APPLY Yourself - gmarkhardy.com

1 10 NRA NEWS/MAY 2005 Professional Development APPLY YourselfIf you re between the paygrades ofCWO2 and O-9 and still active inthe Navy Reserve, learn all you canabout APPLY . If you re between CWO2and O-4, APPLY is the way to getcommand. If you re O-5 or O-6, APPLYis how you get a pay billet. If you re O-6through O-9, it s knowledge for mentoringyour it may be hard to believe, wedidn t always assign officers to commandand pay billets through a formalnational board. We used to use a systemthat was often described as the goodol boy network.

2 If you knew someonewho knew someone, you were in. Thatworked pretty well when we hadauthorized end strength approaching150,000. Now that we re on a glideslope to 73,100 for FY-06, things are alot first board resembling today sAPPLY was in 1995. Applicants sent inpaper copies of the last five FITREP splus an application letter. As the processbecame more advanced, applicantsmailed information on 3-1/2 floppydisks. Today, the process is quitesophisticated, pulling FITREP andcareer information from EMPRES,billet information from RHS (ReserveHeadquarters System), and cross-referencing a whole alphabet soup ofdatabases to ensure Reserve leadership requests thatall officers register for APPLY , even ifyou re comfortable in your job.

3 Thereare some important benefits for doingso. It provides each Sailor an opportunityto validate RHS billet information andidentify errors in our manpower provides a record scrub wherebyofficers are notified of missing FITREPsor other irregularities. It providescurrent exposure to senior officers whomay be mentoring JOs in the APPLY system. Lastly, it is the one approvedway to earn a command assignment atany paygrade or a pay billet at the O5-O6 must register by 30 April. AccessAPPLY from< >by clicking on the link for APPLY FY-06at the bottom of the page.

4 Completeall screens of career and educationalinformation, and fill out a dreamsheet of 35 billets by 20 May. The board meets13-24 June, with results due by 11 confirm their billets by 31 not accepted will be filled froman alternate candidate my April 2004 ProfessionalDevelopment article entitled, StupidAPPLY Tricks to reduce the probabilityyou ll become an object lesson forothers. I suggest reading COMNAVRES-FORCOM NOTICE 5400 of 12 JAN 05in its entirety to understand preciselywhat happens at the board.

5 Mostimportantly, get on CAPT Larry Weill sAPPLY mailing list by sending an e-mailrequest to sends out frequent e-mail updatesand has prepared an APPLY first aid CD. It includes an APPLY registrationguide, the complete text of the 5400notice, a list of NOBCs, RFAS codes,and AQDs, a sample letter to the board,and answers to over 100 questionsregarding APPLY . Download a copytoday from < >. When filling out your dream sheet,put in as many choices (up to 35) as youare willing to perform. The board doesroutinely assign choices past #30, so becareful what you use as ballast in yourlist.

6 If you live in Seattle, don t listRoosevelt Roads, PR, as your last choice;you just might get it! In general, listcommand billets before non-commandassignments, but be realistic. If you vebeen in the VTU for years, don t wasteyour #1 choice on a fleet command; it snot going to happen. Stay in your lane by selecting billets that are coded foryour designator, or have RFAS (reservefunctional and sequence) codes that allowyou to substitute for the specified paygradeand NOBC. Say yes to other billets, andprovide a reasonable commuting radiusbased on your motivation and access tocheap airfare.

7 Don t forget to includecomments these are the only remarksthat are viewed by the board during thebillet slating prepare for the APPLY board, dothe following things now. APPLY forNOBCs that are required for the jobsyou wish to hold. They re not automatic,but a well-written application isimportant. Order your service record onCD-ROM (see my February 2005 columnentitled, Cleaning Up Your OfficialService Record ) and verify allFITREPs and awards are your OSR/PSR for completenessand ensure awards are listed missing medals and awards toCOMNAVRESFORCOM and include acopy with a letter to the APPLY letter should be brief, to the point,and address missing or confusing recordinformation.

8 It is appropriate to includethe most recent FITREP, a missing award,or explain a gap in service. Do not whineor include superfluous material. Ensureyour letter is postmarked by 1 is your once-a-year swing at theplate. Prepare, research, and meet alldeadlines. Master the system, and mentorothers in the process. Ask a senior officerin your community to review and critiqueyour billet choices while there is still timeto change them. Manage your expectations about 7 percent of commanders and 10percent of captains get command; aboutone third get pay billets.

9 Whatever theresult, take pride in the fact that you havean opportunity to serve your Navy andyour nation during this time of armedconflict. Good luck! CAPT G. Mark Hardy III, USNRN ational VP for Professional Development