RTTUZYUW RUEWMCS0000 1131428-UUUU--RUCRNAD. ZNR UUUUU R 231438Z APR 07 FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// BT UNCLAS //N06600// NAVADMIN 097/07 MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/APR// SUBJ/ANNOUNCEMENT OF NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE CRITICAL SKILLS RETENTION BONUS PROGRAM// RMKS/1. THIS NAVADMIN ANNOUNCES THE NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE CRITICAL SKILLS RETENTION BONUS (NSW CSRB) FOR QUALIFIED NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE (NSW) OFFICERS. RETAINING NSW OFFICERS IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR THE NAVY AND THE UNITED STATES SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND. THE NSW CSRB IS A FLEXIBLE RETENTION INCENTIVE THAT FOCUSES ON IMPROVING RETENTION OF NSW CONTROL GRADE OFFICERS. NSW ACTIVE COMPONENT (AC) UNRESTRICTED LINE (URL) OFFICERS AND LIMITED DUTY OFFICERS (LDO) WHO MEET THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA IN THIS NAVADMIN MAY APPLY FOR THIS NEW INCENTIVE. 2. PROGRAM AUTHORITY. THIS BONUS IS AUTHORIZED UNDER TITLE 37, UNITED STATES CODE, SECTION 323. SPECIFIC DESIGNATION OF NSW OFFICERS AS A CRITICAL SKILL AND APPROVED AWARD LEVELS WERE PRESCRIBED BY THE OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF DEFENSE. CNO (N131H) IS DESIGNATED AS THE NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE CRITICAL SKILLS RETENTION BONUS PROGRAM MANAGER. ALL APPLICATIONS FOR THIS BONUS WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE PROGRAM MANAGER FOR APPROVAL, PAYMENT PROCESSING AND TRACKING. 3. PROGRAM OVERVIEW. THIS PROGRAM IS EFFECTIVE 1 MAY 2007. AGREEMENTS MAY BE SUBMITTED TO THE PROGRAM MANAGER IMMEDIATELY BUT INITIAL PAYMENTS WILL NOT COMMENCE UNTIL MAY 2007. OFFICERS WILL BE OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMIT TO A FIVE-YEAR OR A THREE-YEAR AGREEMENT FOR BONUS AMOUNTS LISTED IN PARA 6. QUALIFIED OFFICERS WITH 20 OR MORE, BUT LESS THAN 22, YEARS OF COMMISSIONED SERVICE (YCS) MAY ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS LESS THAN THE FULL FIVE YEARS (BUT MORE THAN THREE); THESE AGREEMENTS WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR PRORATED PAYMENTS FOR THE FINAL YEAR AT THE FIVE YEAR RATE. ADDITIONALLY, QUALIFIED OFFICERS WITH 22 OR MORE, BUT LESS THAN 23, YCS MAY APPLY FOR A THREE YEAR CONTRACT. EXAMPLE 1: IF AN AC URL OFFICER (DESIGNATOR 1130) HAS 21 YCS HE MAY SIGN UP FOR A FOUR-YEAR AGREEMENT PAID AT THE FIVE-YEAR RATE. EXAMPLE 2: IF A URL AC OFFICER HAS 22 YEARS AND 8 MONTHS OF COMMISSIONED SERVICE HE CAN SIGN UP FOR A THREE-YEAR AGREEMENT THAT WILL OBLIGATE HIM TO SERVE UNTIL 25 YEARS AND 8 MONTHS OF COMMISSIONED SERVICE. 4. PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY. THIS BONUS MAY BE PAID TO AC NSW OFFICERS (DESIGNATORS 1130 AND 6150) WHO HAVE COMPLETED ANY SERVICE COMMITMENT INCURRED THROUGH THE OFFICER S INITIAL COMMISSIONING PROGRAM AND THE NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE OFFICER CONTINUATION PAY (SPECWAROCP) PROGRAM. TO QUALIFY: A. AC URL OFFICERS (DESIGNATOR 1130) WHO: (1) ARE DESIGNATED AS A NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE OFFICER (DESIGNATOR 1130) AND ASSIGNED ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATION DESIGNATOR (AQD) SEAL QUALIFIED (QC1 OR QC9). (2) HAVE COMPLETED AT LEAST 15, BUT NO MORE THAN 25, YEARS OF ACTIVE COMMISSIONED SERVICE. (3) COMPLETED AN EXECUTIVE OFFICER TOUR AND HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED AQD EXECUTIVE OFFICER QUALIFIED (QE1). EXECUTIVE OFFICER CREDIT CAN ALSO BE CERTIFIED BY DOCUMENTATION IN THE OFFICER S FITREP AND SHOULD BE NOTED IN THE COMMANDING OFFICERS ENDORSEMENT. (4) RECEIVED COMMANDING OFFICER S WRITTEN ENDORSEMENT. COMMANDING OFFICERS MUST ENSURE APPLICATIONS ARE ACCURATE AND VERIFY APPLICANTS MEET ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. ALL OFFICERS SERVING IN AN MFP-11 (SEAL) BILLET MUST HAVE THEIR APPLICATION ENDORSED BY THEIR NSW COMMANDING OFFICER OR ONE OF THE SIX NSW MAJOR COMMANDERS. NSW OFFICERS SERVING OUTSIDE THE NSW COMMUNITY IN A NON MFP-11 BILLET MUST HAVE THEIR CSRB APPLICATION ENDORSED BY CNSWC. ADDITIONALLY, ALL NSW CAPTAINS MUST HAVE THEIR APPLICATIONS ENDORSED BY CNSWC. THE INTENT IS FOR ALL CSRB APPLICATIONS TO RECEIVE ENDORSEMENT FROM THE FIRST NSW QUALIFIED COMMANDING OFFICER (OR ABOVE) IN AN APPLICANTS CHAIN OF COMMAND. (FOR EXAMPLE, AN 1130 OFFICER SERVING AT THE US NAVY WAR COLLEGE IN NEWPORT, RI MUST HAVE HIS CSRB PACKAGE ENDORSED BY THE CNSWC) B. LIMITED DUTY OFFICERS (DESIGNATOR 6150) MUST HAVE: (1) BEEN PERMANENTLY APPOINTED AS A SEAL LIMITED DUTY OFFICER (DESIGNATOR 6150) AND HAVE SERVED AT LEAST 10, BUT NOT MORE THAN 20, YEARS OF ACTIVE COMMISSIONED NAVAL SERVICE. (2) RECEIVED COMMANDING OFFICER S WRITTEN ENDORSEMENT. SEE PARA 4A(4). 5. PROGRAM EXECUTION: A. SUBMIT APPLICATIONS TO THE NSW OFFICER COMMUNITY MANAGER (N131H) USING THE FORMAT IN PARA 7. B. N131H IS DESIGNATED THE NSW CSRB PROGRAM MANAGER AND IS DELEGATED THE AUTHORITY TO: (1) EVALUATE THE ELIGIBILITY OF OFFICERS APPLYING FOR THE NSW CSRB; (2) ACCEPT NSW OFFICER AGREEMENTS TO REMAIN ON ACTIVE DUTY FOR THE STATED PERIOD IN EXCHANGE FOR AN NSW CSRB; AND (3) ADMINISTER THE NSW CSRB PROGRAM PER APPLICABLE LAWS, DOD DIRECTIVES/INSTRUCTIONS AND THIS NAVADMIN. C. SERVICE MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE THEIR BONUS AMOUNT UPON AGREEMENT ACCEPTANCE AND THEN IN ANNUAL ANNIVERSARY PAYMENTS THROUGH THE TERM OF THE AGREEMENT. D. UPON ACCEPTANCE OF AN OFFICER'S AGREEMENT BY THE PROGRAM MANAGER, THE AMOUNT OF THE BONUS BECOMES FIXED AND THE OFFICER INCURS A FIRM SERVICE OBLIGATION. E. CSRB REQUESTS FOR PERSONNEL WHO ARE BEING PROCESSED FOR OFFICER DESIGNATION REMOVAL OR RESTORATION WILL BE HELD IN ABEYANCE PENDING FINAL RESOLUTION OF THE ACTION IN QUESTION. 6. BONUS AMOUNTS: A. FIVE-YEAR AGREEMENTS: OFFICERS WHO COMMIT TO FIVE YEARS OF ADDITIONAL ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE WILL RECEIVE $25,000 PER YEAR, PAID IN EQUAL INSTALLMENTS OVER THE COURSE OF THE AGREEMENT. B. THREE-YEAR AGREEMENTS: OFFICERS WHO COMMIT TO THREE YEARS OF ADDITIONAL ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE WILL RECEIVE $15,000 PER YEAR, PAID IN EQUAL INSTALLMENTS OVER THE COURSE OF THE AGREEMENT. C. QUALIFIED OFFICERS WITH 20 OR MORE, BUT LESS THAN 22, YCS MAY ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS LESS THAN THE FULL FIVE YEARS (BUT MORE THAN THREE). THESE AGREEMENTS WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR PRORATED PAYMENTS FOR THE FINAL YEAR OF THEIR AGREEMENT AT THE FIVE-YEAR RATE. ADDITIONALLY, QUALIFIED OFFICERS WITH 22 OR MORE, BUT LESS THAN 23, YCS MAY APPLY FOR A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT. D. NSW CSRB AGREEMENT OBLIGATIONS WILL RUN CONCURRENTLY WITH ANY OBLIGATED SERVICE THE OFFICER HAS INCURRED FOR EDUCATION OR FELLOWSHIPS SUCH AS POST GRADUATE EDUCATION. 