U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus is planning a series of changes to the service’s personnel management system as part of efforts to build a 21st century workforce, Federal News Radio reported Thursday.
Jared Serbu writes that the reforms will be applied across the Navy and Marine Corps and cover areas such as officer promotion and career management.
Mabus said the Meritorious Advancement Program will include legislative support to remove the so-called “up or out” promotion approach and consider input from division officers, junior officer department heads and others who work directly with the candidates.
“Within the limits of the law, we will emphasize broader milestone achievements as the foundation for promotion eligibility,” he said in a recent speech at the U.S. Naval Academy, according to the report.
“A golden path of inflexible career wickets, year groups and promotion zones will no longer determine your success.”
The Navy will also propose legislation to extend the paid maternity leave to 12 weeks, allow more servicemen to pursue further studies after graduating from the Academy and expand the Career Intermission Program to support more working stints with the private sector, the report said.
Mabus also pointed to other initiatives such as the Secretary of the Navy Industry Tour, changes to the bonus system and approaches to assess physical fitness and readiness, as well as gender neutrality in recruitment and clothing.
