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Chiefs’ retirement board is underway

The first enlisted retirement board in years began deliberations Monday to decide the fates of 6,000 chief, senior chief and master chief petty officers.

Officials say the panel, called a “performance based continuation board,” has no quotas, and personnel leaders insist they are mandating only a “pure quality cut” of retirement eligible E-7s through E-9s. Those who meet the set standard will stay; those who don’t must retire by June 30.

Related story: New retirement board convenes Sept. 21

In a letter to the board, Vice Adm. Mark Ferguson, the chief of naval personnel, outlined six specific performance criteria that could send a sailor home — but he also cited mitigating circumstances under which that sailor could be retained.

The guidance is spelled out in the board’s precepts, which was made public Monday along with a listing of the panel’s members.

“I have personally appointed the members of this board,” Ferguson wrote in the precepts. “The performance of these duties will have a greater effect on the future of the Navy than any other duty they perform.”

Ferguson said that while the board is in session, it works for him — and any other duties are secondary.

“Each record reviewed represents years of service by the individual candidate,” he said. “The utmost care will be given to ensure the process is not compromised or rushed to accommodate outside concerns.”

What the board boils down to is whether or not the sailors have adverse information in their records during the past five years. Those with clean records get a bye in the deliberation process and their “continuation shall be presumed to be in the best interests of the Navy,” he said.

Chiefs who have a black mark on their record — such as poor evaluations, misconduct and relief for cause — will not remain on active duty unless a majority of the board members gives them a thumbs-up.

What Ferguson asked the board to consider for these sailors is whether that sailor “can continue to effectively exercise leadership and be a positive role model” and whether they “remain viable for further advancement.”

Critical skills, he wrote, also should be considered by the board, along with proven deck-plate leadership, leadership in combat and arduous duties.

Bottom line, Ferguson wrote, is that the sailor must have enough positive points “to overcome concerns raised by the adverse performance information.”

Rear Adm. David Buss is the board’s president. A career aviator, he is the chief of staff for the Navy Enterprise. Buss has commanded the carrier John C. Stennis and the fleet oiler Sacramento as well as Attack Squadron 34.

Under him will be 10 captains, who will chair the board’s panels, and 56 master chiefs, including four fleet master chiefs — led by Fleet Master Chief (SW/AW) Tom Howard, the Fleet Forces Command’s top enlisted sailor.

In addition, the panel has 12 force master chiefs, 38 command master chiefs and six other master chiefs.

Supporting the board will be one recorder and 11 assistant recorders who are also all master chiefs.

The board is expected to adjourn Oct. 9.

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