The Navy has modified the Sea Shore Flow career paths for Sailors in nuclear propulsion skills to better align second-term Sailors with career milestones, while also improving overall community manning. The changes announced in NAVADMIN 021/22 start immediately, with the intent of increasing community retention in Reenlistment Zone B, which are those Sailors with six to ten years of service.
“The Nuclear Propulsion Program Manager identified a downward trend in reenlistment behavior in Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB) Zone B in the nuclear enlisted community,” wrote Rear Adm. James Waters III in the message.
This trend, Waters wrote, resulted in an aggregate reenlisted inventory of 76 percent of the overall zone goal in fiscal year 2021. Breaking this down between the submarine and surface communities amounts to 84 and 63 percent of their zone goals, respectively.
As a result, initial sea tours will be extended to 54 months, up six months from the previously mandated 48 months. This tour comes after an initial nominal 24-month training pipeline.
The additional sixth months at sea gives Sailors more time to earn higher level qualifications such as Engineering Watch Supervisor and Propulsion Plant Watch Supervisor on their first sea tours. Also, it increases the chances of serving in senior leadership positions on their first sea tour.
Increased sea manning also gives commands more flexibility in setting at-sea watchbills.
The change allows Sailors to reenlist for shore duty without obligating themselves for their second sea tour, a move that should benefit Sailors by allowing them to reenlist for their first shore tours and collect a reenlistment bonus in Zone B without committing them to additional sea duty.
A Zone B reenlistment also makes these Sailors eligible to transfer their Post-911 GI Bill benefits to a family member. Signing up for a complete shore tour allows Sailors to work toward their college degrees using Tuition Assistance or their GI Bill benefits.
Also reworked are career milestone gates for the second and third sea tours, which will now be 10.5 and 17.5 years, respectively. Sailors unable to meet a tour gate will be handled on a case-by-case basis and require a waiver.
These follow-on sea tours will be for 40 months at all paygrades. All shore tours in the nuclear propulsion community are a minimum of 24 months and a 36-month maximum.
Sailors on their first sea tour within 12 months of their previously established rotation date, as of April 1, 2022, will not have that date adjusted unless they specifically ask for it and their command endorses the change.
Sailors with a rotation date greater than 12 months or less than 16 months after April 1 will have their rotation date shifted incrementally as prescribed by NAVADMIN 021/22.
Any Sailor with a rotation date more than 16 months after April 1 will be realigned to the new 54-month tour length.
A downloadable graphic that displays the modified career path is available at: https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Career-Management/Community-Management/Enlisted/Nuclear/CCC-Toolbox/.
All the details, requirements and points of contact are available in the NAVADMIN.
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