For those Sailors looking for an opportunity to take a sabbatical from the Navy, the Career Intermission Program (CIP) might be for you.

Established in 2009, CIP provides Sailors a one-time opportunity to transition from active-duty to the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) for up to three years to pursue personal or professional interests like starting a family or going to school.

For individuals like Lt. Cmdr. Ken Hockycko, an F/A-18 pilot and current defense liaison on Capitol Hill, CIP offered him the opportunity to earn his MBA at Dartmouth College.

"I wanted to broaden my perspective on issues so I could be a more effective leader in the future and gain some experiences outside the cockpit that weren't in the normal defined career path," said Hockycko, who returned to active duty from CIP in 2012. "I hope that I'm more valuable to the Navy for having done it."

Hockycko said that he thinks the experience he gained through will ultimately serve the primary purpose of fighting and winning the Nation's wars.

"Warfighting and tactical proficiency must remain the number one priority for the Navy, but that doesn't have to be at the expense of other priorities," he said. "This isn't a zero sum game."

After completion of the program, Sailors come back on active duty and resume their service with a two-for-one service obligation for time spent as part of the program.

To date, CIP has had a total of 127 total participants.

"CIP is an important initiative that helps us retain talented individuals who are considering leaving naval service," said Chief of Naval Personnel, Vice Adm. Robert Burke. "We have been working hard to develop modern personnel policies like CIP that offer flexibility and choice within an effort called Sailor 2025. We must continue to find better ways to retain and repurpose the talent in which we have already invested, and avoid incentivizing Sailors to walk out the door. That's what Sailor 2025 and CIP are all about."

Today, Sailor 2025 is an evolving set of approximately 45 initiatives, like CIP, built on a framework of three pillars: a modern personnel system, a career learning continuum and career readiness designed to help improve the Navy's ability to more effectively recruit, train and manage the force of tomorrow while improving the Navy's warfighting readiness. Some of Sailor 2025's initiatives include the Meritorious Advancement Program, Fleet Scholars Education Program, Navy Tours with Industry, expanded maternity leave and Child Development Center hours, spouse co-location policy updates and the creation of Leader Development and Navy Civilian Workforce Frameworks.

Those Sailors who are interested in applying for CIP should submit an electronic application package to the Program Manager for consideration which can be reached at CIP_MANAGER@navy.mil. Packages will be reviewed for eligibility with (PERS-93) and routed to the member's Detailer (PERS-4) and Community Managers (BUPERS-3) before final approval by Commander, Navy Personnel Command (NPC).

More information about the program can be found on the Life-Work Balance page on the NPC website at:
http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/support/21st_Century_Sailor/tflw/Pages/CIP.aspx

For more information about Sailor 2025, please visit: http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/career/talentmanagement/Documents/Sailor%202025%20%2816%20Sep%2016%29%20%282%29.pdf


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