RAAUZYUW RUEWMFU8040 2311322-UUUU--RUENAVY RUENCGU. ZNR UUUUU R 191320Z AUG 05 FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN ZEN/NAVADMIN @ AL NAVADMIN(UC) INFO ZEN/CNO CNO BT UNCLAS //N01500// NAVADMIN 203/05 MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/AUG// SUBJ/SENIOR ENLISTED EDUCATION INITIATIVE-ASSOCIATES DEGREE FOR E8 ELIGIBILITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2011 SELECTION BOARD// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. THIS IS A JOINT NAVADMIN FROM DEPUTY CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS (MANPOWER, PERSONNEL, TRAINING, AND EDUCATION) (CNO N1/NT), COMMANDER, NAVAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING COMMAND (CNETC), AND THE MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER OF THE NAVY (MCPON). PAGE 02 RUEWMFU8040 UNCLAS 2. THE NAVY S EVOLVING HUMAN CAPITAL STRATEGY RECOGNIZES THAT ADVANCED EDUCATION AND LIFE LONG LEARNING UNDERPIN SEA WARRIOR BY DEVELOPING SAILORS WITH CRITICAL THINKING AND DECISION-MAKING SKILLS, AND ENHANCE JOB PERFORMANCE BY IMPROVING UPON BASIC COMMUNICATION, MATH, AND SCIENCE SKILLS. AS AN INTEGRAL COMPONENT OF THE PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION CONTINUUM ESTABLISHED IN NAVADMIN 263/04 AND IN SUPPORT OF THE NAVY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE SAILORS ARE ADEQUATELY EQUIPPED FOR THE CHALLENGES OF THE FUTURE, A RATING RELEVANT ASSOCIATES DEGREE IS NOW A REQUIREMENT TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR ADVANCEMENT TO SENIOR CHIEF PETTY OFFICER COMMENCING WITH FISCAL YEAR 2011 SELECTION BOARDS (WHICH ARE CONVENED IN FISCAL YEAR 2010) FOR BOTH ACTIVE AND RESERVE COMPONENTS. IN PRACTICE, THIS MEANS THAT THE REQUIREMENT MUST BE COMPLETED AT THE BEGINNING OF FISCAL YEAR 2010 (NOVEMBER 2009) WHEN THE ELIGIBILITY OF TIME IN RATE ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2011 SELECTION BOARD IS VALIDATED. 3. AS THE NAVY CONTINUES TO DEVELOP HIGHLY TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES AND RESHAPE THE WORKFORCE, SAILORS WILL BE CALLED UPON TO PERFORM IN NEW AND CHALLENGING WAYS. ADAPTING TO THESE CHALLENGES REQUIRES LEADERS TO HAVE A STRONG EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION BOTH PROFESSIONALLY PAGE 03 RUEWMFU8040 UNCLAS AND PERSONALLY. DEGREE PROGRAMS THAT FOCUS ON RATING RELEVANT EDUCATION WILL IMPROVE PERFORMANCE AND BETTER PREPARE THE SENIOR ENLISTED LEADERSHIP FOR THESE CHALLENGES IN THE OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT. RATING RELEVANT DEGREES CAPITALIZE ON EXISTING MILITARY TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE THAT, WHEN COMBINED WITH COLLEGE LEVEL EXAMS AND COLLEGE COURSE WORK, WILL ENABLE SAILORS TO BETTER PERFORM THE CRITICAL TASKS OF THE 21ST CENTURY NAVY. 4. RECOGNIZING THAT SOME SAILORS HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TO