Join the Navy and see the world. That was the United States Navy’s long-used recruiting slogan. However, seeing the world on another deployment isn’t always an option for some sailors who face an illness or are recovering from an injury. Rather than seeing those sailors separate from the service, which could lead to personnel shortages, the U.S. Navy announced it would seek to find them other jobs under the EMPLOY program.
Last week, the U.S. Navy released a NAVADMIN notice stating that under the new program, non-deployable sailors will have expanded opportunities for continued service rather than being “gapped.” It will help retain sailors who possess valuable knowledge, skills, and experience that help the service meet its warfighting mission.
It was further designed to increase the quality of service, retain talent that contributes to the Navy’s warfighting advantage, and reduce Disability Evaluation System (DES) cases. The program is a collaboration between the Navy Personnel Command (NPC) and the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED), which enables the identification and retention of sailors who are non-deployable.
EMPLOY began as a pilot program last year and has now been extended to the whole fleet. As of this month, there were just over 300 sailors in the program, while 850 more were being considered. Around 20 sailors are nominated for EMPLOY each week, USNI News reported.
Voluntary Program and Temporary Deployment
It is a voluntary program open to active duty, and training and administration of the reserve sailors who are clinically stable and able to complete tasks associated with their rank/rate in a non-operational environment.
According to the notice, “Sailors approved for the EMPLOY program will be assigned to gapped, funded billets ashore to perform meaningful work that would otherwise be vacant. EMPLOY will not limit billets for Sailors rotating from sea duty or impact Sea/Shore flow.”
The tours under the EMPLOY program are for a minimum of 24 months (two years). They are coded as Accounting Category Code (ACC) 100 to allow Sailors to apply for cross-rating or redesignation, if applicable.
In addition, sailors can be reconsidered for eligibility during each EMPLOY tour until found fit for return to full
duty, referred to the DES, or separated from service. The notice also explained that sailors in communities that require special-duty screenings “must complete their screening and/or de-screening process” before being considered for the program.
Sailors can be referred for EMPLOY by their medical provider, and then reviewed via a nomination and assignment process. Sailors should be stable in their medical condition and still able to complete tasks associated with their rank or rate in non-operational environments. Those sailors in communities that require special duty screenings will need to complete a screening and de-screening process prior to being considered for the program.
“EMPLOY Sailors are assigned to shore billets that would otherwise be gapped and will not compete with Sailors rotating from sea to shore,” said Commander, Navy Personnel Command, Rear Adm. Wayne Baze. “EMPLOY helps to retain our talent, improving their quality of service and increasing fleet readiness.”
Retaining Talent
Sailors who serve through EMPLOY will be assigned to “meaningful positions” while also maintaining continuity of their respective medical care. However, it is designed for sailors who wish to remain within the U.S. Navy, providing a path to continued service. Those who are unwilling to continue serving or are medically incapable of continued service will still be referred to the DES.
The program will not affect the disability percentages that can be determined by review of medical records when sailors separate from the service. Nor does it change the media record.
The service also confirmed that re-enlistment will not be necessary as the sailor’s EAOS (Expiration of Active Obligated Service) will be extended to match their new Projected Rotation Date (PRD) on EMPLOY tours. Sailors on an EMPLOY tour will still be eligible for promotion, and cross-rating/redesignation.
While sailors may serve in billets that would otherwise be gapped in EMPLOY, shore billets will remain available for all sailors rotating from sea-to-shore. The program is meant to allow sailors on temporary limited duty (TLD), and who are expected to recover from their injury or illness, to return to full duty.
The needs of the U.S. Navy will also determine assignment to the tours, taking into account a sailor’s medical needs, Commander’s Assessment, and non-deployable billet availability.
