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Department Head Board

Huggy Bear

Huggy Bear

Registered User
pilot
Huggy Bear said:
The list seemed pretty harsh to me for VFA. Kinda surprising, since I know so many of peers opted out.
Click to expand...

I retract this statement. I think 50 of 64 pilots got it. I'm still surprised that every pilot couldn't get it. It was harsh for NFOs, however.
 
Gatordev

Gatordev

Well-Known Member
pilot
Site Admin
Contributor
Hadn't seen this posted yet so thought I'd put it up here. This was a forwarded email that some of you may have already seen at work.

Take Away's from the Aviation Department Head (DH) Screen Board June
2007

These are my observations. At each board, the circumstances are
different, sometimes significantly so. That said, he are some
take-aways that may help us in the HM community.

All the Helo panels were competitive. There were more strong candidates
for (helo) aviation DH than there were slots. HM selected at 56% (5 of
9). This was a little below the aviation average, but there were even
worse selection statistics - HC was about 37% if my memory is correct.
This was the first time we in HM did not have a 100% DH screen rate
(i.e. there were more candidates than slots), and the prognosis for the
future is that it's going to be this way for a while. As a result, we
need to consider some issues for our pool of potential DH's from a new
perspective, or perhaps for the first time.

All eligible service members will have two opportunities for selection
for operational Department Head. If, after their second look, they
haven't screened for DH, they will get a third look at a "Special
Mission" DH slot, where the folks will play for TACRON (Type-writer
Attack Squadron), Training Command (VT/HT) and possibly FRS DH slots.
The special mission DH screen will occur at the same board as the second
operational DH screening (i.e., the 3 looks - 2 operational and one
special mission - will occur over a two year period). The FRS DH
assignment possibility for twice passed over DH screeners (but picked on
their third look) caused quite a bit of conversation at the board. I
doubt it will touch us in HM, but I could see where one of these Special
Mission DH screeners could be a player for the XO at ASWTS slot.

Typical candidates have 3 tours worth of competitive FITREPs when
they're up for DH:
* first sea
* first shore ( second total)
* 2nd sea or "other"

We seem to be post-Naval Aviation Pilot Production Improvement (NAPPI)
so the consensus was that we're past the point where we had long delays
and lots of pool time while young officers completed flight school, so
there is time for 3 tours before the DH screen.

The number one, most important way to make yourself marketable for DH
selection is to do well versus your peers -move right on FITREP's to
eventually break out as an EP. The key for each candidate is to do well
at their primary duty and make the most of the opportunities available
to them at each tour. If you're on the boat, get an OOD U/W or CICWO
qual. If you're at a training command, off duty education is good. If
you're at VX-1, some acquisition quals show you are taking advantage of
where you are.

First tour: Skippers, soft break outs in block 41 (the write up) for
LTjg's help set the stage. Make Department Head recommendations either
in the block 40 (the career milestone blocks where you can make up to 2
recommendations) or the verbiage in block 41, when the LT's (or even the
LTjg's) performance merits it. As the situation warrants, take the time
to describe why a good performer may be ranked lower in the numbers than
you think he/she deserves: "MP ranking is only due to OPNAVINST 6110
limitations. Performance is equal to my EP's - the only difference is
seniority." Pay attention to the grades. Don't say the above and then
give them a grade point average lower than the cumulative average for
that group of FITREPs. Inconsistencies stand out.

It's hard to recover if the LT doesn't break out first tour, but it can
be done. An officer's cumulative FITREP's tell a story, and if a LT
leaves their first tour with an MP (and maybe some verbiage in block 41
explaining that the officer's performance is top shelf), the first shore
tour needs to be in a place that will convey that the officer is willing
to take a challenging job to remain competitive - assignments to the
training command (HT's/VT's) and VX-1 will do this. Assignments as
station SAR pilots typically will NOT, unless it is a BUPERS hard fill
assignment and then it needs to be stated very clearly on the back of
the FITREP that this is the case. It's incumbent on the Skipper's/XO's
to let the young LT's know the circumstances so they can make informed
decisions about their careers. Be prepared to perform the required
career counseling if that good guy, but pac-player wants to be the swim
coach at the Naval Academy for their first shore tour. An IA job down
stream is also a way to show you're serious. But, don't oversell the IA
assignment. It won't overcome pac minus performance, but can help
someone on the edge.

