Timely Perform to Serve Applications Critical to Staying

MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) -- Navy Personnel Command (NPC) is reminding commands and Sailors that submitting Perform to Serve (PTS) applications is the key to being able to stay Navy.

"If you're in a leadership position, this should be one of your top priorities," said NPC Force Master Chief (AW/SW/NAC) Jon D. Port. "Sailors E6 and below with up to 14 years active service must use PTS/Fleet Rating Identification Engine (RIDE) to remain in the Navy. They must carefully watch those timelines and work with their command retention team to ensure timely application.

"PTS is as much the Sailor's responsibility as it is a command responsibility," Port added. "But Sailors need to be provided the tools and information to do this. That informational role rests with the command retention team."

An approved PTS application is required before negotiating for orders, reenlisting or extending. NAVADMIN 352/10 explains how PTS is used to shape the Navy, and includes all business rules concerning.

Port said all Sailors should set an alarm to go off 15 months before their projected rotation date or reenlistment. Commands must ensure PTS applications are submitted for all designated Sailors in ranks E3-E6 who have up to 14 years of service as early as 15 months, but no later than 12 months prior to their end of active obligated service (EAOS). If a Sailor has extended, then these time frames use the extended or "soft" EAOS (SEAOS).

During this mandatory submission period, applications must be completed even if the Sailor plans to separate or if the Sailor is ineligible or not recommended for reenlistment at the time of application.

PTS quotas issued prior to Oct. 1, 2009, are valid until March 1, 2011. Career counselors and commands are required to obtain Enlisted Community Manager concurrence prior to using quotas issued before Oct. 1, 2009. PTS quota approvals will be granted after the monthly rack and stack, and final review.

"Getting into PTS on time is not enough," said Joseph Kelly, PTS/Fleet RIDE program manager. "Sailors must also pay attention and start negotiating orders and handling reenlistment prerequisites to ensure the quota doesn't expire."

Once additional obligated service is incurred for an approved PTS application, or a period of 13 months passes since the quota was issued, the PTS quota is considered expired and is no longer valid. Quotas also expire if a Sailor extends. If a quota expires, the Sailor must reapply.

Kelly said separate formulas remain for in-rate and conversion applications; however, applicants will only be compared against other Sailors within the same year group. He said this is a fairer rule because previously they were compared against Sailors within the same zone, which meant a third class petty officer with little experience could end up competing with a more-seasoned first class petty officer.

Applications for PTS-eligible Sailors will be automatically pre-populated in Fleet RIDE 15 months prior to their SEAOS, but they must manually apply in PTS with their career counselor's help.

For questions, e-mail PTS_Help_Desk@navy.mil. For in-depth information concerning PTS, visit www.npc.navy.mil/CareerInfo/PerformtoServe/.

For more news from Navy Personnel Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/npc/.