Do we need to make adjustments to how those in the military are compensated? Maybe so, but let us do it with our eyes wide open, and let us not rewrite history in an attempt to justify any changes.

First, let’s go back to the why.

From 1982 to 2000, military pay raises were capped and did not track at all with the amount of increases in pay that our civilian counterparts enjoyed. During that period, the gap in military to civilian pay grew to as large as 13.5 percent.

Starting early in the new millennium, congress decided to close the gap by adding one-half of one percent to proposed pay increases. The practice of adding the half-percent continued until the 2011 raise which was strictly based on ECI alone. It was also during this time that studies were released which indicated the pay gap may no longer exist.

We are the most capable military force on the planet, and it is due of the dedicated people who serve. It is vitally important to retention that we ensure we provide compensation to our Servicemembers that is at least on par with those in the civilian sector.

Yesterday, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Joint Chiefs Chairman, General Martin E. Dempsey laid out a few of the budget concerns and expectations for the FY-2013 budget. General Dempsey commented that pay needs to raise at a slower rate, and the Secretary claimed, “Let me be clear, nobody’s pay will be cut.” The two statements together are really disingenuous. By not increasing military pay at a rate that keeps inline with the civilian sector (the current ECI data point), it is once again imposing a gap that will feel just like a pay cut.

Review figures from the New York Times,

The Pentagon currently spends $181 billion a year, nearly a third of its base budget, on military personnel: $107 billion for salaries and allowances, $50 billion for health care and $24 billion for retirement pay.

Interestingly, just as a point of interest, in 1970, one-third of the defense budget was military personnel costs.

When congress reduces the number of personnel serving on active duty to a peace time level, the salaries and allowances number will of course fall, however, the retirement pay numbers will continue to increase.

It isn’t a new concern.

May 15, 1963, the then congressman Gerald Ford from Michigan’s 5th district wrote,

“I am concerned with the ever-increasing cost of retirement pay for the military. In 1954, the defense appropriations bill of $40.3 billion provided retirement pay of $386 million or 0.96 percent of the defense budget. In 1964 the $51 billion defense budget caDs for $1.1 billion in retirement pay or 2.28 percent of the total.”

Today, retirement pay accounts for about 4.6% of the defense budget, and as congress decreases the defense budget, those retirement costs will garner an even larger percentage of our nation’s defense spend. Because our current retirement pay system is directly linked to basic pay, each basic pay raise has a long lasting impact.

President Obama plans to, “establish a commission with authority to conduct a comprehensive review of military retirement.” To be honest, I think if we took all the money spent on studies and commissions over the past 50 years and put it back into the budget, we’d be running a surplus. OK, that’s a gross exaggeration, but really, the data already exists – at lease enough data to sit down with, and formulate some real solution suggestions.

The approved 2012 Military Pay Chart for basic pay, effective January 1, 2012.
The 2013 Military Pay raise estimation based on ECI - Title 37, US Code.

Your USNI membership will give you access to online resources to assist you in gaining valuable knowledge of our nation’s history. A resource that no Future Sailor and interested family members should be without.

From the USNI Member’s Benefits page;

• You empower active-duty Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen by giving them exclusive access to strategic insights and perspectives that shape their understanding of key issues that challenge America’s armed forces, plus the real-world, decision-making tools they use every day to carry out their missions and keep America strong, safe and free.
• You foster a stronger, more dynamic national defense by providing the means for an indispensable independent forum that stimulates and enables an open exchange of Sea Services commentary and discourse that challenges conventional wisdom and maximizes the quality of professional debate.
• You honor the men and women of our Sea Services by preserving their powerful legacy and history so that future generations may continue to value their service, dedication and sacrifice.

Join the USNI here.

I know you will enjoy it as much as I.

OK, now that you have joined, you get to complete your first official action as a member of the United States Naval Institute. Before midnight 12 March 2012, you get to vote for the Board of Directors. Before you vote, I recommend that you visit one of the candidates, the Steel Jaw Scribe, and read up on his vision. He received my vote, I hope he gets yours, too.

Disclaimer: I am a member of the USNI. This recommendation is my own, and I have not received compensation of any kind to generate this post.

The approved 2012 Military Pay Chart for basic pay, effective January 1, 2012.
The 2013 Military Pay raise estimation based on ECI - Title 37, US Code.

Please note: Recruiter impropriety is a relatively rare occurrence committed by a very small number of those serving in the billet. The vast, overwhelming majority of Sailors who serve in recruiting proceed with the professionalism you should expect by members of our armed forces.

