Sea duty holds key to advancement
9/11/2009
by Ed Barker
PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) -- According to a recent study by the Navy Advancement Center in Pensacola, Sailors looking for the best chances for advancement should consider sea duty over shore duty when given the option by their detailers.

The study showed statistically significant differences in the average standard exam scores, average final multiple scores and percent advancement for Sailors on sea duty. Advancements for Sailors on sea duty in paygrades E-4 to E-6 ranged from four to seven percent higher than their shore duty counterparts.

"Sailors are using their knowledge and training on sea duty while working directly in their rating, and that gets them advanced," said Jim Hawthorne, head of the Navy's Enlisted Advancement System Division at the Naval Education and Training Professional Development and Technology Center (NETPDTC). "While shore duty has quality-of-life advantages, the data clearly shows that sea duty has an advancement advantage."

"The chiefs writing the exam questions are asked what they expect their Sailors to know in the fleet and put that into the exam," said Master Chief Electrician's Mate (SS) Jeromie Cook, NETPDTC command master chief. "The advancement exams for most rates are focused on knowledge and skills that are acquired on sea duty, so to perform well on the exam, that's where you need to spend significant time."

"Getting advanced is a combination of several things," said Hawthorne. The final multiple score combines the exam standard score, award points, passed not-advanced points, time-in-grade and performance mark average. "Sea duty is not a magic bullet if you don't have sustained, superior performance."