Catch-22 For Navy Leadership Course

The Navy says that 20,000 active-duty Sailors and 8,000 in the selective reserve, all in pay grades E-5 through E-7, must attend a five-day leadership course before the end of the year if they are to be eligible for advancement. Relatively few, however, have been released from their commands to attend. According to Vice Adm. John C. Harvey, the Navy’s chief of personnel, 30,000 seats are available for classes scheduled through the end of December. The curriculum was modified recently to reduce the students’ time away from their commands from two weeks to five days. They now must, however, complete 20 hours of computer-based training, before or after their classroom stint. Senior officials say that commanding officers will be held accountable if they do not release their Sailors for the leadership training.