Navy Sends Mixed Messages with Training

Something is seriously wrong with the way the Navy views training and readiness. For most of my Navy career, the chain of command has vigorously promoted its college programs, and rightly so. Navy Campus has assisted thousands of sailors, myself among them, in completing degrees, thus improving their knowledge, abilities and attitudes and increasing their value to the Navy.

That’s why I’m so confused by the Navy’s moves regarding advancement requirements.

Last March, the Navy Human Relations Board approved the elimination of Personnel Advancement Requirements (PARs) and Non-resident Training Courses (NRTCs) from the recommendation for advancement for the Navy’s enlisted personnel. According to NAVADMIN 042/00, “Documentation of NRTCs on advancement worksheets is no longer required.” However, it goes on to say that “completion… remains an essential element in preparing for advancement.” Thus, the Navy has issued another order that contradicts not only common sense, but contradicts itself as well.

Of course, this is also contradictory to the Navy’s own advancement website, where the bibliographies for advancement study are available, which says, “The exams differentiate among fully qualified candidates on the basis of who has the most knowledge. The NRTC may be a place to start your study, but it is definitely not the place to end it.” I agree; or rather, I would, but if the NRTC is not even required to be done, how can it be considered a place to start?

So what was the practical purpose of the requirement to complete the Rate Training Manuals and PARs? To provide the minimum knowledge necessary for a sailor to work at the next higher rate. By removing the requirement for these courses be completed, the Navy has essentially taken the position that everything can be learned on the job or in school. Study is nice, but really not necessary to be able to do what the petty officer has been hired to do. Granted, no sailor has ever been required by instruction to study for the advancement test. The smart ones do, but even should such a mandate be made, it would be almost unenforceable. Indeed, no sailor is required to even take the advancement test if he or she so chooses.

Obviously some commands are going to take the position, “Well, it’s still a requirement here. Do the NRTC or you won’t be recommended for advancement.” I believe that this is the right attitude to have. But guess what? If that requirement is held, then someone in the ship’s office or the base’s personnel detachment or the individual work center is STILL going to need to go into each sailor’s record and ensure that the course is completed and recorded properly, leaving the order in NAVADMIN 042/00 hollow one way or the other.

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