From 'Bees to Badges: CNP Announces New Program for Seabees

By Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs / Photos by MCC (SW/AW) LowellWhitman, NCG1 Public Affairs

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Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. William Moran speaks to Seabees during anAll Hands call at Needham Theatre, Naval Base Ventura County, Calif., Jan.20. During the All Hands call, Moran introduced a new programcalled "Bees to Badges" which will allow Seabees to transition to theMaster-at-Arms (MA) rate in an effort to improve Seabee advancement andretention while also addressing new MA requirements. Speaking at Naval Construction Training Center, the Chief of Naval Personnel (CNP) announced a new program that will improve Seabee advancement and retention opportunity while also meeting new requirements for the master-at-arms (MA) community, Port Hueneme, Calif., Jan. 20.

Vice Adm. William Moran, CNP, and Fleet Master Chief April Beldo, Moran's senior enlisted advisor, laid out to Seabees the details of the program called Bees to Badges. It will provide Seabees the opportunity for conversion to MA prior to their Career Waypoints Reenlistment (C-WAY) window. The program's goal is to balance an over-manned Seabee community while simultaneously supporting the need for more MAs.

"As our Seabee numbers have decreased, many top-notch Sailors had a hard time finding ways to stay on a viable career path that allowed them to utilize their expeditionary skillsets and "Can Do" way of doing business," said Moran. "If we do this right, we will improve Seabee community health, while also filling carrier MA slots with seasoned folks who want to put their talents to good use in a new field that allows them to stay-Navy."

Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. William Moran presents awards to Seabeesfrom Naval Construction Training Command and Naval Construction Group 1during an All Hands call at Needham Theatre, Naval Base Ventura County,Calif., Jan. 20. Because Seabees have experience in security patrols and small arms they are more closely aligned with the MA mission than other communities. This rate conversion opportunity will be available for all active duty Seabees; however, it will focus on select ratings, year groups and will be managed closely by the community managers.

Below are the details about how the conversion process works:

Seabees must be at their command for 18 months prior to eligibility for the rate conversion and meet the MA requirement in MPM-1440-010 (Change in Rate Requirements).
Qualified Seabees must submit a commanding officer-endorsed 1306 to the Seabee Enlisted Community Manager (ECM) through their Command Career Counselor.
The Seabee ECM will validate a candidate's eligibility and forward the package to the MA ECM who will screen the package and determine school availability.
If a Seabee is selected, his/her command will receive the MA "A" school date within four to 12 months after selection to ensure there are no conflicts with critical operations.

ECMs currently intend to open this opportunity to all Seabee rates, targeting YGs 2012 and 2003-2008. As the program matures and the community health strengthens, the targets will start to narrow. The target number for fiscal year (FY) 15 is 30-35 Seabees and for FY 16 it increases to 90-110.

Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. William Moran speaks to local Seabeeleadership prior to an All Hands call at Needham Theatre, Naval Base VenturaCounty, Calif., Jan. 20.

Any changes to the year groups or other information will be posted on the NPC website at http://www.public.navy.mil/BUPERS-NPC/ENLISTED/COMMUNITY/SEABEES/Pages/default2.aspx . For more news from Chief of Naval Personnel, visit www.navy.mil/local/cnp/.