Beginning earlier this month, Navy Recruiters have been provided with “Recruit with Integrity” cards that must be provided to all applicants at their initial face to face contact.

The front of the card;

The card’s reverse;

Additionally, each Recruiter’s business card will now be required to have the following information on the reverse;

From COMNAVCRUITCOMNOTE 1133 dated Jan. 4, 2012;

Action. In order to ensure prospects, applicants, future sailors and their families understand that they will be treated with dignity and respect throughout the enlistment process, the recruiter will provide the “Recruit with Integrity” Card to prospective applicants at first contact.

The approved 2012 Military Pay Chart for basic pay, effective January 1, 2012.
The 2013 Military Pay raise estimation based on ECI - Title 37, US Code.

FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
TO NAVADMIN
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
BT
UNCLAS//N01300//
NAVADMIN 013/12

MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/JAN// 

SUBJ/SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUS UPDATE//

REF/A/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/221653Z AUG 11//
REF/B/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/172244Z MAY 11//
REF/C/DOC/OPNAV/30JAN07//
REF/D/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/091648Z JAN 09//
REF/E/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/122232Z FEB 10//
REF/F/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/141500Z OCT 11//
REF/G/DOC/DOD/15DEC04//
NARR/ REF A IS NAVADMIN 253/11 - SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUS UPDATE.
REF B IS NAVADMIN 166/11 - FY11 SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUS AWARD
LEVELS AND POLICY UPDATE II.  REF C IS OPNAVINST 1160.8A - SELECTIVE
REENLISTMENT BONUS PROGRAM INSTRUCTION.  REF D IS NAVADMIN 006/09 -
SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUS POLICY CHANGE.  REF E IS NAVADMIN 051/10
- ENLISTED SUPERVISOR RETENTION PAY PROGRAM.  REF F IS
NAVADMIN 308/11 - ENLISTED SUPERVISOR RETENTION PAY PROGRAM,
EFFECTIVE 1 JAN 12.  REF G IS DODINST 1304.29 - ADMINISTRATION OF
ENLISTMENT BONUSES, ACCESSION BONUSES FOR NEW OFFICERS IN CRITICAL
SKILLS, SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUSES, AND CRITICAL SKILLS RETENTION
BONUSES FOR ACTIVE MEMBERS.//
RMKS/1.  THIS NAVADMIN ANNOUNCES REVISED SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUS
(SRB) AWARD LEVELS FOR ACTIVE COMPONENT (AC) AND RESERVE COMPONENT
FULL TIME SUPPORT (FTS), AND SUPERSEDES REF A.  THE SRB PROGRAM WILL
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE EARLY REENLISTMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR TOP
PERFORMING SAILORS AS OUTLINED IN PARA 6 BELOW.  INCREASED AWARD
LEVELS ARE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AND DECREASED LEVELS ARE EFFECTIVE
30 DAYS AFTER THE RELEASE OF THIS NAVADMIN.
2.  CONTINUING WITH THE POLICY INITIATED BY REFERENCE B,
REENLISTMENT REQUESTS FOR THE FOLLOWING SRB AWARD LEVELS WILL BE
APPROVED BASED ON QUOTA AVAILABILITY.  AS WITH PERFORM TO SERVE (PTS),
ELIGIBLE SAILORS DESIRING SRB REENLISTMENT ARE ENCOURAGED TO WORK WITH