PURSUE THEIR EDUCATIONAL GOALS, THE FOLLOWING GRANDFATHER PROVISIONS SATISFY THE DEGREE REQUIREMENT FOR SAILORS WHO HAVE COMPLETED, OR ARE ENROLLED IN, ANY DEGREE PROGRAM FROM AN ACCREDITED INSTITUTION BEFORE 1 OCT 06: A. SAILORS WHO ALREADY HAVE AN ASSOCIATES DEGREE OR HIGHER. B. SAILORS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN ANY ASSOCIATES DEGREE PROGRAM AND COMPLETE ALL REQUIREMENTS BEFORE 1 JAN 08. C. SAILORS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN ANY BACCALAUREATE DEGREE PROGRAM AND COMPLETE AT LEAST 50 PERCENT OF THE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS BEFORE 1 JAN 08. 5. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, SAILORS MUST EARN RATING RELEVANT ASSOCIATES DEGREES FROM AN ACCREDITED INSTITUTION TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR PAGE 04 RUEWMFU8040 UNCLAS ADVANCEMENT TO SENIOR CHIEF PETTY OFFICER FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2011 SELECTION BOARD AND BEYOND. THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES APPLY: A. SAILORS MAY ELECT TO ENROLL IN A RATING RELEVANT BACCALAUREATE DEGREE FROM AN ACCREDITED INSTITUTION IN LIEU OF AN ASSOCIATES DEGREE, BUT MUST COMPLETE A MINIMUM OF 50 PERCENT OF THE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR SENIOR CHIEF PETTY OFFICER SELECTION BOARDS CONVENED IN 2010 AND BEYOND. B. SELECTED RESERVE SAILORS (EXCEPT FTS) MAY SATISFY THE DEGREE REQUIREMENT BY OBTAINING EITHER A RATING RELEVANT DEGREE OR A DEGREE RELEVANT TO THEIR CIVILIAN OCCUPATION. C. SAILORS IN WARFARE SPECIALTIES WITH VARIOUS SOURCE RATINGS MAY MEET THE REQUIREMENT IN EITHER THE SOURCE RATING OR SPECIALTY RELATED DEGREE. D. SAILORS EXPERIENCING RATING CONSOLIDATION MAY MEET THE REQUIREMENT IN EITHER THE ORIGINAL OR THE CONSOLIDATED RATING. E. SAILORS CHANGING RATINGS THROUGH PERFORM TO SERVE MUST MEET THE REQUIREMENT IN THE NEW RATING UNLESS ALREADY ENROLLED IN A DEGREE PROGRAM. 6. RATING RELEVANT DEGREES CLOSELY COMPLEMENT THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE OF A JOB FIELD, RATING OR WARFARE SPECIALTY. THEY ARE PAGE 05 RUEWMFU8040 UNCLAS DESIGNATED BY THE NAVY FOR ADVANCEMENT ELIGIBILITY AND ARE OFFERED BY THE NAVY COLLEGE PROGRAM DISTANCE LEARNING PARTNERSHIPS (NCPDLP). ALL PARTNERSHIP INSTITUTIONS ARE MEMBERS OF SERVICEMEMBERS OPPORTUNITY COLLEGE (SOC) AND OFFER SIGNIFICANT DEGREE COMPLETION FLEXIBILITY. NCPDLP DEGREES MAXIMIZE ACCEPTANCE OF AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION (ACE) RECOMMENDED CREDIT FOR NAVY TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE AS WELL AS CREDIT BY EXAMINATION AND THE INSTITUTIONS ALL OFFER DISTANCE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO COMPLETE THE REMAINDER OF DEGREE REQUIREMENTS. SAILORS MAY ELECT TO ENROLL WITH ANY INSTITUTION THAT OFFERS EQUIVALENT DEGREES/SPECIALIZATIONS AND HAS ACCREDITATION RECOGNIZED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. NAVY COLLEGE OFFICES WILL ASSIST SAILORS IN IDENTIFYING EQUIVALENT RATING RELEVANT DEGREE OPTIONS. 