Active-duty Navy chief petty officers (E7-E9) interested in shaping the future of the fleet are encouraged to participate as subject matter experts for upcoming Advancement Examination Readiness Reviews (AERRs).

AERR participants serve as fleet SMEs for their respective ratings and develop E4-E7 rating advancement exams for future cycles.

Rear Adm. Mike White, commander of the Naval Education and Training Command, stressed the importance of the advancement exam process during the Navy Rating Modernization.

"Advancement exams will continue during the development of new processes for the rating modernization," said White. "Fleet SMEs are essential to the AERR process so that we can produce accurate and relevant exams under the existing rating structure."

The two-week exam readiness reviews are held throughout the year with each specific rating being reviewed about every two years.

The reviews are held at the Naval Education and Training Professional Development Center (NETPDC) at Saufley Field in Pensacola, Florida. Participants receive temporary assigned duty (TAD) orders from their parent command, paid for by NETPDC.

"The knowledge that our fleet experts bring to the reviews provides the relevance required to construct an exam that identifies a Sailor with the right skills to select for advancement," said NETPDC Command Master Chief, Master Chief Petty Officer James Berhalter. "AERRs give chiefs a direct and tangible input toward shaping their community -- participants have a say in what their reliefs need to know."

Senior Chief Petty Officer Misty Hubbard from Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia, is currently participating in her third Mass Communication Specialist AERR.

"I was totally blown away during my first AERR with how much I learned about our enlisted advancement process," said Hubbard. "It has been very meaningful and rewarding to be a part of determining what our midgrade petty officers should know and be able to do in order to be advanced."

To take part in the AERR process, log into NKO and use the following link: https://www.nko.navy.mil/group/navy-advancement-center/mycpo/. This provides the scheduled dates for each rating, including eligibility and nomination package requirements, and other pertinent information regarding AERR events.

Nominations to participate in AERRs must be endorsed by the command master chief, senior chief, or chief of the boat, as well as the commanding officer or officer-in-charge for submission to NETPDC. Normally, six nominees will be selected for each rating scheduled during the AERR. NETPDC will coordinate with respective rating learning centers and community sponsors to select the best nominees. Selections of FSMEs for the AERRs will be made 45 days prior to each review, and selectees will be notified by NETPDC via e-mail.

NETPDC's mission is to provide products and services that enable and enhance education, training, career development, and personnel advancement throughout the Navy. Primary elements of the command include the Voluntary Education (VOLED) Department, the Navy Advancement Center (NAC), and the Resources Management Department.

For more information about the Navy Advancement Center and the Navy Enlisted Advancement System, visit http://www.facebook.com/Navy-Advancement-Center-213190711299/.

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

For more news from Naval Education And Training Professional Development And Technology Center, visit http://www.navy.mil/ or http://www.netc.navy.mil/netc/netpdc/Default.htm/.