THEIR CHAIN OF COMMAND AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE WITHIN THEIR REENLISTMENT
WINDOW TO MAXIMIZE POTENTIAL FOR SRB.  PERS-811 (SRB DESK) MAINTAINS
THE CURRENT LIST OF SRB ELIGIBLE RATINGS/SKILLS BASED ON AVAILABLE
QUOTAS AT HTTP://WWW.PUBLIC.NAVY.MIL/BUPERS-NPC/CAREER/
ENLISTEDCAREERADMIN/PAGES/SRB.ASPX.  FOR THOSE COMMANDS
WITH LIMITED INTERNET ACCESS, COMMAND CAREER COUNSELORS SHOULD
CONTACT PERS-811 DIRECTLY FOR THE LATEST UPDATES.
3.  AC SRB AWARD LEVELS ARE AS FOLLOWS (NOTE: AN "*" INDICATES LEVEL
LOCATED IN OTHER SECTIONS OF PARA 3, A "-" INDICATES A REDUCTION FROM
PREVIOUS AWARD LEVEL, A "+" INDICATES AN INCREASE FROM PREVIOUS AWARD
LEVEL):
TIER ONE:
30,000 DOLLAR AWARD CEILING
RATING      NEC        ZONE A  ZONE B  ZONE C  NOTES
ND          5343       -1.5     0.0     0.0
SB          5352       -1.5      *       *
SO          5326       -2.0      *       *
45,000 DOLLAR AWARD CEILING
RATING      NEC        ZONE A  ZONE B  ZONE C  NOTES
CTR         9138       +2.0     0.0     0.0
OS          0318       +2.0    +1.5     0.0
OS          0319        0.0     2.0     1.0
OS          0324        0.0     1.5     0.0
60,000 DOLLAR AWARD CEILING
RATING      NEC        ZONE A  ZONE B  ZONE C  NOTES
CTN         0000       -0.0      *       *      A, B
ETSS COMM   14XXA/EM/CM+4.0      *      0.0     D, E, F
ETSS NAV    14XXB/NM/XM+4.0      *      0.0     D, E, F
FT          11XX/13XX  +2.5      *      0.0     D
HM          8402        0.0    +4.5     2.0
HM          8403        0.0     4.0     2.0
HM          8425        0.0    +4.0     2.0
HM          8403/8427   3.0     0.0     0.0
HM          8494        0.0    +4.0     2.0
STS         0000       +2.5      *      0.0
ITS         27XX       +2.0      *      0.0     B
IT          2791        0.0    +2.0     0.0
75,000 DOLLAR AWARD CEILING
RATING      NEC        ZONE A  ZONE B  ZONE C  NOTES
CTI         9PES        3.0     0.0     0.0     A, B
CTI         9ARB        3.0     0.0     0.0     A, B
CTN         0000         *     +2.5    +2.0     A, B
CTN         9308        5.0     5.0     5.0     A, B
EOD         5333        4.5    -4.0     0.0
EOD         5335        4.5    -4.0     4.0
ND          5342       +6.0     4.0    +2.5
NUC         3354/64     8.0      *      0.0     C
NUC         3355/65     9.0      *      0.0     C
NUC         3356/66     9.5      *      0.0     C
NUC         3383/93     9.0      *      0.0     C
NUC         3384/94     7.0      *      0.0     C
NUC         3385/95     9.0      *      0.0     C
STG         0416        0.0     5.5     5.5
STS         0416        0.0     5.5     5.5     E
FCA         0000         *     +3.0     0.0
90,000 DOLLAR AWARD CEILING
RATING      NEC        ZONE A  ZONE B  ZONE C  NOTES
EOD         5337        0.0    +7.0    +7.0
ND          5341        0.0     0.0    +5.0
NUC         3353/63    +11.5   +8.5     0.0     C
NUC         3354/64      *      5.5     0.0     C
NUC         3355/65      *      9.0     0.0     C
NUC         3356/66      *      6.5     0.0     C
NUC         3383/93      *      8.0     0.0     C
NUC         3384/94      *      5.5     0.0     C
NUC         3385/95      *      6.5     0.0     C
