message regarding delays in people receiving their orders:
http://navylive.dodlive.mil/2016/06/22/pcs-orders-lead-times-three-things-you-need-to-know/
The most pertinent part of the message for us is this portion below (if you are having issues with your orders, you will need to contact your Detailer):
“However, given the current fiscal constraints, the Navy is prioritizing PCS moves in order to remain within budget. Highest priority moves are those to fill critical gaps at sea, billets for individual augmentees, force protection, humanitarian, safety and overseas billets – they will be issued first. All other orders will be released following a sequenced move schedule to ensure the Fleet is manned properly.
We have released priority one moves (individual augmentee, immediate and OFRP deployers, numbered fleet staffs, overseas billets) and must-moves (safety, early return of dependents, humanitarian) with estimated detach dates through the end of July, and are now working on August orders and beyond.
Also, to help alleviate some pressure, Navy Personnel Command will continue to issue letters of intent for overseas moves. That way, while orders may not be in hand, individuals can start the process of doing overseas and medical screenings, dependent entry approval, passport applications and security clearance requests.”
Proposed Modifications to the Officer Promotion System
There’s been a lot of recent articles about proposed changes to the officer promotion system. There are some references as the end of this post, but the summary is that all of the following are being considered but would require legislative change by Congress:
- Incentivize our best performing officers by authorizing the services to establish policies to determine rank order for promotions based upon an individual’s superior performance, instead of promoting based on the date which the officer was initially commissioned.
- Providing the option for an officer to defer when they are considered for a promotion, giving officers and the services flexibility to pursue career-broadening opportunities that benefit the force without jeopardizing their career progression.
- Officers in a “critical career field” would be offered the chance to continue to serve beyond the current maximum terms (20 years as a LCDR, 28 years as a CDR, 30 years as a CAPT). It is not clear whether medicine would be a “critical career field.”
Here are the references:
Fact-Sheet-The-Next-Two-Links-to-the-Force-of-the-Future
Memorandum-The-Next-Two-Links-to-the-Force-of-the-Future
The 4 big takeaways from Ash Carter’s new push for military personnel reform
Summer PCS Orders Release Update
Here is a summary of some issues that have arisen at Navy Personnel Command (PERS) for people awaiting their permanent change of station (PCS) orders:
- Last week PERS became aware of severe financial constraints slowing the normal rate of order release.
- As a result they have assigned a priority to all unreleased orders. Operational and OCONUS commands, as well as Global Support Assignments (GSA), are given priority.
- Orders will continue to be released, albeit at a slower rate and in a prioritized order.
- As this new process goes forward, we will get an idea of how quickly orders will start being released. In other words, PERS cannot give ETAs yet.
- There are no plans to remove funding from orders that are already released.
As a former Detailer, I can tell you that this kind of thing is frustrating for both the officers moving and the Detailers, so please…be nice to your Detailer!
Resignation and Retirement Requests Transitioning to Online Process
Here is an article that discusses a change in the way we’ll be requesting resignations and retirements:
Requests for Separations, Retirements Move to Online Process
FY17 O6 Selection Stats Broken Down by Specialty
Here are the FY17 O6 selection stats broken down by specialty:
BUMED M7 (Education & Training) Deputy Position – O5/O6
Position: BUMED M7 Deputy Position
Description: Position description is here
Traits: Staff education and training experience (typicall NC or MSC, but open to all corps)
Rank: 0-5/0-6
Fill date: Summer 2016
Time on Station Requirements: PRD or at least 2 years time on station for CONUS members
POC for CV/BIO: Your Detailer
OIC Opportunities
Here is the list of OIC opportunities to go along with this post/announcement:
House & Senate Defense Bills – How They Could Affect You
Here is the full article from the Military Officers Association of America:
House and Senate Divide on Defense Bill
Here are the issues mentioned that would affect Navy physicians:
- For new entrants after 1 JAN 2018, and upon the first PCS after that date for those already serving, basic allowance for housing (BAH) would be calculated using the servicemember’s actual housing cost or the BAH rate, whichever is less.
- The bill proposes dividing the normal BAH rate by the number of BAH-eligible occupants, meaning dual military couples or roommates could receive a significantly smaller allowance.
- The committee also included proposals to change family leave policies. Servicemembers that are primary caregivers would receive six weeks of leave. Secondary caregivers would receive three weeks. This parental leave would be in addition to six weeks of convalescent leave allowed for a servicemember who gives birth.
- Establishing TRICARE Prime only in areas with Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs).
- Changing the name of TRICARE Standard to TRICARE Choice.
- Authorizing the treatment of veterans and civilians in MTFs as needed to maintain operational skills.
- Directing DoD to create a program to improve quality of care in MTFs.
- Promotion boards would be able to identify up to 20 percent of selectees as “top performers” to go to the top of promotion lists.
- The services will be authorized to give continuation pay to eligible servicemembers with eight to 12 years of service.
- The service secretaries will be able to designate specialties to allow officers to serve up to 40 years.
2016 Graduate Medical Education Selection Board Application Procedures
Here is a PDF of the application instructions:
2016 Graduate Medical Education Selection Board Application Procedures
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