First Shore Tour: The FRS is recognized as the place all communities
send their top performers. We need to keep doing this for community
credibility. If the number one LT isn't going to the FRS or a
production (HT/VT) assignment (or an Admiral's aide or something equally
impressive), it's confusing and adversely affects our collective
credibility. There are always exceptions, but we need to be careful
about the message we send about how much we value AWSTS. We also need
to be careful about how much we manipulate PRD's to give everyone a shot
at the top spot at the FRS. A number 2 at the FRS isn't bad (even if
it's an MP - with the right verbiage on the back), in my opinion.
Production VT/HT assignments are also viewed as challenging. VX-1 is
too. See the number one, most important way to make yourself
marketable on the first page (in bold). If the LT goes somewhere where
they're getting non-competitive FITREPs (like PG School) or small group
FITREPs (like Panama City, the WING or other STAFFs), the LT needs to
take a follow on assignment that is clearly challenging (see boat
below).

Second sea tour or "other": the boat is the best place to go, but even
if you go there, it can still be perceived as a negative if you don't
get the quals available (OOD U/W, CICWO or something). Hard fill
community fill jobs like the MCMRON's are also challenging. Super JO
tours and (WTI's) are OKAY, but breaking out is imperative. A second
shore tour (unless it's an Admiral's aide or something equally
marketable) could be a disadvantage.
Click to expand...
 
Steve Wilkins

Steve Wilkins

Teaching pigs to dance, one pig at a time.
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
cosmania said:
Are you claiming pilots as the "master race?":)
Click to expand...
Well hell, if that's the standard then SWO's have the "master race" part down well above their DH screened aviation counterparts. :icon_smil
 
Hozer

Hozer

Jobu needs a refill!
None
Contributor
For what it's worth, I was a Seaman to Admiral guy. My first shore tour was college and I have been told that is the one thing that has crushed me (3 yrs of NOB's). I was a high first tour EP with all the quals and a second sea-tour number 1 for 16 months on the boat.
I picked up Special Mission DH. The VP NFO cut was brutal this and last year.
So, that jives with what has been said above. Not strictly applicable since the program doesn't exist any more, but the basic lesson is there.
Just so guys know, I'm skeptical about Special Mission (I'm not the only one either).
Traditionally, if you aren't a number 2 OP DH you won't make 0-5. It seems like it will be tough for a SM guy to compete against a community guy who was an operational DH.
The detailer's response to this was that the 0-5 selection board precept was going to be changed to state merely "department head" vice "operational department head".
Also, unless all DH's in VT's/TACRONs/HT's and FRS's will now be board screened, it seems like they could just be stuffing SM guys where they are needed. My impression is that there is a lot to be ironed out still.
So, we'll see. So much for my "twilight tour"...
 
hscs

hscs

Registered User
pilot
disagree about the super JO deal -- 4 of 5 super JOs at my squadron made it.
 
HH-60H

HH-60H

Manager
pilot
Contributor
hscs said:
disagree about the super JO deal -- 4 of 5 super JOs at my squadron made it.
Click to expand...

But aren't you HCS? If so, that might be the exception to the rule. I can't say either way because HS doesn't really do super JO.
 
hscs

hscs

Registered User
pilot
There are regular active folks at -84...We are the accidental model for active-reserve integration...
 
Flying Low

Flying Low

Yea sure or Yes Sir?
pilot
Contributor
I would like to see VT/HT rank higher then FRS. I think the job in the HT's is much harder then the FRS.
 
cosmania

cosmania

Gitty Up!
pilot
Gator,

Who is that email from? I mean, some of the quotes in there are a bit whacked. They are implying that the jg fitrep will essentially determine if the guy makes skipper. Nice.
 
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