Sea-Shore tour lengths revised

January 8, 2002 - WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Revised sea-shore rotation (SSR) tour lengths have been announced, and Sailors from 87 rates will see their sea-tour lengths reduced while Sailors from 29 other rates will see their sea-tour lengths increased.

The revised SSR tour lengths are designed to better match the projected number of Sailors available with funded billet requirements at sea and ashore. An aim with revising SSR tour lengths is to limit significant changes so Sailors and their families have maximum stability in planning their careers.

"The CNO's goal for the career rates (E-5 to E-9) is 36 months of sea duty and 36 months of shore duty," said Cmdr. Thomas McGovern, aviation enlisted community manager.

Working toward this goal, the number of career rates (E5-E9) with an SSR above 48 months at sea and 36 months ashore has dropped from 37 to 30.

"We are trying to make that goal for as many rates as possible," said McGovern. "However, we can't always do that. It's based on the rating structure, because of certain Navy requirements that some ratings are at sea more than others and we have to work with that and balance the sea-shore rotations."

Projected rotation dates (PRD) will be adjusted by Navy Personnel Command (NAVPERSCOM) based on length of a Sailor's remaining tour.

Sailors with PRDs of October 2002 or earlier will not be adjusted. Additionally, if a Sailor is advanced in grade during their current tour, NAVPERSCOM is authorized to adjust the Sailor's PRD to that of the senior pay grade.

Sea-shore tour lengths are primarily determined by the ratio of sea billets to shore billets for each rate; this ratio is used to determine the length for each assignment.

Over time, some rates will become more sea intensive or shore intensive if the billet base is not adjusted.

The office of the Chief of Naval Personnel is currently working to realign general duty shore -- and some sea -- billets between shore and sea intensive rates in an effort to further balance SSR to the greatest extent possible.

The eventual goal is to reduce the maximum sea tour for all career rates (E5-E9) to not more than 48 months.

"A larger portion of the force are careerists now versus years and years ago. We have more junior Sailors with spouses at younger ages, and they want to spend more time with their family and we recognize that," said Capt. Stephen Conn, director of enlisted plans and policy. "I think everybody in the Navy certainly understands that going to sea is central to the naval service and is what the Navy is all about.

"We do strive not to burden Sailors any more than necessary. Sea-shore rotation, generally, is better than it was decades ago," Conn added.

For a complete list of revised sea-shore tour lengths, see NAVADMIN 341/01, available on the Web site.