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Rating Conversion Keeps Good Sailors on the Best Path

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS101001-02
10/1/2010

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (AW) LaTunya Howard, Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs Office

MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) -- With the merger of Perform-to-Serve (PTS) and Fleet Rating Identification Engine (RIDE) Oct. 1, Sailors are being advised to take full advantage of the program's conversion option in order to stay Navy as the force is shaped to provide future capabilities.

"What we have is 5,000 Sailors in overmanned ratings being looked at in PTS, but 6,000 vacancies in undermanned ratings not yet filled," said Mike Fair, Bureau of Naval Personnel deputy military community manager. "We have to match these Sailors up with these undermanned specialties by educating Sailors on how PTS and Fleet RIDE can keep them from becoming separated from the Navy because they aren't in ratings we need."

PTS was implemented in March 2003 as a means for the Navy to match manning requirements with mission requirements. It is a centralized reservation system that balances overmanned and undermanned ratings, using reenlistments as its key tool.

With Fleet RIDE integration, Sailors are provided the additional information of what other rating billets are open, and what he or she qualifies for outside of their current rating, based on their Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery.

"Most Sailors are loyal to their rating and are reluctant to change," said Senior Chief Navy Counselor (AW) Jermaine Rawls, Navy Personnel Command PTS Help Desk. "Career development boards are indispensable in raising the number of conversion requests through PTS."

The chain of command must counsel Sailors before they enter the PTS window to clarify the importance of applying for both in-rate and conversion quotas.

"Some advantages that accompany a rating conversion are advancement, selective reenlistment bonus, formal training, college credit, and the opportunity to stay Navy," said Rawls.

Sailors considering conversion can review their Career Reenlistment Objective (CREO). CREO refers to the manning levels for all Navy ratings and is a consideration for Sailors requesting PTS approval. CREO categories are identified in one of three levels:

CREO 1 rates are undermanned
CREO 2 rates are manned at desired levels
CREO 3 rates are overmanned

The command career counselor can assist Sailors with understanding the benefits of reviewing their CREO information and can provide Sailors with guidance throughout the PTS process.

"PTS and Fleet RIDE helps us keep our best and brightest Sailors in the Navy in their current rating, conversion to undermanned rating our by direct affiliation into our SELRES," said Fair. "There are many untold happy endings. For example, a machinist's mate third class was approved for conversion. His old rating was overmanned with advancement opportunity to E-5 less than 7 percent. The Sailor converted to cryptologic technician collection (CTR); attended A School; graduated; converted to CTR 3rd Class; received a standard re-enlistment bonus for a six-year reenlistment; and is now assigned to a Navy Information Operations Command. CTR advancement opportunity for E-5 is nearly 100 percent. We want to get the word out to Sailors about the power of PTS and Fleet RIDE. We believe a satisfied Sailor makes a better Navy," said Fair.