7. APPLICATION PROCESS. A. ELIGIBLE OFFICERS MAY APPLY FOR NSW CSRB VIA THEIR COMMANDING OFFICER. SUBMIT APPLICATIONS BY MAIL, EMAIL OR FAX TO: N131H (ATTN: NSW OFFICER COMMUNITY MANAGER) RM 3613 NAVY ANNEX BLDG #2 WASHINGTON, DC 20370 OR EMAIL TO KENNETH.NIEDERBERGER@NAVY.MIL OR MARGARETHE.FULLER@NAVY.MIL OR FAX TO (703) 614-1189/DSN 224. B. OFFICERS MUST SUBMIT SIGNED ORIGINAL AGREEMENT AND CO OR CNSWC ENDORSEMENTS. C. A SAMPLE APPLICATION FORMAT FOR NSW CSRB FOLLOWS: **********************BEGIN FORMAT************************ 7220 DATE FROM: (ELIGIBLE OFFICER, USN, SSN/DESIG) TO: NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE OFFICER COMMUNITY MANAGER (N131H) VIA: (CHAIN OF COMMAND) SUBJ: REQUEST FOR FY-0X NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE CRITICAL SKILLS RETENTION BONUS (NSW CSRB) REF: (A) TITLE 37, UNITED STATES CODE, SECTION 323 (B) NAVADMIN XXX/07 NSW CSRB PROGRAM 1. I HEREBY APPLY FOR THE CRITICAL SKILLS RETENTION BONUS AUTHORIZED BY REFERENCES (A) AND (B). I HAVE READ, UNDERSTAND, AND AGREE TO THE PROVISIONS OF REFERENCE (B), INCLUDING ALL PROVISIONS RELATING TO RECOUPMENT OF PAYMENTS TO BE MADE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH RECOUPMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT OF SUMS PAID IS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH TITLE 37, UNITED STATES CODE, SECTION 303A(E). 2. I CERTIFY THAT I MEET ALL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS OUTLINED IN REFERENCE (B). I FURTHER CERTIFY THAT I HAVE COMPLETED MY MINIMUM SERVICE OBLIGATION INCURRED THROUGH MY INITIAL COMMISSIONING PROGRAM AND THAT I AM NOT RECEIVING PAYMENTS, OR UNDER ANY SERVICE OBLIGATION, FROM THE NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE OFFICER CONTINUATION PAY. 3. CONTINGENT UPON ACCEPTANCE OF MY APPLICATION FOR THIS BONUS, I AGREE TO REMAIN ON ACTIVE DUTY AS A NSW OFFICER FOR (THREE OR FIVE) YEARS, AND ACCEPT THE NSW CSRB PAYMENTS OF (AMOUNT HERE) PER YEAR. I FURTHER AGREE NOT TO VOLUNTARILY REQUEST REDESIGNATION OR LATERAL TRANSFER TO ANOTHER NAVAL OR MILITARY COMMUNITY, RESIGN OR REQUEST TO RETIRE FOR (THREE OR FIVE) YEARS FROM THE DATE OF ACCEPTANCE OF THIS AGREEMENT. 4. I UNDERSTAND THAT RECOUPMENT OF THE UNEARNED PORTION OF THE CRITICAL SKILLS RETENTION BONUS IS REQUIRED ON A PRO-RATA BASIS IN ACCORDANCE WITH TITLE 37, UNITED STATES CODE, SECTION 303A(E), IF I FAIL TO MAINTAIN ELIGIBILITY OR FAIL TO COMPLETE THE FULL CONTRACTUAL PERIOD OF OBLIGATED MILITARY SERVICE OF THIS AGREEMENT EXCEPT FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: A. SEPARATION BY OPERATION OF LAWS OR BY OPERATION OF MILITARY SERVICE OR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE POLICIES. B. DEATH OR DISABILITY WHICH IS NOT THE RESULT OF MISCONDUCT, WILLFUL NEGLECT, AND NOT INCURRED DURING A PERIOD OF UNAUTHORIZED ABSENCE. 