NUC         3386/96     10.0    8.0     0.0     C
SB          5352         *     +5.0    +5.0
SO          5326         *     +7.0    +7.0
TIER TWO:
45,000 DOLLAR AWARD CEILING
RATING      NEC        ZONE A  ZONE B  ZONE C  NOTES
CB          5931        0.0     3.5     2.5
CB          5932        2.5     1.0     0.0
CTT         1702/3X    -0.0    +1.5     0.0     B, D
CTT         9135        0.0    +1.5     0.0
HM          8493        2.0     0.0     0.0
MMSS WEP    4233       +1.5     0.0     0.0
FCA         0000       +2.5      *      0.0
ITS         27XX         *     +2.0     0.0     B
STS         0000         *     +2.5     0.0
HM          8485       +1.0     0.0     0.0
HM          8541        0.0    +1.0     0.0
ETSS NAV    14XXB/NM/XM  *     +1.5     0.0     D, E, F
ETSS COMM   14XXA/EM/CM  *      1.0     0.0     D, E, F
FT          11XX/13XX    *     +1.0     0.0     D
CTM         9225       -1.0     1.0     0.0     B
CTM         9229        2.0    +2.5     1.0     B
TIER THREE:
45,000 DOLLAR AWARD CEILING
RATING      NEC        ZONE A  ZONE B  ZONE C  NOTES
AWO         7841        1.0    -0.0     0.0
AWS         7815S      -1.0     0.0     0.0
CB          5633        1.0     1.0    -1.0
MMSS AUX    4230/31    -0.0     0.0     0.0     E
MT          33XX       +2.5    +1.0     0.0     D
LCAC        0304       +2.5    +2.0     0.0     G
CTR         0000       +1.0     0.0     0.0
FULL TIME SUPPORT SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUS AWARD LEVELS:
TIER THREE:
45,000 DOLLAR AWARD CEILING
RATING      NEC        ZONE A  ZONE B  ZONE C  NOTES
AWF         8220       -0.0    -0.0     0.0   H, I
AWF         8245        0.0    -0.0    -0.0   H, I
AWF         8250        0.0    -0.0    -0.0   H, I
AWF         8251       -0.0    -0.0    -0.0   H, I
AWF         8252        0.0    -0.0    -0.0   H, I
AWF         82XX       -0.0     0.0     0.0   H, I, J
AE          0000       -0.0     0.0     0.0   H, I
AT          0000       -0.0    -0.0     0.0   H, I
4.  ESTABLISHMENT OF ITS RATING:  EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, ALL ITS
DESIGNATED SAILORS ARE NO LONGER ELIGIBLE TO REQUEST SRB UNDER
ORIGINAL SOURCE RATING AND MUST NOW MEET CRITERIA LISTED IN PARA 3.
5.  NOTES
    A.  THE SRB FOR THIS RATING NAVY ENLISTED CLASSIFICATION
(NEC) IS TIED TO AN INCUMBENT BILLET OR TO ORDERS NEGOTIATED FOR THE
NEXT BILLET.  COMMANDS MUST VERIFY THE MEMBER IS CURRENTLY IN, OR HAS
ORDERS TO, A BILLET REQUIRING THIS NEC AND ANNOTATE THIS VERIFICATION
IN THE COMMENTS SECTION OF THE PRECERT REQUEST, IF REENLISTMENT FOR
AN SRB IS INTENDED TO FILL NAVY REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIFIC SKILL SETS
TIED TO THESE BILLETS.
    B.  AN SRB APPROVAL FOR ALL CT, IT, AND ITS RATINGS WILL BE
CONTINGENT UPON MEMBER HAVING A CURRENT SINGLE SCOPE BACKGROUND
INVESTIGATION (SSBI), AN ACTIVE SSBI OR RECENT SUBMISSION OF AN SSBI
PACKAGE.  COMMANDS MUST VERIFY THE MEMBER HAS A CURRENT SSBI, ACTIVE
SSBI, OR HAS SUBMITTED A SSBI PACKAGE AND MAKE NOTE OF THIS IN
THE COMMENTS SECTION OF THE PRECERT REQUEST.
    C.  REENLISTMENT COMPENSATION FOR ZONE C NUCLEAR TRAINED
PERSONNEL HOLDING A NUCLEAR SUPERVISOR NEC SHALL BE PROVIDED UNDER
