PCS
Latest COVID-Related Travel Updates
Here is the 3 AUG 2020 COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Installation Status Update.
Here is the 6 AUG 2020 Force Health Protection Guidance – Supplement 12:
On Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020, the Department of Defense released Force Health Protection Guidance – Supplement 12, which provides guidance for DOD personnel traveling during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic. Supplement 12 provides pre- and post-travel guidance for the force health protection of military members, their families, DOD civilian employees and DOD contractors.
The guidance details information on the following:
- Steps to be taken during Restriction of Movement
- Determining whether to travel
- Travel guidance in addition to Restriction of Movement
- Additional guidance to assist commanders with travel decisions
- Additional guidance for Reserve and National Guard personnel
The guidance can be found here.
Throwback Thursday Classic Post – How Long Do You Have to Stay in the Navy if Executing PCS Orders?
Question: If I execute PCS orders, how long do I have to stay in the Navy before I can retire or resign?
Answer: This is something called “retainability” and is detailed in paragraph 9 (on page 6) of OPNAVINST 1300.15B – Navy Military Personnel Assignment Policy. Here’s the quick and dirty version.
It all depends on where you’re coming from and going to:
- Coming from OCONUS to CONUS = You must wait 1 year before you can get out of the Navy.
- Going to a CONUS operational billet = also 1 year.
- Coming from CONUS to a shore/non-operational billet = 2 years.
- Going OCONUS anywhere = You must serve the full tour length, which depends on your specialty and where you’re going. I could try to explain tour lengths, but it can get complicated. If you’re not sure what your tour length is, ask your Detailer.
COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Installation Status Update, July 15, 2020
Here is the latest installation status:
COVID-19_TRAVEL_RESTRICTIONS_INSTALLATION_STATUS_UPDATE_JULY_15_2020
You Shouldn’t Need a PCS Order Waiver for Orders to GME
It has been determined that no PCS waivers are needed for orders to “in-resident graduate education including in-resident Joint Professional Military Education.” This should include all GME and War College.
I’m sure, though, that people will hit road bumps with PSDs or when trying to set up a move, at which point your Detailer is your POC to try and resolve them.
Assignment Incentive Pay Approved for Extensions
WASHINGTON (NNS) — The Navy has authorized Assignment Incentive Pay (AIP) for Sailors extended at certain commands due to COVID-19 transfer delays.
On June 12, the Navy announced the conditions-based, phased plan for Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves. A vital part of the plan is prioritizing sea duty and critical shore billets, such as Recruit Division Commanders duty at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes. As a result, Sailors at these types of duty may be involuntarily extended.
“Shipmates, I honor your continued dedication to the mission in these tough times,” said Vice Adm. John B. Nowell Jr., the Navy’s top uniformed personnel official. “We will only keep you in your current billet if it is absolutely necessary for mission readiness, however, if you are affected by these moves beyond our normal limits, we now have taken steps to compensate you for your time.”
Involuntary extensions beyond six months will only occur under the most unusual circumstances. The Navy’s standard rotation window allows for Sailors to be transferred up to six-months before their scheduled rotation date as well as to be held in place for an additional six months, if necessary.
According to two separate Department of the Navy memos, Recruit Division Commanders and Sailors on sea duty are eligible to be paid AIP at the rate of $500 per month for each month they are held at their current command beyond the six-month threshold. Sailors should work with their chain of command as well as their detailer to determine if this program will apply to them.
Assignment Incentive Pay is just one tool available to the Navy to keep key billets filled. Still in effect is NAVADMIN 132/20 released on May 5, which offers both high-year tenure waivers as well as Sea Duty Incentive pay to Sailors in specific skills willing to extend at sea or return to sea early. The deadline to apply for these programs is Sept. 30.
Volunteering to extend could net Sailors a lump-sum payment in return for their extension or curtailment, the amount can vary based on rating and paygrade. Those Sailors interested in volunteering for SDIP should contact their detailer. This includes those in SDIP-eligible skills currently scheduled to separate or retire who are willing to delay their departure by 6-12 months are eligible for SDIP as well.
Ordinarily, such requests require applying 14-16 months before their projected rotation date; however, this timeline may be waived on a case-by-case basis. The latest list of eligible ratings and paygrades, updated May 5, can be found at https://www.mnp.navy.mil/group/pay-and-benefits.
More information on the AIP program is available at https://www.mnp.navy.mil/group/assignment-leave-travel/resources-and-links. Those interested in the high-year tenure wavers and Sea Duty Incentive Pay can get details from NAVADMIN 132/20.
The latest DoD policies are at https://www.defense.gov/explore/spotlight/coronavirus.
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Throwback Thursday Classic Post – NOB Fitrep vs New Guy/Gal Promotable (P) Fitrep – Which is Better?
Reader Question
I’m a LCDR MC officer. I’m new at my command and was passed over during my in-zone promotion board for CDR. My command is considering a NOB fitrep vs. a Promotable (P) fitrep. Do you have a recommendation on which fitrep will be more helpful for my promotion board?
Reader Poll
Here’s an image of the poll results:
My Answer
In my experience, most physicians seem to prefer the NOB, but that’s not what the poll above says.
Personally, I don’t think it really matters very much. At the promotion board, both are easily explained and a getting a P as the new officer is expected, so it wouldn’t be a negative.
I would say that if you get a P you have already started the march to an MP and then (hopefully) an EP. If you take the NOB, then your next fitrep could be seen as your “new guy/gal P.”
This last point is why I’d prefer the P if it was me, but I don’t feel that strongly about it.
Joel Schofer's Career Planning Blog 