Okay, keep in mind that I'm just a lowly first class at a tiny base in the middle of nowhere. However, the Pres and VP of our first class association recently attended the washington area FCPOA conference where they were told "the way the Navy is going." Apparently, they've decided that since todays sailors are much more educated than they used to be (we've got an E-3 with a Masters here), officers have become much less necessary than they used to be. They are now sending Master Chiefs to Naval War College. The vision is that E8/E9 will be running ships (as in COs), and E6/E7 will take the place of JOs, widening the gap between E5 and E6. They (the 15 or so Master Chief's they had come talk to the conference) said this would all be in place by '10. Now, I'm swallowing that with a block of salt as well, but the reality is they ARE cutting JO billets, its in more than one NAVADMIN. It doesn't change the fact that you will never be selected for a job that you don't apply for. Competition is going to be high, and you may have to apply more than once. I'm a stellar sailor (made E6 in 6 years before they starting letting EPs test early, 99 ASVAB, 27 credits away from a bachelors, up for sailor of the quarter), but I've got a bad knee (boot camp injury that just won't go away) and I will more than likely be booted out before my contract ends in 4 years, never mind before I hit 20 (which is 11 years away). Now, if you are LIMDU, you're going to have your primary NEC be these new NECs that say you are LIMDU. The economy is recovering, but the job market really isn't, so people are staying in the Navy. When they don't want to get out, it is harder to get in. Apply, and apply again. The Navy does reward persistence. Good luck all, and remember that any program/vision could go the way of TQL.
