Navy Rating Modernization...

SB0170

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NAVADMIN 218/16

MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/SEP//

SUBJ/NAVY RATING MODERNIZATION//

RMKS/1. This NAVADMIN announces the first phase of a multi-year
implementation effort to transform current Navy Enlisted Career Management
processes.

2. This modernization effort is the result of a review of Navy rating titles
completed this year by the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy and his
leadership mess. As a result, the Secretary of the Navy announced that the
Navy will develop a new approach to enlisted ratings that provides greater
detailing flexibility, training and credentialing opportunities, and
ultimately translates Navy occupations more clearly to the American public.
The intent is to transform our enlisted personnel business processes to
maximize talent management and career flexibility, while arming our Sailors
with superior training and widely recognized credentials that will convey to
the civilian workforce.

3. Navy will move from Rating Titles to alpha-numeric Navy Occupational
Specialty (NOS) codes. This change is a first step on the way to providing
Sailors the opportunity to move back and forth between occupations. This
change represents a significant cultural shift and it is recognized that it
will not happen overnight, but will take time to become fully implemented.

4. Effective immediately, enlisted Navy Sailors will be addressed by rank
vice by rating. E1 through E3 Sailors will be addressed as "Seaman," E4
through E6 will be called "Petty Officer Third/Second/First Class" as
appropriate and senior enlisted paygrades of E7 through E9 will be called
"Chief, Senior Chief, or Master Chief" depending on their paygrade. For
example, a Sailor will no longer be called YN2. Instead, he or she will be
called a "Second Class Petty Officer," or simply "Petty Officer." There will
no longer be a distinction between "Airman, Fireman, and Seaman." They will
all be "Seamen." As we move toward a Navy where Sailors may hold multiple
occupations, rating titles will no longer be applicable. Addressing our
Sailors by rank also brings us more in line with the other services.

5. NOS codes will be grouped under logical and broader career fields. These
career fields will enable flexibility to move between occupational
specialties within career fields and they will be tied to appropriate
training and qualifications. Each NOS will be matched with similar civilian
occupations to enable the Navy to identify credentials and certifications
recognized and valued within the civilian workforce. The Navy will
aggressively pursue opportunities for Sailors to earn credentials recognized
and held by their civilian counterparts and incorporate those credentials
into Sailors professional development.

6. A working group was formed in July to identify personnel policies,
management programs, and information technology systems that may require
modification to support this effort. The working group has developed
recommendations and a plan of action and milestones to fully implement the
transformation to NOS. Changes to personnel management processes, policies,
programs and systems will proceed in deliberate and thoughtful phases that
will enable transitions that are seamless and largely transparent to the
fleet. Fleet involvement and feedback will be solicited during each phase of
the transformation. All aspects of enlisted force management to include
recruiting, detailing, advancements, training, and personnel and pay
processes are being carefully considered as we move forward.

7. This change is one step in a larger effort to modernize our personnel
systems, and will benefit all Sailors with greater career flexibility while
in the Navy and after they depart the Service.

8. Released by Vice Admiral R. P. Burke, N1.//
 
So....no more NEC? Now it is a NOS? And no more "HM1 Dingleberry"? Now it is "Petty Officer First Class Dingleberry?"
 
This seems pretty reasonable. But many of my Navy friends seem upset about it?

You think the Corps is obsessed with tradition? We've got nothing on the Navy.

So much change in the past decade or so:

- Women on subs and now in combat roles

- Gays and Transgender serving openly

- redefining what constitutes hazing (I have a Navy buddy who's CO banned any type of ceremony for crossing the equator because he did not want any hazing accusations on his watch. )

- Now the changing of rank titles. With everything else that had changed, it does not surprise me that many sailors believe that this smells of the continued indoctrnation of political correctness into their Navy.

Truth be told I don't have on opinion either way, but I can understand why some feel like the military is no longer the last bastion of the "tough guys club" and is being restructured to look more like corporate America.
 
I understand that. I read through the message with a critical eye, looking for "social justice"-ing, and I just don't see it. I think this gets the Navy more in line with the rest of the military. Now if we could just get them to do something about the 30 uniforms they have in that one service... ;)
 
Yeah I don't get it at all.

*Cheesy alert* , @TLDR20

You're a Corpsman. You're proud to be a Corpsman. You are part of the most decorated rate in the U.S. military with 23 Medal of Honors. You will go through hell and back for a wounded Marine and you bear the weight of the expectations that come with introducing yourself as a Corpsman.

Then one morning they remove the title because it's not gender neutral and tell you that your official title now is Medical Technician and also that all other rates have had their titles stripped.

It's just a title. It's nothing, but it's everything. My .02c
 
@Freefalling - I was not as clear in my point as I had intended. My attempted point was that with the onslaught of seemingly PC policies coming down the pipe, Sailors current and old are seeing something here that may or may not exist.
 
Previously you had an archaic rating system that was to be honest quite confusing. In the joint environment it is extra confusing. This doesn't seem like a PC move to me, but rather a much needed streamlining move.
 
Previously you had an archaic rating system that was to be honest quite confusing. In the joint environment it is extra confusing. This doesn't seem like a PC move to me, but rather a much needed streamlining move.

I agree with simplifying the HM2/IT2 title etc stuff, but removing 'man' from the titles is strictly a PC movie.
 
On the face of it it doesn't seem like a bad thing. But as @Scubadew alluded, it's been the many hits the Navy has taken with regard to tradition. I don't like it but my jury is out if it is going to amount to anything (good or bad).

@TLDR20 , I really like moves towards creating a better joint environment. I'm with a joint unit right now and I definitely see where some changes will help. I just think a lot of positive things could have been done without gutting as much tradition as they did.
 
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