ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
 
ROUTINE       
 
R 052247Z APR 02 ZYB MIN PSN 387316J28
 
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
 
TO NAVADMIN
 
UNCLAS
NAVADMIN 095/02
 
MSGID/GENADMIN/N1//
 
SUBJ/BEST PRACTICE MESSAGE - NUMBER SIX//
 
RMKS/1.  THE DETAILER CONSTITUENT RELATIONSHIP IS CRUCIAL TO OUR
RETENTION EFFORTS.  THERE ARE A NUMBER OF STEPS COMMANDS AND SAILORS
SHOULD TAKE TO ENSURE EACH SAILOR HAS A STRONG VOICE IN THE CAREER
MANAGEMENT PROCESS.
 
2.  PREPARE EARLY - ABOUT 13 MONTHS PRIOR TO PRD/EAOS.  THIS
PROVIDES A SUBSTANTIAL PERIOD OF TIME FOR SAILORS TO ASSESS THEIR
NEEDS (BOTH PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL) AND COMPARE THEM WITH
REALISTIC CAREER OPTIONS.  MANY SUCCESSFULLY PLACED SAILORS INDICATE
THAT EARLY PROACTIVE COMMUNICATION WITH COMMAND LEADERS AND MENTORS,
COMBINED WITH FAMILY INVOLVEMENT, MADE EACH CAREER DECISION A
SYSTEMATIC AND LOGICAL PROCESS, RATHER THAN A SERIES OF SURPRISES.
 
3.  THE COMMAND RETENTION TEAM MUST BE ENGAGED AND CONDUCT AN
EFFECTIVE CAREER DECISION BOARD (CDB) FOR EACH SAILOR 12 MONTHS
PRIOR TO PRD.  THE RETENTION TEAM MANUAL CONTAINS GUIDELINES TO HELP
CONCENTRATE THE CDB ON EACH SAILOR'S PREFERENCES WHILE ALIGNING
EXPECTATIONS AND TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION OPPORTUNITIES,
QUALIFICATIONS, LOCATION AND FAMILY.  THE CDB RECOMMENDATION
ESTABLISHES A REALISTIC SET OF EXPECTATIONS PRIOR TO THE SAILOR
BEGINNING THE COMMUNICATION PROCESS WITH THE DETAILER.
 
4.  SAILORS SHOULD NOT WAIT TO BE CALLED.  ENCOURAGE EACH SAILOR TO
CONTACT THE DETAILER VIA JASS, E-MAIL, OR DIRECTLY, PRIOR TO THE
DETAILER CALLING THE MEMBER TO FOLLOW-UP ON THE 12-MONTH MESSAGE.
ENCOURAGE THE SAILOR TO DO THE RESEARCH TO FIND OUT ABOUT PROSPECTIVE
ASSIGNMENT AREAS, SUCH AS EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, TRAFFIC,
HOUSING AND SCHOOLS.  EARLY MENTORING ENSURES ONCE SAILORS ENTER
THE NEGOTIATION WINDOW, 9 TO 6-MONTHS PRIOR TO PRD, THEY HAVE AN
UNDERSTANDING OF THE DETAILING PROCESS AND HAVE CONSIDERED THEIR
PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS AS WELL AS CAREER ENHANCING BILLETS
(RECRUITING, RDC, INSTRUCTOR DUTY, DETAILERS, ETC).
 
5.  MANY SUCCESSFUL SAILORS HAVE A LIST OF QUESTIONS PREPARED TO ASK
THEIR DETAILERS BEFORE THEY MAKE CONTACT.  THEY FOCUS THE DETAILERS
ON THEIR PRIORITIES, BUT ARE REALISTIC AND CONVEY WHAT MAKES THEM THE
BEST PERSON FOR THE JOB.  SUCCESSFUL SAILORS ALSO HAVE A LIST
PREPARED OF THEIR PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES TO EXPLAIN
WHY A PARTICULAR DETAIL IS A WIN-WIN FOR BOTH THE NAVY AND THE
SAILORS.
 
6.  MANY SUCCESSFUL CAREER COUNSELORS AND SAILORS RECEIVE ANSWERS TO
THEIR QUESTIONS BY VISITING THE DETAILER SQUAWK BOX ON THE CCD
WEBSITE (WWW.STAYNAVY.NAVY.MIL).
 
7.  REENLISTMENT DECISIONS AND DETAILING ARE ROUTINELY INTERTWINED.
ONE WAY TO GENERATE EXCITEMENT ABOUT CAREER DECISIONS IS WITH CAREER
MILESTONE CEREMONIES AS STATED IN NPC RETENTION BEST PRACTICES FROM
THE FLEET - NUMBER THREE (NAVADMIN 121/01), MAKE THEM EXTRA SPECIAL.
ENCOURAGE SAILORS TO CHOOSE A PERSONAL LOCATION.  MANY SAILORS
CHOOSE LOCAL MEMORIALS OR SCENIC AREAS.
 
8.  USE OF AFLOAT MWR/RECREATION NONAPPROPRIATED FUNDS (NAF) IS
AUTHORIZED, WITH SOME RESTRICTIONS, TO SUPPORT REENLISTMENT
CEREMONIES.  PROVIDED THE BASIC NEEDS OF THE OVERALL AFLOAT
MWR/RECREATION PROGRAM ARE BEING MET, COMMANDING OFFICERS ARE
AUTHORIZED TO MAKE AVAILABLE NAF UNIT RECREATION ALLOCATIONS AT A
RATE OF $2.50 PER PERSON PER QUARTER TO PARTICIPATING
UNITS/ORGANIZATIONS OF THE AFLOAT MWR/RECREATION PROGRAM FOR SPECIAL
EXPENDITURES OF A RECREATIONAL NATURE AND TO SUPPORT RETENTION.
COMMANDING OFFICERS ARE AUTHORIZED TO USE ANY AMOUNT OF THESE
SPECIFIC UNIT RECREATION ALLOCATIONS (I.E., FROM ZERO TO $2.50 PER
PERSON PER QUARTER) TO PURCHASE EMBLEMATIC, RECOGNITION, AND
RECEPTION RELATED ITEMS FOR ADVANCEMENT, AWARD OR REENLISTMENT
CEREMONIES.
 
9.  RELEASED BY VADM NORB RYAN, JR., N1.//
 
BT