The Navy announced Wednesday that the Senior Enlisted Academy (SEA) will streamline their course from 13 weeks to 11 by decreasing the distance learning portion as outlined in NAVADMIN 109/17.

These changes will add one SEA class per year and decrease class size, which will provide more flexibility and opportunity for qualified Sailors to attend.

The new SEA schedule will consist of seven weeks distance learning and three weeks in-residence in Newport, Rhode Island for the nine classes.

SEA reorganized the online and in-resident course topics, and adjusted physical fitness training time to allow for more in-residence course work.

Graduation from a service SEA is a prerequisite for promotion to master chief. SEA is the Navy's Professional Military Education for the senior enlisted force.

To read NAVADMIN 109/17, go to http://www.npc.navy.mil.

For more information on SEA go to http://www.usnwc.edu/Departments---Colleges/Senior-Enlisted-Academy.aspx.

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

For more news from Chief of Naval Personnel, visit http://www.navy.mil/.