Pers-42 drumbeat (Reference) Last Update: November 2014

Department Head Inventory and Detailing

The Department Head inventory across the fleet is healthy. Over the last year we have taken advantage of the retention of YG04 to slate extended turnovers of Department Heads on deployment and during other unique operational situations. As we return to historic Department Head retention levels, these opportunities will slowly evaporate. If you desire a Department Head to report during the last portion of deployment, then let PERS-421B know prior to commencing your deployment.

The detailing process is complex and comprehensive to ensure that the right officer gets detailed to jobs based on their preferences, abilities, and fleet needs. The process begins with determining SOAC classes based on PRDs for those officers on contract that have screened for DH. The detailer then reaches out to SOAC class students 3-4 months ahead of class convening to solicit preferences of homeport, job and ship type. This will usually include a list of projected jobs and ships. Changes will likely take place before class convening. As a consequence, it is extremely important for officers to identify the priority of their preferences for assignment.

Examples:

Poor priority statement: “It is most important for me to be stationed as Engineer on an operational 688 out of Pearl Harbor.”

Effective priority statement: “DH position is the most important priority, followed by homeport. Boat type is least important to me.”

After preferences are identified, all officers will receive orders assigning them to SOAC. Boat assignments will likely be identified within a few weeks of starting SOAC. The detailer will notify all officers when that information is available. Officers will receive orders to the ship during SOAC. Uncertainty surrounding ship schedules, split tour options, and unscheduled personnel losses in the fleet insert some perturbations into assignments. PERS-42 makes every effort to maintain personnel in their original homeport assignment when changes occur.

Finally, we encourage liberal PRD adjustment of top performing Department Heads as these top performers are needed to support high visibility and high demand assignments ashore. Department Head tour lengths of 28 to 30 months for a command qualified, breakout department head assist the Submarine Force in manning our critical infrastructure billets while maximizing the operational experience of our future Department Heads.

Department Head School Timing and SOAC Slating

SOAC Gate:

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  Officers must be enrolled in the Submarine Officer Advanced Course (SOAC) no later than July of their seventh year of commissioned service (7YCS) (e.g. YG06 gate is July 2013). The factors that drive this gate are:
  
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    Ensuring you receive an observed Department Head fitness report prior to your in-zone look for LCDR.
    
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    Ensuring you receive an observed Department Head fitness report prior to your first look for Executive Officer (9 YCS).
    
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    Maintaining you on track for a nominal Department Head tour and Department Head shore tour prior to your Executive Officer gate (August of 12 YCS).
    
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  PRD Extensions: Tour length extensions should be heavily scrutinized. These are not an entitlement, but circumstances do exist in which an extension is necessary for the member and/or the command. PRD extensions should be submitted 9-12 months prior to the member’s original PRD. This allows PERS-42 the opportunity to make a timely decision on both the incumbent’s timing, as well as to make appropriate plans for detailing a relief. Command manning and individual timing will be considered on all PRD extension requests.
  

Slating/Orders Timeline

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  Expect orders to the Submarine Officer Advanced Course (SOAC) issued 4-8 months prior to SOAC convening depending on the fiscal environment.
  
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  Approximately three to four months prior to SOAC convening, an email will be sent requesting slate inputs. A list of potential assignments will be provided; however, the list is ever changing. All involved must guard against the urge to become emotionally attached to any specific assignment. Inputs should focus more on the ranking of homeports, billet, platform, and schedule rather than a specific billet or boat. Inputs should be as detailed and specific as possible and include reliable contact data for the detailer.
  
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  Orders to designated assignments will be issued approximately half-way through SOAC.
  
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  NOTE: If you are assigned a Groton submarine, your orders will be “no cost” per the Joint Federal Travel Regulations (JFTR) as you were issued PCS orders to Groton via your SOAC orders. This is the case even if your original assignment was not Groton.
  
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  While at SOAC, changes may occur to the slate. One of the goals with any change in assignment is to keep the affected officer in the same homeport, unless a change of homeport is desired by the affected individual. In rare instances, an officer may have their homeport shifted, irrespective of personal desires, based on needs of the Submarine Force.
  

Billets

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  Engineer billets: Prospective Engineers’ names will be submitted by PERS-42 to the next Spot Promotion Board (a statutory board) and will not be eligible for spot promotion until Senate confirmation.
  
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  CHANGES DO OCCUR — the Detailer can often work changes to provide a more optimal assignment while balancing the impact on families.
  
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  The DH Slating process is executed as part of the overarching career management goal of providing the opportunity for all officers to obtain forward-deployed mission (SSN/SSGN) and strategic deterrence patrol experience (SSBN) prior to Command.
  
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    SOAC classes convene six times a year, typically OCT, JAN, MAR, MAY, JUL, and SEP and are five to five and a half months in duration, depending on holidays. The SOAC schedule is maintained on the PERS-42 website.