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First Enlisted Retention Board Ready to Convene

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS110818-23
8/18/2011

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist (SW) Maria Yager, Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs

MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) -- Phase I of the Navy's first-ever enlisted retention board (ERB) will convene Aug. 22.

"In response to record-high retention and low attrition among active-duty Sailors and to meet current and future planned end-strength controls, Navy will conduct an ERB for 31 specific ratings that are more than 103-percent manned," said Rear Adm. Don Quinn, acting Chief of Naval Personnel.

While programs like Perform to Serve and the selective reenlistment bonus have been effective tools at optimizing and stabilizing force strength, the impact of national economic trends on retention behavior coupled with billet shifts in the force necessitate the execution of the ERB to meet congressionally-mandated end-strength and to rebalance the force, according to Quinn.

"We simply have more people who want to stay Navy than we have billets for," said Quinn.

The quota-based board will review approximately 16,000 records of Sailors who meet the eligibility criteria outlined in Navy administrative message (NAVADMIN) 129/11 and will identify approximately 13,000 Sailors for retention based on available quotas. An estimated 3,000 Sailors will not be retained on active duty.

The board will be conducted in two phases; Phase I for eligible E-4 and E-5 Sailors, and Phase II convenes in September for eligible E-6 through E-8 Sailors.

"Each record reviewed by the ERB represents years of service by the individual candidates facing the board," said Quinn. "The board affords each eligible candidate fair and equitable consideration for the opportunity to stay Navy."

Also according to the NAVADMIN, the board will examine the records of all eligible Sailors for declining performance, such as documented misconduct and substandard performance indicators. The board will retain the most fully qualified Sailors with potential for further service.