Navy highlighted fiscal year 2018 (FY-18) retention performance, announced FY-19 reenlistment benchmarks and updated criteria for the FY-19 Retention Excellence Award (REA), in NAVADMIN 019/19, Jan. 23.

FY-18 retention results were positive across the board, surpassing the FY-18 benchmarks in all zones. Each “zone” corresponds to a Sailor’s length of service:

            Zone A – 0 to 6 years’ length of service

            Zone B – 6 to 10 years’ length of service

            Zone C – 10 to 14 years’ length of service

Reenlistment benchmarks increased across all zones for FY-19 as the Navy continues to grow.

"Our goal is to retain Sailors to ensure we secure the manpower required to support the Navy the Nation Needs,” said Capt. Angela Katson, branch head of Enlisted Force Shaping Plans and Policies.  “These reenlistment benchmarks are essential to maintaining the Navy’s aggressive growth trajectory and they help ensure the Navy is moving in the right direction to achieve maximum fleet readiness through increased retention and reduced attrition.”

Updates to the Retention Excellence Award (REA) criteria were included in the NAVADMIN.

The REA recognizes superior command accomplishment in executing programs and policies that best enable our Sailors to succeed in their naval careers.  Commands that receive the REA are authorized to paint their anchor gold or fly the retention excellence pennant.  

The Command Information Program Review (CIPR) remains the primary resource tool to assist commands with assessment of the effectiveness of their career development program.  Previously, CIPR evaluations were required for a command to be eligible for the REA. However, to incentivize healthy retention behavior and to help reduce administrative distractions, commands who earn the REA and meet reenlistment benchmarks are exempted from a formal CIPR Type Commander (TYCOM) or Immediate Superior in Command (ISIC) assessment for two years.

Other changes to the Retention Excellence Award include increased command-level reenlistment benchmarks and the announcement that commands who earn the REA are exempt from a CIPR for up to two years.

“For any command that is seeking to earn the REA, the bottom line is to take care of our Sailors by being Brilliant on the Basics,” said Katson. “That’s how you incentivize them to stay in.”

Links to the Brilliant on the Basics II NAVADMINs are listed below.

Brilliant on the Basics II, Part A, Revisiting the Basics, NAVADMIN 095/18 https://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/reference/messages/Documents/NAVADMINS/NAV2018/NAV18095.txt

Brilliant on the Basics II, Part B, Engagement, NAVADMIN 100/18

https://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/reference/messages/Documents/NAVADMINS/NAV2018/NAV18100.txt

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