7. NAVY KNOWLEDGE ONLINE (NKO), WWW.NKO.NAVY.MIL OR SIPRNET WWW.NKO.NAVY.SMIL.MIL, PROVIDES THE STEPS SAILORS MUST FOLLOW IN PREPARATION TO MEET THE EDUCATION REQUIREMENT FOR ADVANCEMENT ELIGIBILITY. IN NKO, THESE ROADMAP STEPS CAN BE ACCESSED VIA THE MAIN "LEARNING" CATEGORY HEADER. THE EDUCATION DEGREE ROADMAP WILL BE DISPLAYED FOR SAILORS TO REFERENCE. QUICK LINKS ARE ALSO PROVIDED FOR SAILORS TO ACCESS AND VIEW THEIR INDIVIDUAL ELECTRONIC PAGE 06 RUEWMFU8040 UNCLAS TRAINING JACKET. LISTS OF RATING RELEVANT DEGREE OPTIONS (SORTED BY COLLEGE INSTITUTION AND BY SPECIFIC RATING), CLEP PRACTICE EXAMS, AND SMART TRANSCRIPTS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE LEARNING PAGE. IN PARTICULAR SAILORS SHALL: A. VALIDATE EDUCATION RECORDS. SAILORS MUST FIRST ASSESS THEIR ACADEMIC RECORDS AND TRANSCRIPTS AS DISPLAYED IN THEIR ELECTRONIC TRAINING JACKET (ETJ). THE ETJ CONTAINS DATA TAKEN FROM SAILOR/MARINE AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION REGISTRY TRANSCRIPT (SMART). DIRECTIONS FOR CORRECTING DISCREPANCIES IN THE ETJ ARE CONTAINED IN THE ROADMAP. B. OF SPECIFIC NOTE, NAVY PERSONNEL COMMAND AND NAVAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING COMMAND HAVE COLLABORATED TO PROVIDE ONE-STOP SHOPPING FOR ENLISTED EDUCATION RECORD UPDATE THROUGH THE NAVY COLLEGE CENTER. USING THE PROCESS DETAILED ABOVE TO UPDATE THE ETJ WILL NOW ALSO UPDATE AN ENLISTED SAILORS RECORD IN THE ENLISTED MASTER FILE UNCLAS FINAL SECTION OF 2 SUBJ: SENIOR ENLISTED EDUCATION INITIATIVE-ASSOCIATES (EMF). THE NAVY COLLEGE CENTER WILL ALSO FORWARD AN ENLISTED SAILOR'S TRANSCRIPT AUTOMATICALLY TO THE BUREAU OF NAVAL PERSONNEL FOR ENTRY INTO THE ELECTRONIC MILITARY PERSONNEL RECORDS SYSTEM (EMPRS). PERSONNEL SUPPORT DETACHMENTS AND LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES WILL NO LONGER HAVE THE ABILITY TO UPDATE EDUCATION INFORMATION IN THE NAVY STANDARD INTEGRATED PERSONNEL SYSTEM (NSIPS). SAILORS SHOULD, THOUGH, CONTINUE TO ENSURE LOCALLY THAT THEIR EDUCATION INFORMATION IS UPDATED ON THEIR NAVPERS 1070/604 (PAGE 4). C. PURSUE ACADEMIC ASSESSMENT. SAILORS STARTING A DEGREE SHOULD SEEK ACADEMIC ADVICE PRIOR TO SELECTING A SUITABLE RATING RELEVANT DEGREE PROGRAM. THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT SOURCES PAGE 02 RUEWMFU8041 UNCLAS TO FIND THE HELP/ASSISTANCE REQUIRED IN THE PROCESS: (1) CONTACT LOCAL NAVY COLLEGE OFFICES. CONTACT INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT HTTPS:(SLASH, SLASH)WWW.NAVYCOLLEGE.NAVY.MIL, CLICK ON ACADEMIC ADVICE, THEN CLICK ON NAVY COLLEGE OFFICE. (2) CONTACT THE NAVY COLLEGE CENTER TOLL FREE AT 877-253-7122 (DSN 922-1828), OR