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Navy Implements Targeted Stop-Loss for Some Hospital Corpsmen

Navy NewStand

Story Number: NNS030408-14
Release Date: 4/8/2003 1:39:00 PM

From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- In a move to bolster combat readiness and preserve unit integrity, the Navy implemented a targeted stop-loss for some Hospital Corpsmen (HM) this week, but will hold off implementation for 16 other skill sets also authorized under the plan.

The targeted stop loss, announced in NAVOP 005/03, requires only those HMs with Navy enlisted classification (NEC) 8404 (field medical service technician) in pay grades E1-E6 to remain on active duty.

"These are some of our frontline corpsmen, many of them serving in combat positions with the Marines," said Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. Gerry Hoewing. "They are doing a magnificent job. They are -- and always have been -- the true embodiment of Navy/Marine Corps teamwork. Given the war in Iraq and other military operations, the requirement for that teamwork is higher than ever, and we need them to continue that important service just a while longer."

Of those HMs who possess NEC 8404 and an end of active obligated service (EAOS) between now and December 2003, personnel officials estimate that only a few hundred had plans to leave the service and are therefore affected by the stop loss.

The Navy received authorization for - but will not implement - stop loss for a total of up to 5,270 officers and Sailors, also with EAOS between now and December 2003, covering skill sets in the anti-terrorism/force protection, cryptologic technician, explosive ordnance disposal and HM communities. Stop loss will only be implemented for NEC 8404 HMs to support ongoing combat operations.

"We made this stop loss as precise and as limited as we possibly could," noted Cmdr. Chris Arendt, head of enlisted plans and policies for the Chief of Naval Personnel. "We tried hard to balance operational requirements with the desire to minimize the disruption to Sailors and their families. I think the fact that we were able to do that, to keep this stop loss so small right now, reflects the ever-ready, expeditionary posture of the Navy today."

"We do not take this action lightly," added Hoewing, noting that the Navy will implement stop loss for the other authorized skill sets only if required.

"We wanted to be ready to preserve a range of important capabilities we may need in the future, and the authorization we received will help us do that," he said. "But we will implement stop loss only as a last resort. It proved necessary for those 8404-coded HMs, but for the other skill sets, we're going to wait and see. Navy leadership understands the impact of stop loss on our people. It's not a tool we want to have to use, so we intend to use it sparingly."

The other skill sets authorized for stop-loss by the Secretary of the Navy, but not being implemented now include Security limited duty officers (649X); Security Technician chief warrant officers (749X); Master-at-Arms; Navy Law Enforcement Specialists (NEC 9545); Afloat Planning System Maintenance Technicians (NEC 1676); Mission Distribution System Operators (NEC 2778); Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive) with the 9202, 9209 and 9216 NECs; Cryptologic Technician (Communication, Collection and Technical) with the 8295 and 8296 NECs; and all Hospital Corpsmen with the 8403, 8425, 8427 and 8541 NECs.

Stop-loss will not apply to Sailors who are on separation or retirement leave, have shipped household goods in preparation for transition from service, or are within 21 days of their separation or retirement date. Sailors on active duty for special work and one-year recall are also exempt. Waivers to the policy will be considered on a case-by-case basis.