Reserve Sailors are getting a big boost in leadership opportunities as the Navy announced today three new command senior enlisted ratings that are now available to Reserve Forces.

As outlined in NAVADMIN 298/19, the ratings align with active duty senior enlisted ratings of force master chief (FORCM), command master chief (CMDCM), and command senior chief (CMDCS).

The additional ratings directly support the MyNavy HR goal of manning the fleet through improving assignment, progression and retention of capable and motivated Sailors.

“This change was made to strengthen the command leadership triad by offering the opportunity for Reserve senior enlisted leaders to gain additional command leadership experience, and increase flexibility in assignments between the active and Reserve components,” said Master Chief Jessica Novas, the command senior enlisted leader community manager for Military Community Management Department. “This brings us in line with MyNavy HR’s 2020 goals.”

Eligible Sailors must choose which track they would like their career path to follow: either their current source rating or the new command (CMD) rating. Once a Sailor chooses the CMD rating, there is no opportunity for those Sailors to go back to their prior rating except in extenuating circumstances.

“CNP has charged us to man the fleet and part of that goal is managing our talent,” said Novas.  “Adding these ratings for the Reserve senior enlisted personnel specifically meets the demand for responsible community and career management.”

Sailors who currently possess the 8CMC or 8CSC Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) codes, or for those selected from the FY-20 command selection board, will be automatically converted from their current source rating to the new CMD rating unless they formally decline the rating conversion. This is being done to establish the new CMD rating, and automatic conversions will be finalized by Jan. 10, 2020. If a Sailor wishes to decline this conversion, they are required to submit an Enlisted Personnel Action Request (NAVPERS 1306/7) to the FTS CMDCM detailer or SELRES Assignment Coordinator no later than Jan. 10, 2020.

Sailors who decline the CMD rating conversion will revert to their source rating once they complete their current command tour. At the end of that tour, the 8CMC or 8CSC NEC codes will be removed unless the Sailor is a member of a closed-loop community, such as Seabees, divers, special warfare, etc.

Sailors who want to apply for the Command Selection (CSEL) program must first complete their Personnel Qualification Standards (PQS) and Oral Boards and send a packet to the annual CSEL Selection Board. The next lateral selection board starts on Jan. 27, 2020.

In March 2020, the first reserve selection board for advancement in the new CMD rating will be added the annual reserve E9 selection board. Eligible CMDCS Sailors who meet time-in-rate for E9 will compete for CMDCM.

This policy change does not affect the CMDCM or CMDCS rating badges, drilling SELRES assignment policies, or sea/shore rotation for FTS Sailors.  Additionally, Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB) and Special duty Assignment Pay (SDAP) will not be affected.

For more information, please read the NAVADMIN announcement at https://my.navy.mil.

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