Navy Lets Sailors Take Break From Service

[Mary, Proud Mom of Nick]

May 05, 2009
Military.com|by Bryan Mitchell


Intermissions are usually breaks between acts in a play. Now they can also be breaks between tours in the Navy.

In an effort to offer more career flexibility to its top talent, the Navy has introduced a sabbatical program that will allow Sailors to temporarily leave the Navy for up to three years while still maintaining vital benefits.

The Career Intermission Pilot Program is being offered to both officer and enlisted Sailors across the fleet as part of a wide-ranging package of incentives aimed to create a more nimble workforce.

Even as the Navy continues to reduce its end-strength, the service has adopted a grab bag of perks that reflect the best practices of corporate America in order to keep its most hard-charging seamen in uniform, officials say.

Earlier this year, the Navy introduced a telecommuting program open to certain billets while it is exploring the possibility of creating part-time positions as well as increased ability for Sailors to shift between the active and reserve forces, according to Capt. Ken Barrett, diversity director of the Navy's task force life-work.

Barrett said Career Intermission Program will be open to up to 20 officers and 20 enlisted Sailors each year through 2012. If deemed successful, the Navy hopes to extend the program indefinitely.

"This is for someone who is a high performer, someone who has been an early promoter throughout their career and feel they could benefit from some time away," Barrett said. "Somebody's who's at a career milestone and this could give them some career flexibility."

Barrett said the Navy is flexible in what justifies an intermission.

"It could be to finish education, care for an elderly parent or volunteer in Africa," he said. "We are trying to be very open-minded about this and provide wide latitude."

The intermission program was funded as part of the 2009 Defense Authorization Act. So far, the Navy is the only branch of service to offer the program to its members.

Participants are provided a one-time temporary transition to the Individual Ready Reserve, which includes a Navy-funded permanent change in station to anywhere in the continental United States.

Sailors in the program will retain their Tricare health benefits for them and their families as well as 1/15th of the salary, which works out to roughly the same amount a drilling reservist earns.

Sailors who take the intermission will return to the fleet with a two-to-one service obligation for every month spent on sabbatical. That means a sailor who takes off 18 months to finish a degree will owe the Navy three years upon return -- on top of any outstanding obligations.

Time served on reserve status will not count toward retirement, total years of commissioned service or high-year tenure limitations.

Instead, the Navy will reset the date of rank for participants when they re-enter active service so they will compete against similar peers for promotions and positions, Barrett.

Barrett stressed these programs -- which are more likely to be used in the civilian workforce -- are being promoted at the highest levels of the Navy. Chief of Navy Personnel Vice Admiral Mark E. Ferguson III, for instance, works from home each Wednesday.

"We have about 60 folks in the Navy [headquarters] that are tele-working at least one day a week," Barrett said.

Earlier this year, Military.com reported on Navy Capt. James R. Oaks working from home in Pittsburgh rather than relocating to the Washington, D.C., area -- saving the Navy thousands and providing stability to Oaks' family.

Sabbaticals, working from home, part-time service -- it's all part of a new results-orientated environment the Navy is working to cultivate, officials say.

It's unclear how many Sailors will leap at the opportunity shelve their service dress blues for a while amid the reality of a shrinking Navy and grim employment prospects outside the service. Barrett said roughly 75 Sailors have expressed interested in the career intermission program.


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