These questions are from an all hands call during a recent visit to San Diego - Speaking with Sailors

All Hands, March, 2003

Q: Why have our recent pay raises been "targeted?"

A: A common misunderstanding when you hear about pay raises is that it's often viewed as an across the board pay raise. Although everyone in uniform received at least a 4.1 percent raise this year, some received a larger percentage. The intent of this initiative is to restructure the existing pay tables to be more comparable with civilian pay.

We've found that the majority of our junior pay grades compare rather favorably with the civilian sector, however mid-grade to senior enlisted pay compares with only about 50 percent of civilian earnings.

Prior to this restructure of the pay tables, they have remained virtually unchanged since the 1950s. The restructuring has been long overdue. The new pay chart was designed to reward Sailors for advancing, instead of longevity in pay grade. The pay grades that are receiving the largest pay increases are the ones that have been the most out of proportion with their civilian counterparts for several years now.

Targeted pay raises aren't a fix-all solution to the pay structure, but it is certainly a great first step in the right direction.

Q: Why can't we have the Command Advancement Program (CAP) at shore installations?

A: One of my main concerns is to keep promotions at an optimum level for all Sailors. The largest single retention factor is advancement. Expanding CAP to ashore commands would work against that goal. Sailors who get promoted from the CAP program are topnotch Sailors, but many times they're in a rating that's already over-manned. Which may explain why it was difficult for them to advance to begin with.

The CAP program is designed to reward those who deploy. And just like any other incentive program aimed at compensating Sailors who serve at sea, such as Career Sea Pay, I wouldn't want them offered ashore and minimize the value we place on sea service. And with the large number of shore commands potentially filling the remaining advancement quotas, there is an increased likelihood that those most deserving of advancement might not get selected. Our promotion system advances to vacancies, and a shore CAP program would significantly throw off advancement reliability.

The biggest key to advancement up through first class petty officer is to be as prepared as possible for the advancement exam. Accomplishing this puts you ahead of a majority of your peers right off the top.