YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — Sailors expecting to transfer during the first quarter of fiscal year 2010 shouldn’t expect to see their orders until early October, the Navy announced.
Due to limited funds, only 20 percent of sailors who have rotation dates in the first quarter will receive orders before the new fiscal year starts Oct. 1, according to a Navy message last week.
A number of sailors due to transfer between October and December may have to scramble to report to new duty stations on time.
"People could receive transfer dates that are only 30 days out," said Senior Chief Petty Officer Johannes Gonzales, Yokosuka’s regional career counselor. "If people have special circumstances surrounding their transfer, they should be communicating that to their detailer. That way the detailers can place the sailor on a higher priority."
Sailors with orders in hand "have nothing to worry about," he said. "They’ll be transferring on time."
Gonzales said the funding shortage has the potential to affect nearly 40,000 sailors.
Those without orders can expect to receive them after funding for the new fiscal year is received.
In April, the Navy announced that transfers were being delayed for the remainder of the fiscal year due to funding limitations. However, Navy Personnel Command officials recently received additional permanent change of station funds, allowing them to issue orders to all sailors due to transfer in the current fiscal year.