THE ENLISTED SUPERVISOR RETENTION PAY PROGRAM (ESRP), PER REFS E AND
F.  NECS 3359 AND 3389 ARE INACTIVE NECS.  MEMBERS HOLDING THESE NECS
MAY REENLIST AT THE AWARD LEVEL SPECIFIED FOR THE LAST ACTIVE NEC
HELD WITH ECM APPROVAL.
    D.  LETTERS APPEARING WITH AN NEC ARE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE USE
ONLY.
    E.  SUBSURFACE OR SURFACE DESIGNATION DOES NOT MEAN AN
INDIVIDUAL MUST BE SUBSURFACE OR ENLISTED SURFACE WARFARE SPECIALIST
QUALIFIED, BUT INDICATES THE COMPONENT OF THE RATING IN WHICH THEY
CAN REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO SERVE.  TRAINING, QUALIFICATIONS, AND
PREVIOUS OR PROJECTED DUTY ASSIGNMENTS AT SEA WILL INDICATE THE
APPROPRIATE RATING COMPONENT.  WHEN USING THE FORCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
(FORMAN) AND THE OFFICER PERSONNEL INFORMATION SYSTEM (OPINS) TO
INPUT A SRB PRECERT REQUEST, USE THE RATING (WITH APPROPRIATE SUFFIX
DESIGNATION)/NEC AS SPECIFIED IN THIS NAVADMIN.  FOR EXAMPLE, SURFACE
ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN WITH NO NEC WOULD SUBMIT 'ETSW' ON PRECERT FOR
RATING.
    F.  SUBSURFACE NEC'S.  SUBSURFACE ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN 14XXA
IDENTIFIES ALL SUBSURFACE ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN COMMUNICATIONS
SAILORS WHO HOLD NECS BEGINNING WITH 14.  SUBSURFACE ELECTRONICS
TECHNICIAN NAVIGATION 14XXB IDENTIFIES SUBSURFACE ELECTRONICS
TECHNICIAN NAVIGATION SAILORS AND INCLUDES ALL SUBSURFACE
ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN NAVIGATION NECS BEGINNING WITH 14.
    G.  RATINGS ELIGIBLE FOR NEC 0304 ARE:  AWO, ET, QM, AND OS.
    H.  DUE TO SIGNIFICANT NAVY ALIGNMENT AND CHANGES ASSOCIATED
WITH ACTIVE RESERVE INTEGRATION, FTS SRB REENLISTMENTS ARE LIMITED
TO A FOUR-YEAR TERM, PROVIDED A MEMBER REENLISTS INTO THE NEXT ZONE,
AS REQUIRED BY REFS B AND E.  ADDITIONALLY, AN FTS SAILOR MAY
REENLIST AND RECEIVE ONLY ONE SRB PER ZONE (ZONE A, ZONE B, AND ZONE
C) DURING A CAREER.  THIS FTS SRB AWARD PLAN DOES NOT APPLY TO FTS
CANVASSER RECRUITERS.
    I.  ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TYPE CODES SHALL BE USED WHEN
SUBMITTING THE SRB PRECERT:  CODE 1RR, IMMEDIATE REENLISTMENT FOR
FULL TIME SUPPORT SRB; CODE 1RB, BROKEN SERVICE REENLISTMENT FOR
FULL TIME SUPPORT SRB; OR CODE 1RC, OBLISERV TO TRAIN AND REENLIST
FOR FULL TIME SUPPORT.
    J.  NEC 8201, 8278, 8289 ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THIS FTS SRB.
6.  EARLY REENLISTMENT OPPORTUNITY:  SAILORS SERVING IN TIER ONE
SKILLS, AS WELL AS THE EXCEPTIONS OUTLINED IN PARA 12.A OF REF B AND
PARA 4 OF REF C, ARE ELIGIBLE TO REENLIST EARLY ANY TIME WITHIN THE
FISCAL YEAR OF THEIR END OF ACTIVE OBLIGATED SERVICE (EAOS).
NUCLEAR SAILORS MAY STILL CROSS FISCAL YEAR BOUNDARIES.
ADDITIONALLY, SAILORS SERVING IN TIER TWO OR TIER THREE SRB SKILLS
WHO RECEIVED AN EP IN BLOCK 45 OF THEIR MOST RECENT REGULAR PERIODIC
EVALUATION OR FITNESS REPORT WILL BE ALLOWED TO REENLIST EARLY ANY
TIME WITHIN THE FISCAL YEAR OF THEIR EAOS.  NO TRANSFER, CONCURRENT,
OR SPECIAL EVALUATIONS WILL APPLY.  SAILORS ADVANCED WITHIN THE 12
MONTHS PRIOR TO THEIR EAOS WILL BE ALLOWED TO SUBSTITUTE THE LAST
