Changes Help Sailors Balance GWOT, Career, Family Obligations

Navy personnel officials have implemented changes in the detailing process that they hope will make it easier for sailors to fulfill obligations in support for the Global War on Terror (GWOT), meet requirements for advancement, and minimize disruption to their family life as well. The new Global War on Terror Support Assignment (GSA) detailing system allows sailors to negotiate for individual augmentation (IA) assignments. Eventually, the change will end the Navy’s need to pull sailors away from duty stations in mid-tour to fill IA slots. Under GSA, sailors receive permanent-change-of-station orders to either Norfolk or San Diego, and temporary duty orders for all training and movement. Then, when sailors are tapped to fill IA positions, their families can still stay in base housing or collect basic allowance for housing (BAH) if they live off base. Other provisions make it easier for sailors to take exams and earn advancement points for their IA work. GSA detailing is available for sailors billeted to Iraq, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, Kuwait, Bahrain, Germany, South America, Cuba, Kosovo, and the Philippines, and stateside in Tampa, Fla., and Arlington, Va. Details are spelled out in NAVADMIN 002/08 and NAVADMIN 003/08. Both are posted online at http://www.npc.navy.mil/ReferenceLibrary/Messages/.