VISIT THE WEBSITE AT HTTPS:(SLASH, SLASH)WWW.NAVYCOLLEGE.NAVY.MIL AND CLICK ON ACADEMIC ADVICE, THEN CLICK ON NAVY COLLEGE CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL TOLL FREE NUMBERS, E-MAIL INQUIRIES, AND OPERATING HOURS. (3) ACCESS SAILOR/MARINE ONLINE ACADEMIC ADVISOR (SMOLAA) VIA THE SMART TRANSCRIPT QUICK LINK ON NKO TO REVIEW THE LIST OF NCPDLP RATING RELEVANT DEGREE OPTIONS. D. COMPLETE ACADEMIC TESTING: TESTING IS AN ADVANTAGEOUS WAY TO TRANSLATE KNOWLEDGE GAINED THROUGH LIFE, PROFESSIONAL, AND MILITARY EXPERIENCE INTO COLLEGE ACADEMIC CREDIT, WHICH WILL ACCELERATE DEGREE COMPLETION AND PRESERVE TUITION ASSISTANCE BENEFITS FOR COURSES NOT AVAILABLE THROUGH TESTING PROGRAMS. ALL SAILORS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR EDUCATION PLANS, ARE NOW REQUIRED TO PURSUE CREDIT THROUGH COLLEGE LEVEL EXAMINATION PROGRAM (CLEP) AND DEFENSE ACTIVITY FOR NON-TRADITIONAL EDUCATION SUPPORT (DANTES) PAGE 03 RUEWMFU8041 UNCLAS STANDARDIZED SUBJECT TESTS (DSST), WHERE APPLICABLE, BEFORE RECEIVING COMMAND AUTHORIZATION FOR TUITION ASSISTANCE. (1) TO HELP ASSESS THE LIKELIHOOD OF SUCCESS, SAILORS MUST COMPLETE APPLICABLE PRACTICE CLEP/DSST EXAMS, WHICH EXIST FOR SELECT COURSES AND ARE AVAILABLE VIA NKO AND THE LOCAL NAVY COLLEGE OFFICE. PRACTICE EXAMS ARE DESIGNED TO FAMILIARIZE SAILORS WITH ACTUAL CLEP/DSST EXAM MATERIAL. TESTS ARE TIMED AND WILL PROVIDE A MEASURE OF WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL STANDS ACADEMICALLY AND HELP IDENTIFY AREAS THAT REQUIRE ADDITIONAL PREPARATION. (2) SAILORS WHO SCORE WELL ON PRACTICE EXAMS SHOULD TAKE THE ACTUAL CLEP/DSST EXAMS FOR ACADEMIC CREDIT AS SOON AS PRACTICAL. TESTING PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE LOCAL NAVY COLLEGE OFFICES, RESERVE CENTERS, NATIONAL TEST CENTERS, AND ONBOARD SOME LARGE DECK SHIPS. TESTING OPPORTUNITIES WILL BE EXPANDED TO MOST SHIPS IN CY06. ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES FOR SHIPBOARD TESTING WILL BE PROVIDED BY SEPARATE CORRESPONDENCE. E. UPDATE ETJ: SAILORS SHOULD VALIDATE AND UPDATE THEIR ACADEMIC RECORDS NOW AND ANNUALLY, THEREAFTER, TO ENSURE EXAM/COURSE/DEGREE COMPLETIONS ARE RECORDED PROPERLY. SEE PARAGRAPH 7A FOR INSTRUCTIONS. PAGE 04 RUEWMFU8041 UNCLAS 8. WITH THE FOUR-YEAR LEAD TIME, IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO IMMEDIATELY ENROLL IN COLLEGE COURSES. SAILORS HAVE ADEQUATE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP AND COMPLETE THEIR EDUCATION PLANS TO MEET CAREER GOALS. ANALYSIS HAS SHOWN THAT SAILORS IN THE WORST CASE SCENARIO WHO HAVE LIMITED CREDIT FOR MILITARY TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE AND HAVE TAKEN NO COLLEGE COURSES TO DATE, WOULD NEED TO TAKE A MAXIMUM OF 12 SEMESTER HOURS PER YEAR TO COMPLETE A RATING RELEVANT ASSOCIATES DEGREE. HOWEVER, BY FOLLOWING THE MANDATORY TESTING