Senior POs that chose an out of rate special duty shore assignment; does that help or hurt your career?

PO1 Shahida Marmol — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 05:54:36 -0400

Senior POs that chose an out of rate special duty shore assignment? Will it be a deal breaker for making CPO? What if they still have 10 years left before retirement?

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 11 at 2015 6:02 AM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 06:02:20 -0400

In my experience it depends on the duty. Recruiting duty has always been looked upon favorably by the Selection Board.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2015 6:51 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 06:51:39 -0400

I did an out of rate assignment as a First. Detailer wanted me to go recruiting. When I insisted he told me I would never make Cheif but I did. Times change though this was back in the early 90s

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2015 8:28 AM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 08:28:51 -0400

First, very little anyone ever tells you about promotion is a guarantee. You can make yourself more competitive but there is no silver bullet. It's about numbers. As a first class and below, I never did anything in the Navy I didn't want to do or enjoy doing.
That said, you have a lot to consider.
PO1 Miller had a good point. What's available in Europe? Start with considering those options.
What options are available if you don't take special duty?
After that, your rate has something to do with it.
What are the promotion numbers, in your rating, for others who have taken special duty assignments?
What are the promotion rates out of the special duty assignments you're considering?
Have others in your rating served in that assignment? What was their promotion like?
At the end of the day it will always come down to how you perform, wherever you go.

Response by CPO Gregory Smith made Jul 11 at 2015 9:31 AM

CPO Gregory Smith — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 09:31:11 -0400

There's no way of guessing what the CPO selection board will look for as a make or break item year to year. I was working out of my rate for two years as a training PO prior to being selected. Reading the board precepts from the last few years might give you some insight but in the end it comes down to the MCPO's reviewing your record in Millington. My advice would be to find a MCPO in your command who has sat on the board and get some direction. If that doesn't work contact me and I'll get you in touch with my mentor. He's an AWCM who has been on a ton of advancement boards.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 12 at 2015 3:40 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Jul 2015 03:40:34 -0400

As "out-of-rate" as my two shore tours have been, it hasn't hurt in any way, but it hasn't guaranteed Chief, despite the whole "the board looks for 'out-of-rate' tours" bunk. Your BEST bet? Read the precepts and do what is on them, PME, JPME, etc., do your job to the best of your abilities, get every PQS / JQR done that you are eligible to do, and train your Sailors - ALWAYS train your Sailors, and have quantifiable achievements on your evals. All an out-of-rate tour does, in my opinion, is make you a more well-rounded Sailor that has the potential to bring more to the table.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Jul 12 at 2015 1:32 PM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Sun, 12 Jul 2015 13:32:08 -0400

If things now are anything like they were when I was in, OS is a very large rating. Do you have a specialty NEC, against whom you compete for promotion, or are you in the general OS community. If in the broader community, then getting experience outside your rating isn't a bad idea.

Just as you had to get an ESWS or EAWS pin (or mabye EIDWS?) - whichever one you have, you had to learn about things outside your rating. As a Chief, you may be called on to do more than supervise OSs in CIC. Those collateral command duties require you have a broader knowledge.

Additionally, I don't know how the Enlisted community sees it, but the Officer community pretty much requires joint tours for senior ranks. If you get a job in a NATO or EUCOM HQ, you will get the jointness creds (and maybe some joint medals too). Plus, European duty can be amazing because of the liberty opportunities...

I would talk to your community manager at NAVPERS/BUPERS whatever they call it these days, and see what they say. They know the OS community issues better than anyone else, and can best advise you.

Good luck...

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 12 at 2015 6:20 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Jul 2015 18:20:15 -0400

As long as you have good sea/shore flow rotation and have sustained, superior performance documented in your Evals, then it shouldn't hurt you... If you do well in the out shore duty assignment, it may even give you the extra nod... Of course every situation is unique and this is "broad" advice... A lot would depend on what you have done up to this point in your career

Response by CWO2 Davin Jantzen made Jul 13 at 2015 8:54 PM

CWO2 Davin Jantzen — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 20:54:14 -0400

I believe a joint service or out of rate assignment completed successfully is a ticket that must be punched for advancement!!

