Retention season is here, and many changes have been made to the Navy's separation policies. These changes affect a large majority of the fleet and Sailors aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72).

Early this year, the Navy made significant changes to the Navy's physical readiness program. All commands stopped processing members for separation as a result of physical fitness assessment (PFA) failures. Any Sailor who had separation orders resulting from a PFA failure with approved dates after March 31, 2018 are now cancelled.

"I think that this is a really good opportunity for both the Sailors and the Navy," said Navy Counselor 1st Class Shawn Fuller, a career counselor aboard Abraham Lincoln. "It is giving Sailors a second chance at their career, and it is allowing the Navy to keep good Sailors and allow them to work on their physical fitness."

The next change to the separation policies involve Sailors who are at risk of reaching high year tenure (HYT). These Sailors now have the chance to make rank with the new HYT policy. Sailors who are at the pay grade of E3 now have 6 years before they reach HYT as opposed to the previous 5 years. E4 Sailors have 10 years instead of 6, E5 now have 16 years instead of 14 and E6 now have 22 years instead of 20.

"I'm happy to know I have some more time to advance," said Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Larry Knight, a Sailor assigned to the medical department aboard Abraham Lincoln. "My rate doesn't have a very high advancement rate, and this extra time will definitely help keep good Sailors in the fleet."

The final change made to the Navy's separation policy is the cancellation of all early out programs. The Enlisted Early Transition Program, Time-In-Grade and Next-Lower-Grade Waivers are cancelled and will not be considered.

"My number one priority is to keep the fleet properly manned," said Vice Adm. Robert Burke, chief of naval personnel. "Retention of every capable Sailor is critical to the operational readiness of the Navy, while ensuring every Sailor has the opportunity to safely achieve and maintain fitness and body composition standards."

For more information on the updated retention policy, seek assistance from your chain of command, departmental career counselors and command career counselors. You can also reference NAVADMIN 304/17, NAVADMIN 290/17, NAVADMIN 143/17 and NAVADMIN 288/17.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), visit www.navy.mil/.