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

Submarine Commanding Officer (CO)

http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/officer/Detailing/submarinenuclear/career/Documents/PCO%20Detailing/PCO%20Detailing.pdf

PCO Detailing Process

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  The XO Detailer will determine the PCO slate that you will be assigned based on your PRD and career timing gate.
  
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  The CO Detailer will contact members assigned to the slate 5-7 months from the start of the PCO pipeline for inputs.
  
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  3-4 Months from the start of the PCO Pipeline, assignments are typically set and orders received.
  
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  IAW NAVADMIN 136/10 all officers who screen for Commander Command after 15 April 2010 must complete JPME Phase I prior to assuming command. For 1120s, that translates into having JPME Phase I complete prior to starting the PCO pipeline.
  

The PCO Pipeline

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  Naval Reactors (NR): 13 weeks at the Navy Yard in Washington DC, normally starts first week of a quarter (Jan, Apr, Jul) except for the 4th quarter which starts mid-September. For SSNs/SSBNs with Microprocessor Instrumentation, you will also have a two day stop at KAPL during the time at NR.
  
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  SCC: 9 weeks in either Pearl Harbor (January and July class) or Groton (April and October class). All briefs and lectures used during the course are available for review via the NKO-S portal. (Log on to NKO-S and select the NKO-S library link at the top of the page; click on “communities,” “submarine learning,” and “Submarine Command Course.”) Additional course material is available on the COMSUBFOR and COMSUBPAC SIPRNET websites.
  
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  Command Leadership Course (CLC): 2 weeks in Newport, normally just before or just after SCC.
  
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  PCO Strategic Weapons Course (for SSBN COs only): 5 weeks primarily in Bangor or Kings Bay. The course also includes brief trips to Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) in Washington, DC and USSTRATCOM in Omaha, NE.
  
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  Advanced Weapons System (AWS) Command Course (for SSGN COs only): 1 week in Kings Bay.
  
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  Optional Stops
  
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    JPME II: If you have not attended previously, the CO detailer may work with you on this as the first stop in your training pipeline. It is 10 weeks in Norfolk. JPME I must be completed prior to attendance in JPME II. A waiver is available for JPME I non-completion, but the waiver requires that you are currently enrolled in JPME I and that you attend an extra week of training prior to JPME II making it an 11 week course. JPME I must still be completed prior to receiving credit for attendance at JPME II.
    
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    Joint Maritime Tactics Course (JMTC): 2 weeks at either TACTRAGRULANT in Norfolk or TACTRAGRUPAC in San Diego.
    

Submarine Post Command/Major Command

PCC Detailing Background

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  Once in receipt of orders for your relief (about 6-8 months out) you should be talking with PERS-42B regarding post-Command assignment.
  
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  Each and every PCC assignment has an approval process similar to PCO.
  
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  Following Command, the goal is for you to have 2 separate 24 month tours prior to major command; one tour in waterfront support and one on major staff (which may or may not be a joint assignment) – the order is not important.
  
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  The 1120 core assignments must be met to maintain our operational readiness, so recognize that some officers may still go to Major Command without meeting all Joint Duty and Education requirements.
  

PCC Priorities: There are many factors that go into post-Command detailing, but the general priorities and issues that appear below are taken into consideration by PERS-42B. The math is pretty clear cut. Waterfront support jobs comprise the largest percentage of assignments immediately following command. The majority of assignments will require a move.

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  Determine remaining requirements and path to complete JSO prior to major command.
  
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  Waterfront Support: Such as Squadron Deputies, NPEB, TRE, PCOIs, and Submarine Group staffs.
  
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  Other Staff: Other 1120 billets on major and joint staffs that are prioritized after the above.
  
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  Additionally, there are 3 special interest subspecialties/AQDs that are tracked closely:
  
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    Financial Management (FM – 3100 / 3105 / 3110 / 3111 / 3112)
    
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    Operations Analysis (OA – 3210 / 3211 / 3212)
    
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    Navy Operational Planner (NOPC – JPX AQDs).
    