REGULAR PERIODIC EVALUATION OR FITNESS REPORT IN THEIR PREVIOUS
PAYGRADE.  PERSONNEL MUST FAX OR E-MAIL A SIGNED COPY OF THE
EVALUATION TO NAVPERSCOM (PERS-811) ONCE THEIR PRECERT HAS BEEN
SUBMITTED.  THIS REQUIREMENT IS ONLY FOR THOSE WHO FALL UNDER THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS PARAGRAPH.
7.  SRB PRECERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
    A.  PERFORM-TO-SERVE (PTS):  COMMANDS ARE AUTHORIZED TO
SUBMIT SRB REENLISTMENT REQUESTS PRIOR TO A MEMBER RECEIVING A PTS
QUOTA; HOWEVER, THE PTS QUOTA REQUEST MUST HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED AND
THE SRB REQUEST WILL NOT BE PROCESSED UNTIL THE MEMBER HAS RECEIVED
PTS CONFIRMATION.  SRB REQUESTS WITHOUT PTS APPROVAL WILL STILL BE
REJECTED IN THE OFFICER PERSONNEL INFORMATION SYSTEM (OPINS) TO
KEEP THE COMMAND INFORMED OF POTENTIAL SRB APPROVAL ISSUES.  ONCE
A MEMBER HAS AN APPROVED PTS QUOTA, THE COMMAND SHOULD CONTACT
PERS-811 TO CLEAR ANY REJECTIONS.
    B.  COMMANDS ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT SRB REENLISTMENT
REQUESTS TO PERS-811 VIA OPINS 35-120 DAYS IN ADVANCE OF THE
SAILOR'S REQUESTED REENLISTMENT DATE.  REQUESTS SUBMITTED LESS THAN
35 DAYS PRIOR TO THE REQUESTED REENLISTMENT DATE WILL BE REJECTED;
HOWEVER, COMMANDS MAY CONTACT PERS-811 FOR WAIVER ELIGIBILITY AND
PROCEDURES.  SAILORS MUST HAVE APPROVED PRECERTS BEFORE REENLISTING.
THE SERVICING PERSONNEL OFFICE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR VERIFYING THE
REENLISTMENT, POSTING THE CONTRACT, RELEASING THE FIRST PAYMENT, AND
VERIFYING THE MASTER MILITARY PAY ACCOUNT.
    C.  SAILORS WITH APPROVED PRECERTS WHO DO NOT REENLIST ON THE
DATE OR FOR THE TERM SPECIFIED IN THE PRECERT MESSAGE MUST HAVE
THEIR COMMAND CONTACT NAVPERSCOM (PERS-811) TO INITIATE A
REENLISTMENT CANCELLATION TO AVOID PLACING SAILORS IN AN OVERPAID
STATUS.
    D.  TO VALIDATE AN INOPERATIVE EXTENSION OF ENLISTMENT AND
EXPEDITE PROCESSING OF AN SRB REQUEST, INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING IN THE
REMARKS PARAGRAPH OF THE REQUEST:  TERM, NARRATIVE REASON, AUTHORITY,
AND EXECUTION DATE OF ALL INOPERATIVE EXTENSIONS.  FAILURE TO VERIFY
EXTENSIONS WILL CAUSE PROCESSING DELAYS AND MAY RESULT IN REJECTION
OF THE REQUEST OR AN APPROVAL AT A LOWER AMOUNT.
    E.  SAILORS MUST OBTAIN AN APPROVAL FOR EXTENSION FROM
NAVPERSCOM (PERS-811) IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE THE POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF
SRB ELIGIBILITY.
8.  THE FOLLOWING GUIDANCE IS PROVIDED ON NEC-SPECIFIC SRB AND
LATERAL CONVERSIONS.  ACCEPTANCE OF A NEC-SPECIFIC SRB CONTRACT
INDICATES AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SAILOR AND THE NAVY TO UTILIZE
SKILLS ATTRIBUTED TO THE NEC DURING THE SAILOR'S ENLISTMENT TO MEET
FLEET READINESS REQUIREMENTS.  IN SUBSEQUENT TOURS, A SAILOR MUST BE
WILLING TO BE DETAILED DURING THE NORMAL PROJECTED ROTATION DATE
WINDOW TO AN AVAILABLE BILLET WITHIN THE SRB CONTRACTED NEC,
CONSISTENT WITH SEA-SHORE FLOW REQUIREMENTS.  LATERAL CONVERSIONS
MUST FOLLOW REF B, PARA 12.D.  LATERAL CONVERSION REQUESTS WILL NOT
BE PROCESSED MORE THAN NINE MONTHS BEFORE THE EAOS.  CONVERSIONS TO
