The White Falcon - 28.03.1997, Page 3

Sailors top priority in end-strength plans
Washington, D.C. (NNS) — In order to maintain key person-
nel programs and to efficiently arrive at the FY98 end-strength
target of 390,000 people contained in the president’s budget, the
.Navy will accelerate into FY97 a few thousand personnel reduc-
tions planned for FY98, and finish FY97 with an end strength of
395,500. The Navy will achieve these reductions primarily
through reduced accessions and continued use of voluntary loss
programs.
“This accelerated end-strength reduction is not a new cut,”
said Vice Adm. Daniel T. Oliver, chief of naval personnel. “It is
merely the continuation of our plan to arrive at affordable, sus-
tainable force requirements driven by the 1993 Bottom Up
Review.”
Moving some of the planned personnel reductions into FY97
allows the Navy to maintain key programs important to Sailors,
including selective reenlistment bonuses, advancements, career
sea pay, special duty assignment pay and the voluntary educa-
tion programs such as tuition assistance.
“Sailors remain my top priority. As with previous reductions
during the drawdown, great care will be taken by Navy leader-
ship to manage this effort in a way which keeps faith with our
people. It will not affect our career Sailors in any way,” Oliver
said.
Navy linguist opportunities now available
Washington, D.C. (NNS) — Sailors with language skills may
have a career opportunity as a Navy linguist, cryptologic techni-
cian (interpretive) or CTI, according to NavAdmin 61/97,
released by BuPers.
The Navy needs Sailors who proficiently speak, read and/or
write a foreign language, specifically E-2s through E-5s in the
following languages: Spanish, French, Portuguese, Arabic,
Persian-Farsi, Chinese (Mandarin), Korean, Vietnamese,
Cambodian, Serbian, Croatian and Russian.
Sailors in Creo Group II or III ratings, merging or disestab-
lishing ratings, or undesignated seamen, firemen or airmen are
especially encouraged to consider the rate conversion. As a
Creo Group I rating, CTI has excellent advancement opportuni-
ty (E-4 at 100 percent), outstanding selective reenlistment bonus
offerings and special language proficiency pay.
NavAdmin 61/97 contains further details on application
requirements and rating benefits. For more information on
conversion and testing, Sailors should contact their career coun-
selor.
Air Force enhances officer assignments
Randolph AFB, Texas (AFNS) — Commanders with short-
notice requirements will get their job openings filled quicker as
a result of a new enhancement to the officer assignment system.
The enhancement focuses on streamlining procedures to fill
valid short-notice requirements and reducing the time an orga-
nization waits for a backfill, officials at the Air Force Personnel
Center (AFPC) say. Under current assignment system guide-
lines, the most eligible or qualified officer selected for an assign-
ment is notified after the position is advertised for 30 days.
When the advertising phase is paired up with the selection and
notification process, filling the position can, at times, exceed 150
days, officials say.
“That amount of time is just not responsive enough to support
those compelling, short-notice requirements that occur from
time-to-time,” says Lt. Col. Nellie Riley, chief of the assignment
procedures, programs and permanent-change-of-station budget
branch.
Accordingly, after receiving a validated short-notice require-
ment from a major command, AFPC is now “immediately iden-
tifying the most eligible and qualified officer, and notifying the
first colonel or 0-6 equivalent in their chain of command of that
officer’s pending assignment,” says Riley. “At virtually the same
time, we’ll run an ad for the job for two weeks to give others in
the field an opportunity to volunteer,” she adds.
9{pmes and faces
Meet OS3 Sharon L. Shultz
Works at: CFK
Duties: Watch stander
Hometown: Kileen, Texas
Favorite subject in school: Algebra
Hobbies: Bowling and volleyball
Favorite music: Country
Favorite movie: Man Without A Face
Favorite food: Seafood
People who know me think I am: Funny and easy to get along with
Most rewarding aspect of my job: Making certain everything is
safe for the flights
Goal: To have as much fun as possible
March 28,1997
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