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CFFC Emphasizes Stability, Consistency, Clarity in IA Detailing

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080215-16
Release Date: 2/15/2008 1:23:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Christal A. Bailey, Navy Region Southwest Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Adm. Jonathan Greenert, Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (CFFC), emphasized the need to provide stability, consistency and clarity to Sailors preparing to deploy as individual augmentees (IAs) under the Navy's Global War on Terrorism Support Assignment (GSA) detailing system in an address to the San Diego Military Advisory Council meeting here Feb. 13.

Greenert said the IA program is one of his top priorities, noting Sailors have specific skill sets that are needed in Central Command.

"These are folks with unique skills; medical, legal, guards, logistics, language or customs people. We're doing a good job. We have a lot of Sailors that fill these skills," he said.

He added that Sailors are also supporting Pacific Command in a similar way.

Greenert said the Navy is working to improve the IA assignment process.

"Our folks have been called to serve on a short notice because certain skill sets were needed," he said. "This has been going on for about two years now and a pattern [has] developed. The replacement of folks that [have] to go over there is imminent and most likely will be going on for awhile."

The new GSA detailing process was developed to reduce the number of Sailors sent as IAs on short notice. Sailors now have the ability to accept a GSA assignment as a permanent change of station (PCS). Eventually it will replace the need to pull Sailors from other assignments mid tour in order to fill an IA.

"It's providing stability and a consistency to the individual augmentee process, which we really need," Greenert commented.

Currently there are more than 11,000 IA Sailors deployed. According to Greenert, one in three Sailors are currently assigned via the PCS process, but he hopes to increase that number to three out of four in order to give Sailors the ability to plan ahead.

"They need to be given enough time to prepare and effectively learn to be a soldier, and to be able to plan for their life today and their life in the future. We need to integrate planned IA rotation into their Navy career path," he said. "We need to be consistent in the GSA process. We need to stabilize the assignment, which we're working towards. ... We need to grab this process and make a future out of it for Sailors and their families."

In addition to addressing the need to improve IA detailing, Greenert also addressed critical fleet training needs and challenges presented by encroachment, ship and aircraft maintenance and the need for the supplemental budget in support of fleet operations.

Greenert went on to thank the San Diego community for support and partnership opportunities, noting that no community in the country has a closer relationship with the Navy than San Diego.

For more news from Navy Region Southwest, visit www.news.navy.mil/local/cnrsw/.