Sailors Offered Break From Service

The Navy is offering its top achievers the chance to interrupt their service for one to three years, retain health-care coverage under TRICARE, and collect a modest monthly stipend, under a new pilot program approved by Congress under the 2009 defense bill. The Career Intermission Pilot Program (CIPP) will offer as many as 20 officers and 20 enlisted sailors per year to participate, between this year and 2012. “This pilot program is for top performers who have the desire to ‘Stay Navy,’ but need some time off,” says Rear Adm. Dan Holloway, the director of Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education. Participants would return to active duty and incur a two-to-one service obligation for every month they spend out of uniform on individual ready reserve (IRR) status, in addition to their existing obligations. The IRR time would not count toward total years of service, retirement, or high-year tenure limitations. Other stipulations are available online at www.npc.navy.mil/commandsupport/taskforcelifework/.