Major Command Screening: Major command screening occurs each November. Unlike CO/XO/DH screening, MC screening is tied to your promotion timing vice your accession Year Group. As such, your first look for Major Command screening is the year in which you are selected for O-6 – regardless of when you are actually promoted. There are three looks for Major Command. Major Command assignments are not tied to when you screen. All officers who complete an at-sea Command tour will retain NOIP eligibility out to 30 YCS and CONSUBPAY out to 26 YCS.

Major Command Slating

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  In roughly January of each year, Major Command slating information is sent out to potential participants. You will be invited to play on a particular slate, where you will be given all the assignments being discussed, with clear instructions from PERS-42 on your options to defer to a future slate or decline Major Command.
  
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  In roughly March, you will be asked to provide your preferences for Major Command assignments.
  
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  The Major Command Slate is normally approved by a Joint Conference Session (N97, CSP, CSL and NR) in September of each year. Major Command assignments are finalized and a COMSUBFOR message announcing assignments will be released.
  
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  Following slating, PERS-42B will work with you on your timing, orders, your relief, and required training.
  

Major Command En Route Training

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  There are two common courses for all Major Commanders - Major Commander Leadership School in Newport (1 week, spouse welcome, but not funded) and a 3–day Military Justice Senior Officer Course.
  
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  Most Major Commanders will be required to complete a one day I-stop at Naval Reactors prior to reporting to the ultimate duty station.
  
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  Commodores will attend a one week Prospective Commodore Course in Norfolk, typically in June of each year. You may complete this before or after taking command.
  
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  SSGN COs will nominally attend the NR PCO Short Course (5 weeks), SCC (24 days), SSGN Advanced Weapons System Course (1 week in Kings Bay), TYCOM Briefs (3 days), and the VMS Refresh (3 Days in the ultimate duty station home port).
  
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  Tender COs will attend the Radiological Controls Maintenance Course (2 weeks, Norfolk), Surface Warfare Officer School Major Command Course (3 Weeks, Newport), and spend some time at both the headquarters and respective Type Commanders for the Military Sealift Command component of your crew. (2 days DC and 2 days Norfolk)
  
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  Shore Installation Commanders will attend the Shore Station Senior Leadership Course (SSSL) – 2 weeks in DC and 1 week at North Island, San Diego, CA.
  
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  Defense/Naval Attachés: Attaché Training in DC (1 year, normally starts in June). This is also a 3 year tour in country – overall commitment is 4 years.
  

Wardroom/CPO Planning Conferences (WPCs)

PERS-42 offers sea and shore commands the Wardroom Planning Conference as a mechanism to discuss rotation dates, career intentions, and address any questions or concerns with the detailers. Recently, this mechanism has been expanded to cover senior enlisted leadership with PERS-403.

To initiate a Wardroom/CPO Planning Conference, email the division officer sea detailer to coordinate the date/time for the conference. They will provide the current plan in the form of an Excel Manning File for review and preparation for the conference and coordinate with PERS-403. Commands are encouraged to provide feedback on the plan in advance of the conference to guide preparation efforts within PERS-42. The PERS-403 portion of the conference will take place immediately following the wardroom discussion.

Submarines

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  Ideally, we would like to conduct these conferences approximately every six months, and try to avoid exceeding a year between conferences when possible. This ensures that both sides of this complex manning challenge remain synched up at regular intervals.
  
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  The "normal" attendees for Wardroom Planning Conferences are the Commanding Officer (CO) and Post Commander Command (PCC) detailers, Executive Officer (XO) Sea/Shore detailer, Department Head (DH) Shore detailer, DH Sea detailer, Division Officer (DO) Shore detailer, and DO Sea detailer.
  
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  Following the Wardroom Planning Conference, PERS-42 will update records based upon agreements on officer PRDs and relief timing that were reached during the conference. PERS-42 will then forward an updated Excel Manning File to the command.
  

Officer shore and sea slating is directly impacted by the PRDs and relief timing set by WPCs. Therefore WPCs should be conducted at least six months (earlier if possible), prior to the start of deployment preparation periods, and prior to events that have a major impact on personnel such as change of homeport moves, crew combinations or splits. Additionally, Executive Officers should engage PERS-42 freely between WPCs when modifications to the plan are required or desired. The right frequency and healthy engagement from the waterfront will ensure that detailer slating actions are conducted using the most accurate and up to date information.

