Fleet Gets Training at the Source

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (AW) LaTunya Howard, Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs

MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) -- More than 40 commands from around the fleet received detailed personnel management training to support upcoming deployments during a Strike Group Manning Conference here July 19 – 21.

The conference, hosted by the Enlisted Personnel Readiness and Support Branch, provided a variety of briefs on how to better manage Sailors. Tips were given to fleet personnel managers, many with little manning experience, on how to coordinate with distribution experts at NPC.

"We start looking at our manning structure one year out, when preparing for deployment," said Lt. j.g. Toni Fadden, Strike Fighter Squadron 41, Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif. "We look at our manpower documents and assess the command's manning requirements. Do we have enough of one rating or too much of another? Maybe I just need the ability to get my folks to training. We scrub our numbers in advance of this type of visit so we have focused efforts."

Commands were briefed on topics such as, Career Management System/Interactive Detailing, Perform-to-Serve (PTS), Individual Augmentation (IA), limited-duty and pregnancy placement, Enlisted Manning Inquiry Reports, Personnel Manning Reports, and Enlisted Distribution and Verification Reports management.

Guest speakers from U.S. Fleet Forces Command and Naval Air Forces were on hand to answer questions about manning issues facing the fleet. Attendees were also given the opportunity to speak with enlisted community managers, detailers and their command's placement coordinators.

"The conference gave a lot of good information in different areas," said Fadden. "Topics ranged from 'Big Navy' ideas and where leadership wants to take us to PTS and the changes that are coming with that. The IA brief also had great information on changes in the near future."

NPC experts said the conference was a good avenue for giving information to the fleet.

"They need to understand how Overseas Contingency Operations Individual Augmentation assignments are generated and sourced. This gathering helps commands understand the process; and that leads to greater fleet awareness and support for these requirements," said Lt. Cmdr. Chris Shipe, Enlisted Overseas Contingency Operations branch head.

NPC hosts Enlisted Manning Conferences periodically for sea and shore commands to help identify and resolve manning issues.