ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
 
ROUTINE       
 
R 041155Z NOV 03 ZYB MIN PSN 276825J30
 
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
 
TO NAVADMIN
 
UNCLAS //N01000//
NAVADMIN 289/03
 
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/-/NOV//
 
SUBJ/SIGNALMAN RATING DISESTABLISHMENT//
 
RMKS/1.  THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY HAS APPROVED THE DISESTABLISHMENT
OF THE SIGNALMAN (SM) RATING, EFFECTIVE 30 SEP 04.  A MEASURED BUT
EXPEDITIOUS CONVERSION PROCESS HAS BEEN DEVELOPED IN ORDER TO REDUCE
IMPACT ON FLEET OPERATIONS, MINIMIZE TURBULENCE TO THE SAILOR,
MAINTAIN NORMAL ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITY THROUGHOUT THE TRANSITION,
AND MATCH A SAILOR'S CAPABILITIES AND DESIRES TO POTENTIAL RATINGS.
 
2.  THE PLANS OF ACTION AND MILESTONES FOR THE SM RATING
DISESTABLISHMENT IS IN FINAL DEVELOPMENT.  PERIODIC UPDATES WILL BE
SENT VIA NAVADMIN.
    A.  ALL SM RATED PERSONNEL NEED TO SUBMIT RATING CONVERSION
REQUESTS.  THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION IS 31 JAN 04.  CONVERSIONS
SHOULD BE SUBMITTED PER MILPERSMAN 1440-010.  ALL EAOS AND PRD
REQUIREMENTS ARE WAIVED IN ORDER TO FACILITATE EXPEDITIOUS
CONVERSION.  AS SM IS A PERFORM TO SERVE (PTS) RATING, ALL FIRST-TERM
SIGNALMEN MUST SUBMIT CONVERSION RATING PREFERENCES AS PART OF PTS
APPLICATIONS.
    B.  THE SCHEDULE FOR SIGNALMAN ADVANCEMENT EXAMS AND SELECTION
BOARDS IS CONTAINED IN THE TABLE BELOW:
          JAN 2004        FINAL E7 (ACTIVE) EXAM
          FEB 2004        FINAL E7 (RESERVE) EXAM
          MAR 2004        FINAL E8/9 SELECTION BOARD
          MAY 2004        FINAL E7 (RESERVE) SELECTION BOARD
          JUL 2004        FINAL E7 (ACTIVE) SELECTION BOARD
          AUG 2004        FINAL E4/5/6 (RESERVE) EXAMS
          SEP 2004        FINAL E4/5/6 (ACTIVE) EXAMS
    C.  SM RATED PERSONNEL WILL NO LONGER BE DETAILED AS SIGNALMAN.
COMMANDS SHOULD ASSIST THEIR SIGNALMEN IN SUBMITTING CONVERSION
PACKAGES AND PTS REQUESTS AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE SO THAT
SAILORS CAN TRANSFER ON TIME, OR AS CLOSE TO THE NORMAL ROTATION
DATE AS POSSIBLE.
 
3.  THE VISUAL SIGNALING COMPETENCY OF THE SM RATING WILL BECOME
PART OF THE QUARTERMASTER (QM) RATING; HOWEVER, ONLY 10 PERCENT OF
SM RATED SAILORS ARE EXPECTED TO BE CONVERTED TO QM.  WE ARE
COMMITTED TO GIVING EACH AND EVERY SIGNALMAN CAREFUL CONSIDERATION
AND AMPLE ASSISTANCE IN FINDING A NEW RATING AND STAYING NAVY.  AS
SUCH, IT IS CRITICAL THAT COMMAND RETENTION TEAMS WORK CLOSELY WITH
THEIR SIGNALMEN TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THEIR CONVERSION
OPTIONS, HAVE THE MOST UP-TO-DATE ASVAB SCORES ON RECORD, AND SELECT
CREO 1 AND 2 RATINGS, FOR WHICH THEY ARE FULLY QUALIFIED, AS A
CONVERSION CHOICE.  WE HAVE A STRONG DESIRE TO RETAIN AND CONVERT
OUR SIGNALMEN; HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS
SKILL-SET REALIGNMENT, SAILORS MAY CITE THIS NAVADMIN AS AUTHORITY
IF THEY DESIRE EARLY SEPARATION.
 
4.  THE SM RATING BADGE WILL CONTINUE TO BE WORN BY ALL SM RATED
PERSONNEL AND RATING BADGE CHANGES WILL NOT BE REQUIRED UNTIL THE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF EACH SAILOR'S CONVERSION.
 
5.  POINTS OF CONTACT ARE:  LCDR PICCO, SURFACE OPERATIONS
ENLISTED COMMUNITY MANAGER (N132D5/6) AT (703) 697-2502/DSN 225;
NXAG_N132D5@NAVY.MIL OR ITCS(SW) MATCKE (N132D6A) AT (703)
614-6855/DSN 224; NXAG_N132D6A@BUPERS.NAVY.MIL; FAX (703)
614-6502/DSN 224.
 
6.  RELEASED BY VADM G. L. HOEWING, N1.//
 
BT
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