A RATE WITH A LOWER AWARD LEVEL WILL NOT BE APPROVED.  PERSONNEL IN
A 'CLOSED-LOOP' NEC CAN REENLIST BY THE NEC ONLY.
9.  OBLIGATED SERVICE TO TRAIN (OTT) AND THEN REENLIST.  SEE REF B,
PARA 12.E., FOR OTT GUIDANCE.  REQUESTS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED TO
NAVPERSCOM (PERS-811) VIA NAVPERS 1306/7, ENLISTED PERSONNEL ACTION
REQUEST.  A COPY OF THE AUTHORIZATION MESSAGE SHOULD BE RETAINED BY
THE SAILOR UNTIL THE SRB REENLISTMENT ON GRADUATION DAY FROM THE
COURSE OF INSTRUCTION.  USE CODE 1CC (1RC FOR FTS) FOR OTT SRB
REQUESTS IN OPINS.
10.  INOPERATIVE EXTENSIONS POLICY.  IN KEEPING WITH DOD POLICY,
PERSONNEL WHO ACCEPTED AN ENLISTMENT BONUS FOR EXTENDED ENLISTMENT
(EBEE), AS REFLECTED ON THEIR NAVCRUIT 1133/52, ARE NOT AUTHORIZED
TO USE THIS INOPERATIVE EXTENSION TIME IN THE SRB CALCULATION.
SAILORS WHO HAVE INOPERATIVE EXTENSION TIME THROUGH A 5-YEAR
OBLIGATION OR 6-YEAR OBLIGATION PROGRAM, OR AS AUTHORIZED IN
NAVADMIN 007/09, MAY CONTINUE TO HAVE UP TO 24 MONTHS OF
INOPERATIVE EXTENSION TIME COUNT TOWARDS THE SRB CALCULATION
PROVIDED THE
REENLISTMENT RESULTS IN A NEW EAOS THAT IS AT LEAST 24 MONTHS
DAY-FOR-DAY PAST THE CURRENT EXTENDED EAOS.  THIS CALCULATION IS
PERFORMED AUTOMATICALLY BY NAVPERSCOM (PERS-811).  LOCAL COMMANDS
ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO CANCEL OR CHANGE EXTENSIONS FOR THE PURPOSE
OF IMMEDIATE SRB REENLISTMENTS.  COMMANDS MUST VERIFY AND ANNOTATE
ON THE PRECERT REQUEST WHETHER ANY INOPERATIVE EXTENSION TIME NOTED
IS PART OF AN ENLISTED BONUS FOR EXTENDED ENLISTMENT (EBEE) CONTRACT.
11.  LITTORAL COMBAT SHIP (LCS) GUIDANCE.  SAILORS ASSIGNED TO LCS
PLATFORMS OR WITH ORDERS TO AN LCS PLATFORM WHO POSSESS MULTIPLE
NEC'S SPECIFICALLY REQUIRED FOR LCS ASSIGNMENT ARE AUTHORIZED TO
REENLIST FOR THE MOST LUCRATIVE SRB-ELIGIBLE NEC, REGARDLESS OF
ASSIGNED RATING.
12.  TO ENSURE ALL REQUIREMENTS AND TIMELINES ARE MET, VISIT THE
FOLLOWING SRB PAGE OF THE NPC WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW.PUBLIC.NAVY.MIL/
BUPERS-NPC/CAREER/PAYANDBENEFITS/N130/PAGES/N130D.ASPX
13.  POINT OF CONTACT FOR A SAILOR WHO HAS REENLISTED AND HAS NOT
RECEIVED THEIR SRB PAYMENT, OR HAS QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE TAXATION
OF THEIR SRB AND ANNUAL INSTALLMENTS, IS THE SAILOR'S SERVICING PAY
OFFICE OR PERSONNEL SUPPORT DETACHMENT.  SRB TAX INFORMATION IS ALSO
DISCUSSED IN DOD FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT REGULATION VOL 7A, CH 44,
TABLE 44-1, RULE 7.  THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR A SAILOR WITH
QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SRB PROGRAM OR ANY INFORMATION ON THEIR
BUPERS ON-LINE ACCOUNT IS THEIR COMMAND CAREER COUNSELOR (CCC).  FOR
TECHNICAL QUESTIONS OR CLARIFICATIONS, CCC'S, NOT THE INDIVIDUAL
SAILORS, ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT NAVPERSCOM (PERS-811) AT
(901) 874-2526/DSN 882, FAX (901) 874-2623/DSN 882 OR E-MAIL
EMCM(SS) IRISH AT DOUGLAS.B.IRISH(AT)NAVY.MIL, MR. FRANK PALOMO AT
FRANCISCO.PALOMO(AT)NAVY.MIL OR PSC BELLEW AT
JEFFREY.BELLEW(AT)NAVY.MIL.
14.  WE WILL CONTINUE TO ASSESS RETENTION BEHAVIOR AND ADJUST SRB
AWARD LEVELS ACCORDINGLY.
15.  RELEASED BY VICE ADMIRAL S. R. VAN BUSKIRK, N1.//

