NEWPORT, R.I. -- Reservists that are having trouble making rate may now be able to choose an alternate avenue to advance in their career--transferring to a different rating, according to Chief Navy Counselor (AW) Annette Jennings of Naval Reserve Readiness Command, Northeast.
Instead of studying flash cards trying to be the one out of 100 people that advances in their current rating, Sailors might want to consider that transferring to a different rating may be the best option, she said.
"It’s a personal choice," Jennings explained. "What drives the individual is what really matters."
Jennings noted that ratings that were once crowded may have shortages now due to several reasons, like retirements. She emphasized that the best way to ensure that a Reservist is not going from bad to worse is to research the Enlisted Career Management Objective (ECMO).
ECMO is a list of each rating and the manning status of the rating. The list is broken down into two categories, assigning a letter and number value for each rating. If a rating gets a letter value of “A” it is undermanned, “B” is at desired manning and “C” is over manned. The numbers that are assigned to each rating evaluate the likelihood of advancing; “1” is excellent, “2” is good, “3” is limited and “4” is minimal.
Whether cross-rating is the answer or not is a choice the service member should consider carefully.
"Just because you don’t advance as quickly as you want is not a reason to change ratings," Jennings said. "Maybe that person doesn’t do well on tests, maybe they should try and study with someone that is in the same rating."
Normally, to change ratings, personnel have to be an E-6 or below with less than 12 years of service, but there are exceptions. Another way to make a transfer smoother is to look at the requirements for the rating. Personnel need to make sure they meet all the requirements, and they can see if there is a school they can attend.
"For some people, when they joined, they didn’t know what they would be doing," Jennings said. "Now that they know what they are responsible for, they may not be interested it that rating. If that’s the case, then maybe there is a need to convert to another rating designation."
Jennings also pointed out that a civilian job might already qualify a person for a lateral conversion. "I knew an Aviation Mechanic 1st Class with 18 years who was able to cross-rate to an IT1 (Information Systems Technician) because of what he did in his civilian life," said Jennings.
Also, if ratings are similar, personnel can qualify for a lateral conversion.
Once personnel convert to a different rating, they will have to remain in that rating for at least 24 months before they can transfer to another rating. And while cross-rating may be viewed as a retention tool, Jennings sees it as an individual goal.
"I would recommend that an E-4 with 10 years in--that is not advancing--to maybe look into converting," she said. "Choosing to change your rating could be looked at as a personal fulfillment tool."
Jennings also recommends that personnel read the MILPERSMAN 1440 for additional information.