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Jul 14 at 2015 2:42 PM

PO1 Glenn Boucher — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 14:42:04 -0400

In my opinion you have to get the right mentor at every command you are in. The Chiefs selection board, again in my opinion, is a who knows who selection process because as we have all seen that not the best of the best are always picked up.
That being said, even though I never made Chief I feel it was because I was more of a loaner, I got both my ESWS and EAWS, got the right awards, got the right evals, worked hard, took on a lot of collateral duties, conducted training and mentoring for my junior sailors, I put them up for awards, and more. I spent 18 out of 24 years onboard ships, my choice, I loved being at sea, I felt more valuable and like I was making a difference.
I have a lot of respect for the Chiefs community so don't take what I said the wrong way but getting in with the right CPO's is going to work out better for you or anyone who wants to make Chief.

Response by LT Michael Cavaggioni made Jul 14 at 2015 6:56 PM

LT Michael Cavaggioni — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 18:56:48 -0400

My only shore duty while I was enlisted was an out of rate job. I did a recruiting your and I am pretty sure that it played a role in my selection for LDO. No matter what you do or where you go, work hard and take care of your people.

Response by CPO Rob Daniel made Jul 15 at 2015 4:53 PM

CPO Rob Daniel — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 16:53:38 -0400

I have read through this thread and a few comments seem more useful than the usual rhetoric. Joint assignments, reviewing the precepts and the like are excellent in principle. I will fall back on this one old standard, sustained superior performance is key!
Completing pqs/jqr’s for your billet is obvious as is taking care of your troops and ensuring they earn recognition and advancement. Your best recognition will come groomer the success of your team.
Individually, consider qualifying for duties outside of the norm for the bullet you hold.
Caution: Choose your collaterals wisely, review the command collateral duty list and talk to your CMC about duties that have fallen through the cracks and by reviving them would make a difference to readiness or climate, and be smart enough to know when you should tactfully decline new collaterals. It may sound great to say you have "X" collateral duties but the important piece is balancing how effective you can be with those while still excelling in your primary billet.
The argument regarding variety of assignments is valid. In my experience repeating duty types is generally frowned upon.
I hope you pick up the joint command. But truthfully, each of the commands you listed seems like it would be career enhancing.
Short answer long, taking orders outside of your normal career path should be considered an enhancement as long as you make your time there count.
Best of Luck!

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 17 at 2015 8:34 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Jul 2015 08:34:07 -0400

Read the CPO precepts. You can find them on NPC, it will answer your questions sis and let you decide on what you want to do.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 23 at 2015 9:03 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 21:03:36 -0400

Actually, it can help out quite a bit if you're smart about it. If you have the ability to earn another warfare pin, that helps a lot. If you can complete some school or get qualified something new, that also helps. Community service and volunteer work helps. AND...if you excel in your billet, it shows diversity to the board. It is what you make of it.

R,
ISC (sel)(EXW/NAO/SCW/SW/AW) HARANO

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2015 8:12 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 20:12:20 -0400

What would make you the happiest and most satisfied with your life? That's what I think you should do. It's hard before you choose, check what your heart tells you. If you really listen to it you'll never go wrong.

Response by PO1 Rick Serviss made Aug 13 at 2015 4:08 AM

PO1 Rick Serviss — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 04:08:14 -0400

It depends on how long they stay in an out of rate billet. Say the senior PO took an attache assignment for 1 overseas tour and the next time the person is up for order they went back in rate, it could help their career. The board always looks at Sailors who excel in diversified assignments. The reason I never wanted anything to do with becoming a Classifier (NEC 2612) was because it would limit my choice of where I would be stationed.

Response by PO1 Tharin Young made Apr 6 at 2016 6:50 PM

PO1 Tharin Young — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 18:50:50 -0400

I imagine it depends on the assignment. I had always heard that assignments like recruiting and RDC were huge feathers to put into one's cap but for every one of thosethere are probably several that will do you no good. You should probably talk to your career counselor for the best gouge on the subject.

Response by PO1 Sean Freeman made May 22 at 2024 7:18 PM

PO1 Sean Freeman — Wed, 22 May 2024 19:18:54 -0400

Hurt me bad...
But that was a long time ago