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

Additional Qualification Designators (AQDs)

Nuclear AQDs

BUPERS Instruction 1540.41(series) governs the qualification and assignment of personnel in the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. All waterfront leadership should be familiar with the requirements contained therein.

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  Officers who do not maintain their proficiency as a nuclear trained operator or are no longer considered suitable for assignment to duty involving supervision, operation, and maintenance of naval nuclear propulsion plants will have their nuclear AQDs removed. The BUPERSINST contains examples of situations (not all inclusive) where AQD removal is considered and may be appropriate.
  
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  In cases where an officer is involved in behavior, actions, or situations which may warrant removal of AQDs, the default action is to suspend AQDs until final disposition. Officers with suspended AQDs shall be immediately removed from duties associated with supervision, operation or maintenance of Naval Nuclear Propulsion Plants. Based on their judgment and knowledge of the circumstances and facts, Commanding Officers may recommend to PERS-42/N133 that an officer’s AQDs be retained.
  

Adjudication of Medical Issues

PERS-42 is the signature authority for officer submarine and nuclear field duty medical waivers. PERS-421N is the primary point of contact for any questions regarding current or past medical waivers or disqualifications.

If an individual experiences a medical condition that is believed to be disqualifying for either submarine or nuclear field duty, the local Undersea Medical Officer (UMO) will make an interim decision and propose a course of action for the individual. If the medical condition is disqualifying, the UMO will make a determination if the individual’s case is waiverable. This determination is normally made following consultation with BUMED-M342. If a medical waiver will be requested from PERS-42, an interim waiver may be issued to allow the officer to return to his duties pending approval of the permanent wavier.

The process of medical waiver or disqualification is time intensive. If medical disqualification is being pursued, it is PERS-42’s recommendation that the command transfer the officer to the local ISIC in a Limited Duty (LIMDU) status. The local command will route the medical recommendation to BUMED-M342 via their respective ISIC and TYCOM medical departments. Some of these reviews can be quite lengthy. Once these reviews are complete, BUMED-M342 will route their formal recommendation to PERS-42 for final adjudication. The expected time-line for this entire process is typically 6-12 months.

Tour Length, and Relief Policies

Policies for turnovers and tour lengths are intended to ensure that officers are fully prepared to assume duties and responsibilities accompanying their positions, as well as support the overall success of these ships. Timelines for turnover are an important part of these policies. Following are the requirements for certain key leadership positions:

Minimum Tour Lengths

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  Officers assigned to nuclear shore billets – 24 Months
  
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  Division Officers – 30 Months
  
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  Division Officers (follow-on assignment to NPTU, NNPTC, PCU) – 24 Months and PNEO completion
  
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  ENGINEER – 28 Months
  
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  NAVIGATOR/WEPS – 24 Months
  
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  XO – 18 Months
  
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  CO – 28 Months
  

Nominal Tour Lengths

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  Division Officers –36 Months (12 months onboard after pneo)
  
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  DEPARTMENT HEADS – 32 Months
  
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  XO – 20 Months
  
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  CO – 32 Months
  

Minimum turnover time (Key Nuclear Billets)

At-Sea

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  CO and ENGINEER (SSNs) – 30 days
  
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  CO and ENGINEER (during refit/patrol – two crew ships) – 30 Days
  
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  CO and ENGINEER (PDTP – two crew ships) – 10 days (should occur early in the PDTP)
  

NNPTC

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  CO – 30 Days
  
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  XO – 2 Weeks
  
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  Nuclear Power School Directors and DEPT Heads – 30 Days
  
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  Division Officers – 30 Days
  

NPTU

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  CO/MTS OIC/MTS XO – 30 Days
  
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  Site XO / Plant XO – 2 Weeks
  

Minimum Separation between Reliefs onboard submarines

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  CO and XO – 3 Months
  
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  CO and ENGINEER (SSNs, during refit/patrol – two crew ships ) – 3 Months
  
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  CO and ENGINEER (PDTP – two crew ships) – should not occur simultaneously
  

Other Situations:

Temporary reliefs of the ENGINEER shall not be longer than 30 days.

