Is a ship or detailer required to notify prospective gains of a homeport change?

2017-01-27T22:46:13-05:00

I am PCSing to a ship home-ported in Hawaii soon. I recently bought a house and am moving into it shortly. I found out today from a wife that the ship is changing homeport to San Diego. This is a rumor and is not on my orders, CMSID, or any documentation. I contacted my Chain of Command on the ship I have orders to and was told that the ship is in fact changing homeports.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Jan 27 at 2017 11:17 PM

2017-01-27T23:17:35-05:00

Damn that's a tough break. I'd be calling my detailer to see if you can get different orders. That said, how many wives do you have? lol.

Response by CDR Jon Corrigan made Jan 28 at 2017 1:13 AM

2017-01-28T01:13:34-05:00

My first two ships changed homeports; had four different ones in 4 1/2 years. Agree with Greg - call your detailer or see if you can execute a swap with someone else from a different ship.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2017 2:20 AM

2017-01-28T02:20:18-05:00

They should give you an ORMOD depending on date of transfer and date of new Home port. You need to be talking to Detailer. I believe I told you to look into NECC, i.e. (EOD, Support Seabee Support, Coastal Rivierine and Navy Expeditionary Intel) but what do I know. You could have been doing some kind of ground Combat stuff, but again what do I know.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2017 10:37 AM

2017-01-28T10:37:09-05:00

Not sure how up to date this list is, but it isn't approved yet. Haven't heard any of this over at ATG.
http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/enlisted/detailing/seaspecial/Pages/DECOMHOMEPORT.aspx

Decom/Homeport Changes

The decommissioning and homeport change processes are new and unfamiliar for most Sailors in the Fleet. Below we’ve listed helpful information that will get your command well on its way in preparing to make a decommissioning or homeport change a successful transition both on the command level as well as the individual Sailor.

Response by LCDR Dave Spurlock made Feb 1 at 2017 11:10 AM

2017-02-01T11:10:05-05:00

PO1, sorry to be a sour grape but you don't really have any grievance. The old axiom: "Needs of the Navy" trumps most all. Remember, this is the Military not a social club. I know this is harsh but it is the simple truth. Unfortunately you pretty much made this situation bad by being overly proactive - normally a good thing.

The advice several people have given you is the best advice, however I would add one thing: take the emotion out of your efforts. You should rationally explain to your future Chain of Command your situation and be prepared to have several solutions to the situation ready to offer them. I used to tell my Sailors: Don't come to me with problems; Come to me with solutions! At first blush that sounds harsh but again, if you take the emotion out of it, it is a development tool. As you progress in your leadership growth, you are going to have to be the one who solves problems and there is always more than one solution. Some call it thinking out of the box.

As others have said, start discussing swaps with other Sailors. Start working with your current Career Counselors to work with the Detailer about ORDMODs. Start talking with Real Estate agents to sell or otherwise cancel the purchase in Hawaii. There are legal protections available to you precisely for these kinds of cases. Go talk to the Legal Office on your base.

Again, I don't enjoy being so cold and seemingly uncaring but please remember that they are "ORDERS" not "INVITATIONS". You can solve this! Take out the emotions which cloud your thought processes, use your knowledge and experience effectively and take advantage of your CoC, Mentors & peers. Be the FIRST CLASS Petty Officer that I am sure you are.