BT
#0000
NNNN

The approved 2012 Military Pay Chart for basic pay, effective January 1, 2012.
The 2013 Military Pay raise estimation based on ECI - Title 37, US Code.

Don’t ruin 2012 by dying and or killing someone else because of a moronic, stupid mistake.

Don’t drink and drive.

Carry on, smartly.

The approved 2012 Military Pay Chart for basic pay, effective January 1, 2012.
The 2013 Military Pay raise estimation based on ECI - Title 37, US Code.

The approved 2012 Military Pay Chart for basic pay, effective January 1, 2012.
The 2013 Military Pay raise estimation based on ECI - Title 37, US Code.

The video tells the thought process that went into the design for each door;

The work was masterfully completed by The Sullen Art Collective. Nice work, gentlemen.

The approved 2012 Military Pay Chart for basic pay, effective January 1, 2012.
The 2013 Military Pay raise estimation based on ECI - Title 37, US Code.

Give what you can.

Go Navy; Beat Army!

The approved 2012 Military Pay Chart for basic pay, effective January 1, 2012.
The 2013 Military Pay raise estimation based on ECI - Title 37, US Code.

Last year, all the ratings were eligible for LRP at the time of one’s enlistment, but now, only the following ratings are eligible for the Navy’s Student Loan Repayment Program.

Air Traffic Controller(AC), Air Rescue Swimmer(AIRR), Cryptologic Technician(CTI-ATF and CTN-ATF), Engineering Aid(EA), Explosive Ordnance Disposal(EOD-ATF), Information System Technician(IT Surface and Submarine), Mass Communication Specialist(MC-5YO), Missile Technician(MT-ATF), Musician(MU), Navy Diver(ND-ATF), Nuclear Field(NF), Submarine Electronics & Computer Field(SECF), Special Warfare Boat Operator(SB-ATF), and Special Warfare Operator(SO-ATF).

The ratings that are currently eligible for the program are subject to change at any time.

The approved 2012 Military Pay Chart for basic pay, effective January 1, 2012.
The 2013 Military Pay raise estimation based on ECI - Title 37, US Code.

The House’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (NDAA) sent over to the Senate, HR1540, clearly has it listed in SEC. 601(b), “Increase in Basic Pay- Effective on January 1, 2012, the rates of monthly basic pay for members of the uniformed services are increased by 1.6 percent.” But the NDAA version the Senate is currently debating, S1867, has the 1.6% pay raise omitted, erased – gone.

What gives!?

Don’t worry, the United States Code, Title 37, Chapter 19 § 1009 to be exact, has it covered. The Title states,

• (a) Requirement for Annual Adjustment.— Effective on January 1 of each year, the rates of basic pay for members of the uniformed services under section 203 (a) of this title shall be increased under this section.
• (b) Effectiveness of Adjustment.— An adjustment under this section shall have the force and effect of law.
• (c) Equal Percentage Increase for All Members.—
• (1) An adjustment made under this section in a year shall provide all eligible members with an increase in the monthly basic pay that is the percentage (rounded to the nearest one-tenth of one percent) by which the ECI for the base quarter of the year before the preceding year exceeds the ECI for the base quarter of the second year before the preceding calendar year (if at all).
• (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), but subject to subsection (d), the percentage of the adjustment taking effect under this section during each of fiscal years 2004, 2005, and 2006, shall be one-half of one percentage point higher than the percentage that would otherwise be applicable under such paragraph.
• (3) In this subsection:
• (A) The term “ECI” means the Employment Cost Index (wages and salaries, private industry workers) published quarterly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• (B) The term “base quarter” for any year is the three-month period ending on September 30 of such year.

Because the 1.6% pay raise proposal for 2012 was based on ECI, and there is no opposition to the amount, it will automatically take affect, January 1, 2012; however, if the 2012 Defense Authorization bill’s signing is delayed beyond the first pay day in January, all payments of base pay would be retroactive back to the January 1 effective date once the bill is signed into law.

As a matter of fact, with the private industry worker’s wages and salary ECI reported on October 28, 2012, and as long as that section of Title 37 remains intact, and congress doesn’t plan on debating the amount of the raise, you should see the projected 1.7% basic pay raise for 2013 automated, just like 2012′s raise looks like it will be.

So, the basic pay increase is covered, but all those incentive and special pays are not.

Current law authorizes the incentive and special pays to be paid to those authorized until December 31, 2011; the NDAA for 2012 seeks authorization to extend that period until December 31, 2012. Special Duty Assignment Pay, reenlistment bonuses, proficiency pay, hazardous duty pay and many other incentive and bonus pays would be delayed if the NDAA is not passed.

The approved 2012 Military Pay Chart for basic pay, effective January 1, 2012.
The 2013 Military Pay raise estimation based on ECI - Title 37, US Code.