Career Intermission offers opportunities for personal, professional development
9/8/2010
by Lt. Laura K. Stegherr, Diversity Directorate Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Approved in the Fiscal Year 2009 National Defense Authorization Act, the Career Intermission Pilot Program (CIPP) offers a temporary inactivation from active duty - from one to three years - for top performing Sailors.

CIPP presents a unique opportunity for members to take a career intermission without penalty and return to active duty to complete a successful Navy career.

The program provides this opportunity for up to 20 officers and 20 enlisted participants each year until 2012 via a one-time temporary transition for active duty personnel to the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). Participants accepted in 2012 can use intermission to remain in the IRR until 2015.

While in the program, participants retain full active-duty Tricare health benefits for themselves and their dependents, as well as all base privileges. Participants also receive a monthly stipend of one-fifteenth of their basic pay. Additionally, to ease the transition into the program, members may elect a Navy-funded permanent change of station move to anywhere in the continental United States when entering the program.

The Navy is optimistic this measure will enhance retention in critical skill sets, while allowing greater flexibility in career paths of service members.

"The Career Intermission Pilot Program serves a two-fold purpose – one, it can be an innovative approach to keeping our best Sailors on board and retaining their talent for the duration of a career," said Rear Adm. Anthony Kurta, director, Military Personnel Plans and Policy. "Additionally, the program can provide flexibility to Sailors so they can better fulfill their personal needs and professional goals."

A career intermission may be used for a multitude of personal or professional reasons, ranging from pursuing additional education to starting a family or caring for an ailing loved one.

For Lt. Christopher Morgan of the Navy Nurse Corps, CIPP presented the opportunity to pursue two goals - complete a theology and counseling master's degree and start a family.

According to Morgan, CIPP has played an integral role in achieving both of these goals. Morgan is utilizing the Post-9/11 GI bill to pay for his schooling at Denver Seminary. Additionally, he and his wife, who have one child and another on the way, are working to adopt a child from South Korea.

"Being around the home regularly for the first few years of my children's lives has been a great pleasure and a real time of strengthening for our marriage," said Morgan. "Meanwhile, the CIPP program providing medical [benefits] has been huge."

For Legalman 1st Class Shenika Mayes, CIPP was a means to ensure that another member of her family was "fit for duty" - her son, who was born with a rare congenital disorder that affects his kidney function.

"My son has to see specialists on a regular basis, and he may require at least one additional surgery," said Mayes. "I want to ensure that I am going to be around if he does have to have those surgeries."

Additionally, Mayes is pursuing her professional goals of completing a master's degree in human resource management and earning both a certificate in criminal forensics and a real estate license.

"This program could not have come at a better time," said Mayes. "I get the opportunity to take time off from the Navy to take care of my family and go to school full time. I was able to move back to my hometown to be closer to my family, who all help me with my son. Not to mention that I still retain all health benefits for my son and me!"

Upon returning to active duty, officers will have their date of rank adjusted, and enlisted members will have their active duty service date adjusted, essentially "stopping the clock" to ensure members remain competitive with others of similar time in grade on active duty.

All program participants will return to active duty at the end of the intermission period and will incur a two-to-one service obligation for every month in the program (served in addition to any previously existing obligation). Time spent in the IRR will not count toward retirement, computation of total years of commissioned service, or high-year tenure limitations.

For both Morgan and Mayes, the ability to transition back into active duty is a key factor in their decision to participate in CIPP.

"One of my primary goals is to not jeopardize the potential naval career that I hope to have for 20-plus years," said Morgan. "I'm thrilled to have my Naval career waiting for me to resume!"

"I really hope I am able to complete all my goals before returning so that when I come back, I can fully focus on the next half of my career," said Mayes.

To respond to the need for greater flexibility, applications for CIPP will now be accepted and approved by a rolling application process.

For more information on CIPP, including how to apply, visit http://www.npc.navy.mil/ CommandSupport/TaskForceLifeWork/Career+Intermission+Program.htm.