
Thinking of making the Navy a career? Sailors throughout the Pacific looking to make informed career decisions have two programs to help them decide. (Chris Fowler / S&S)
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YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — When it comes to navigating a career in the Navy — both in uniform and out — one of the few constants will always be change.
To help sailors chart a course, the Navy Personnel Command’s Career Management Symposium will visit Yokosuka Naval Base, Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Naval Air Facility Misawa Air Base and Okinawa and Guam over the next few months.
CMS visited Sasebo Naval Base in September.
“This is definitely something that all sailors … should be interested in,” said acting Commander, Naval Forces Japan’s Command Master Chief Chris Justice. The “concept is to bring the deck-plate sailor the latest … information available.
“From the regional standpoint, it is very important for sailors of all commands to attend the briefs.”
Sailors can talk to detailers and personnel from the Navy Center for Career Development in person, Capt. Kenneth Auten, surface community team leader for the Navy Personnel Command, wrote in an e-mail to Stars and Stripes.
CMS also will feature hand-held devices for anonymous polling for about 30 questions related to policies.
“The CMS team compiles what we’ve termed a ‘trip report’ where we provide unfiltered information to the Navy’s policy makers and top-level leadership,” Auten wrote.
Topics to be discussed include manpower, personnel, training, education, junior officer career management, CPO leadership, enlisted selection board information, first-line leadership for E-5s and E-6s and junior enlisted career management.
Auten stressed that while a sailor’s leadership and command career counselors are important, they may not have access to trends currently being observed Navywide, which makes CMS valuable.
CMS also provides insight into the civilian job market for sailors at the end of their enlistments or ready to retire.
People who want to attend should contact their command career counselors for details.
Symposium scheduleThe Navy Personnel Command’s Career Management Symposium is scheduled to stop at five bases throughout the Pacific:
Jan. 14-15: Naval Air Facility Atsugi
Jan. 14-18: Yokosuka Naval Base
Jan. 16-17: Misawa Air Base
Jan. 16-17: Naval Air Facility Kadena
Feb. 19-21: Naval Base Guam
Briefings will be conducted at different locations at different times on each base. Interested personnel should contact their chain of command for times and locations.
— Stars and Stripes