PROCEDURES IN PARA 7C1 AND 7C2, SAILORS COULD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THIS NUMBER OF SEMESTER HOURS PER YEAR. 9. FOR SAILORS AT-SEA OR FORWARD DEPLOYED, WE UNDERSTAND THAT CLASSROOM AND DISTANCE SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET THIS EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENT ARE SOMETIMES LIMITED. TO ASSIST THOSE SAILORS, A TOOL IS BEING DEVELOPED TO IDENTIFY AND TRACK ACADEMIC PROGRESS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR SENIOR CHIEF PETTY OFFICER FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2011 SELECTION BOARD. NAVAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTER PLANS TO INDIVIDUALLY TRACK SAILORS THAT FALL INTO THIS CATEGORY AND WILL WORK WITH THEIR COMMAND TO ENSURE THEY HAVE ALL THE TOOLS AND CONTENT REQUIRED TO MEET SUBJECT REQUIREMENTS. 10. TUITION ASSISTANCE FUNDING WILL REMAIN AVAILABLE TO SAILORS TO PAGE 05 RUEWMFU8041 UNCLAS PURSUE WHATEVER EDUCATIONAL COURSES OR DEGREES THEY DESIRE TO PURSUE IN NON-RATING RELEVANT DEGREES. THIS NAVADMIN ONLY ADDRESSES SPECIFIC EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR ADVANCEMENT TO SENIOR CHIEF PETTY OFFICER. 11. THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN WHAT WILL BE THE NAVY'S EVOLVING JOURNEY ON THE ROAD TOWARD A CULTURE OF PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION. FURTHER EFFORTS WILL SEEK OUT OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND AND GROW THE VARIETY AND SCOPE OF RELEVANT DEGREE PROGRAMS AND METHODS OF ACHIEVING ACADEMIC SUCCESS, RESULTING IN A GREATER APPEAL TO THE PERSONAL INTEREST OF SAILORS AND INCREASED CAPABILITY IN PERFORMANCE OF THE NAVY'S MISSION. 12. COMMANDING OFFICERS AND SENIOR ENLISTED LEADERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO SAILORS IN PLANNING FOR TIMELY MEETING OF CAREER GOALS. TO ASSIST IN THIS EFFORT, ORIENTATION SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE LOCAL NAVY COLLEGE OFFICE FOR PRE-DEPLOYMENT EDUCATIONAL PLANNING. THIS SERVICE WILL PROVIDE AN ASSESSMENT OF CREW EDUCATION LEVELS AND ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMMAND EDUCATION PLAN. IN ADDITION, EDUCATIONAL DATA THAT PLACES AN EMPHASIS ON SAILORS WHO ARE ANTICIPATED TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR SENIOR CHIEF PETTY OFFICER FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2011 SELECTION BOARD WILL BE PAGE 06 RUEWMFU8041 UNCLAS PROVIDED. THIS DETAILED INFORMATION WILL INCLUDE CREDITS ALREADY EARNED THROUGH MILITARY TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE, CREDIT THROUGH EXAMINATION AND COMPLETED COLLEGE COURSES. THIS SERVICE WILL PROVIDE SENIOR COMMAND LEADERSHIP WITH THE TRACKING TOOLS NEEDED TO PROMOTE THIS REQUIREMENT. 13. RELEASED BY VADM G. L. HOEWING, DCNO (N1/NT)/CNP AND VADM J. K. MORAN, CNETC/DCNP./ BT #8040 NNNN