Navy Plans IA Duty Enhancements

With more than 10,000 Sailors serving as individual augmentees (IAs) with the Army and Marines and many more expected, the Navy is planning a series of career recognition incentives. For example, beginning with the spring exam cycle, Sailors in paygrades E-3 through E-5 who have completed an IA tour will earn two advancement points. In addition, Sailors whose next exam will come due during an IA tour can either take it early or wait until they complete the tour. And Sailors who go to IA duty during a sea duty tour will have the IA tour treated as sea duty. Also, sailors going from shore duty to hazardous duty will have their shore duty extended by the time spent in the combat zone. Additional qualification designators are in the works, as well as a special badge. A series of implementing NavAdmins is expected to begin this month.