The above requirements may be waived on a case basis, when operational commitments make them impractical or when it is beneficial to the command. The waiver process begins with reaching out to PERS-42. In all cases, details regarding the need for the waiver, specific plan of action, and intended mitigation measures are required. PERS-42 will keep subject commands informed regarding their waiver requests. Please direct questions regarding the above requirements to PERS-421 or PERS-42B.
Detailing Window Guidelines and Rules

The phrase “detailing window” can seem confusing and is not clearly defined by a single MILPERSMAN article. The following summary is provided to help clarify the rules which we must navigate:

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  Projected Rotation Date (PRD). PRD is set by the original tour length delineated by the assignment orders. This tour length is usually set at a nominal value based on requirements of the assignment (e.g. a nominal Department Head tour is 32 months). Several factors can influence the PRD, once gained aboard a command. These factors include, but are not limited to, operational schedules, changes in screening status, and follow on assignment plans. Commands should work in conjunction with detailers to modify PRDs to support plans and mission objectives. In all cases, the PRD is the entering argument for determining the detailing window.
  
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  Nine to six months prior to PRD constitutes the beginning of the detailing window. This is driven in part by the timeframe in which jobs are posted to detailers for fill. While it is never wrong to communicate intentions or to discuss follow-on plans with detailers prior to this window, information as to what will be available at your PRD will likely be sparse until you are within nine to six months of your PRD. Constituents should be discussing their next assignment with their detailer. If they have not been contacted, they should proactively establish contact at this point to discuss PRD and job options going forward.
  
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  Nine to six months prior to the PRD is also the time to get counsel and make a decision with respect to resignation or retirement. Entering into a negotiation for a follow on assignment without discussing the possibility of resignation takes the option to resign (separate) off the table. This interlock avoids ambiguity with respect to separation intentions and preserves the formality of the detailing process. Those that are on the fence with respect to separation should clearly communicate that up front. In general, if you get within six months of PRD and have not communicated intent to resign or retire, the governing MILPERSMAN articles are clear – your request to resign or retire will likely not be approved on your requested timeline.
  
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  Six months or less from the PRD is the execution phase of detailing. In this time frame, orders will be issued, transition plans such as household goods arrangements made, and relief timing solidified. Changes during this time period are undesirable due to the significant impact they can have on the detaching and gaining commands, incumbent follow-on timing, and operational schedules. Members in this timeframe that haven’t established contact with their detailer should do so as soon as possible.

  MILPERSMAN Article 1301-108 discusses the rules and guidelines associated with the detailing window.

  
  

PRD Extensions Ashore

Tour length extensions on shore duty should be carefully scrutinized and should only be considered when the extension is of benefit to the career of 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 appropriate relief plans. Command manning and individual career timing will be considered on all PRD extension requests.

Internal Shifting of Personnel

BUPERSINST 1540.41(series) requires PERS-42 to coordinate with OPNAV (N00N) prior to assigning officers to a large list of assignments designated for nuclear trained officers. This coordination is typically accomplished during the orders approval process.

Commands and local PSDs do have the capacity to shift personnel to and from billets that are internal to the command. Due to the requirements described above, it is paramount that commands inform PERS-42 prior to shifting individuals to or from billets associated with the supervision, operation, or maintenance of naval nuclear propulsion plants.

If the nature of a given assignment is in question, PERS-421N is the primary point of contact. He can advise you on any requirements that need to be met prior to the shift and will assist you in obtaining the necessary permissions.

Lateral Transfer Boards

The lateral transfer board convenes in June and November of each year. Applications are due approximately two months prior to board convening (April and September) and results are typically released one month after completion of the board. Information regarding lateral transfer is found at the following link:

http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/boards/administrative/TransferRedesignation/Pages/default.aspx
Those officers who are placed not cleared at an administrative screening board should liaison directly with their detailer if interested in lateral transfer. Information regarding the restricted line community can be found at the following links:
http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/officer/communitymanagers/restricted/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.public.navy.mil/BUPERS-NPC/OFFICER/COMMUNITYMANAGERS/STAFFCORPS/Pages/default.aspx
Nuclear trained officers must be released by the Nuclear Propulsion Program Manager (OPNAV N133) to participate in the lateral transfer board. Release authorization is coordinated by N133 and no action is required on the part of the applicant, but officers should be aware that applying to a lateral transfer board does not guarantee their package will go before the Board since the Community may not release them.