5. I ALSO UNDERSTAND MY ACCEPTED APPLICATION IS BINDING AND I WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE ($15,000 OR $25,000) PER YEAR IN SPECIAL PAY PER REFERENCES (A) AND (B). TYPED NAME *************************END FORMAT************************ 8. RECOUPMENT AND REPAYMENT POLICY. A. NSW CSRB PAYMENTS WILL BE STOPPED FOR OFFICERS WHO BECOME INELIGIBLE FOR THIS INCENTIVE OR FAIL TO COMPLETE THE FULL PERIOD OF ADDITIONAL OBLIGATED SERVICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH TITLE 37, UNITED STATES CODE, SECTION 303A(E). OFFICERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO REPAY THE UNITED STATES THE PERCENTAGE OF THE BONUS REPRESENTING THE UNEARNED PORTION OF THE OBLIGATED SERVICE UNDER THE NSW CSRB. SITUATIONS REQUIRING RECOUPMENT INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: (1) CNSWC ENDORSED REQUEST FOR VOLUNTARY RELEASE FROM THE WRITTEN AGREEMENT IF, DUE TO UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES, IT IS DETERMINED BY CNSWC AND N131H SUCH RELEASE WOULD CLEARLY BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF BOTH THE NAVY AND THE OFFICER CONCERNED; (2) REFUSAL TO ACCEPT ORDERS TO AN NSW BILLET COMMENSURATE WITH AN OFFICERS PAY GRADE; (3) DISABILITY RESULTING FROM MISCONDUCT, WILLFUL NEGLECT, OR INCURRED DURING A PERIOD OF UNAUTHORIZED ABSENCE; (4) SEPARATION FOR CAUSE, INCLUDING MISCONDUCT; (5) APPROVED DETACHMENT FOR CAUSE; B. IF AN OFFICER BECOMES INELIGIBLE FOR NSW CSRB FOR ANY OF THE REASONS BELOW, PAYMENTS WILL STOP, BUT RECOUPMENT OF PAYMENTS ALREADY RECEIVED WILL NOT BE REQUIRED: (1) DISABILITY, INJURY, OR ILLNESS NOT THE RESULT OF MISCONDUCT OR WILLFUL NEGLECT, OR NOT INCURRED DURING A PERIOD OF UNAUTHORIZED ABSENCE. (2) SEPARATION FROM NAVAL SERVICE BY OPERATION OF LAWS OR REGULATIONS INDEPENDENT OF MISCONDUCT; (3) DEATH (SEE SUBPARAGRAPH 8C BELOW); AND (4) WHERE SECNAV DETERMINES REPAYMENT WOULD BE AGAINST EQUITY AND GOOD CONSCIENCE, OR WOULD BE CONTRARY TO THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE UNITED STATES. C. FOR OFFICERS WHO DIE BEFORE RECEIVING THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE BONUS DUE (INCLUDING CONTRACTED FUTURE YEAR ANNIVERSARY PAYMENTS) AND DEATH IS NOT CAUSED BY THE MEMBER S MISCONDUCT, THE REMAINING UNPAID BONUS BALANCE IS PAYABLE AS A LUMP SUM FOR INCLUSION IN THE SETTLEMENT OF THE DECEASED MEMBER S FINAL MILITARY PAY ACCOUNT. IF DEATH IS DETERMINED TO BE THE RESULT OF THE MEMBER S OWN MISCONDUCT, TERMINATION OF FUTURE PAYMENTS AND PRORATION OR RECOUPMENT OF THE BONUS, AS APPLICABLE, WILL BE MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH PROCEDURES ESTABLISHED FOR MEMBERS WHOSE INABILITY TO COMPLETE A CONTRACTED PERIOD OF SERVICE IS VOLUNTARY OR THE RESULT OF MISCONDUCT. 9. POINT OF CONTACT: CDR NIEDERBERGER, NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE OFFICER COMMUNITY MANAGER (N131H), AT (703) 614-8327 OR EMAIL AT KENNETH.NIEDERBERGER(AT)NAVY.MIL, OR MARGARETHE FULLER, NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE ASSISTANT COMMUNITY MANAGER, AT (703) 614-3289 OR EMAIL AT MARGARETHE.FULLER(AT)NAVY.MIL. 10. RELEASED BY VADM J. C. HARVEY, JR., N1.// BT #0000 NNNN