Preparing for Crew Transitions

Ref: Change of Homeport (SUBPERSMAN Ch. 9)

Ships should engage PERS-42 at least one year in advance of the scheduled change of homeport to schedule a wardroom planning conference. This will ensure proper coordination between PERS-42, Navy Personnel Command, TYCOM and the gaining and losing ISICs. This discussion should include PRDs and any required adjustments, change of homeport certificate eligibility, follow-on assignments, as applicable, for each officer, and pertinent dates.

A change in homeport becomes official when the CNO Promulgation Message is transmitted. Planning for a change in homeport needs to occur well in advance to prepare the crew and their families. This message, which establishes the promulgation date of the change, is typically transmitted six months to one year prior to the effective date (the date when the boat is assigned to the new homeport). Once the promulgation message is received, prospective gains’ (inbound crewmembers) household goods will be moved or redirected to the new homeport. Current crewmembers will be offered a Change of Homeport Certificate, allowing for a PCS move. Those crewmembers whose PRDs or OBLISERVE are less than one year after the effective date or who are under PCS orders are not eligible for the certificate.

The ship should also coordinate with Group/Squadron/NSSC to submit the crew stabilization letter when the promulgation message is transmitted. Navy Personnel Command will provide a response to the letter. This letter is the primary means to communicate to Navy Personnel Command on those personnel who will require change of homeport certificates. Careful consideration must be taken into account when deciding which crew members will receive homeport change certificates. The crew stabilization letter should be sent at least six months prior to the homeport change to allow sufficient time for processing and issuance of certificates.

Deactivation (SUBPERSMAN Ch. 5)

Experience with the deactivation process for SSNs indicates that a fully manned wardroom is not necessary throughout the entire deactivation period. After entering the shipyard, manning reductions will happen in two steps. First, four weeks into the deactivation, the wardroom will be reduced to a Commanding Officer, Executive Officer, Engineer, Supply Officer, four Ship’s Duty Officers, and four Engineering Duty Officers. Next, once defueling is complete, manning is reduced to the Commanding Officer, Executive Officer, Engineer, and six nuclear trained officers. After decommissioning, all billets are removed.

The ship should schedule Wardroom Planning Conferences with PERS-42 a year in advance of deactivation to finalize the manning plan. In most cases, this will require PRD adjustments to meet the reduction requirements. In some cases, division officers and department heads will be required to perform a split tour to another boat to meet minimum tour length requirements.

SSBN Crew Combination/Split (SUBPERSMAN Ch. 6)

SSBNs undergoing overhaul will receive an augment to the BLUE crew UIC of nominally 6 officers and 60 enlisted billets. Initially, this augment will be manned from the GOLD crew and will occur at least 60 days prior to commencing the overhaul. Throughout the overhaul, one CO, XO, ENG, NAV, WEPS and Supply Officer and at least 14 junior officers will man the wardroom. Fifteen months prior to completion, the submarine will submit a crew stabilization letter dividing up the total inventory of officers and enlisted into BLUE and GOLD crews to PERS-42, and additional officers will be assigned to man two complete wardrooms no later than six months prior to completion of the availability.

For both crew combination and split, dialogue between crews and PERS-42 needs to occur well before combination/stabilization letters are submitted. Early communication ensures leadership can discuss options with the members and ensure that sound decisions are made regarding the crew. Wardroom planning conferences should serve as the primary communications tool. This can and should be supplemented with follow-up discussions with applicable detailers in the months leading up to the transition to ensure proper execution of proposed letters. Once plans are approved, changes can only be made via formal requests up the chain of command to PERS-42.

For questions regarding change of homeport, deactivation and crew combinations /splits, please contact the department head sea detailer.

Shore Commands

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  WPCs for shore commands are conducted at the Command's request. The process for submarine WPCs is also followed for shore commands. The POC for shore WPCs is the post-department head shore detailer or the shore placement officer.