Seabees stationed at Port Hueneme visited the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) June 16 to get a better feel for how being a master-at-arms (MA) on an aircraft carrier actually works.
Vice Adm. William Moran, Chief of Naval Personnel (CNP), announced a new program Jan. 20 that will improve Seabee advancement and retention opportunity while also meeting new requirements for the master-at-arms community.
This program, called Bees to Badges, provides Seabees the opportunity for conversion to MA prior to their Career Waypoints Re-enlistment (C-WAY) window. The tour aboard Ronald Reagan provided these Seabees an up close and personal opportunity to experience what ship life for an MA is all about.
The Seabees who toured the ship included Seabees whose packages had already been accepted, packages were awaiting approval, or Seabees who were just interested in the program at all.
Because Seabees have experience in security patrols and small arms they are more closely aligned with the MA mission than other communities.
Enlisted community managers intend to open this opportunity to all Seabee rates, targeting year groups 2012 and 2003-2008. As the program matures and the community health strengthens, the targets will start to narrow. The target number for fiscal year (FY) 2015 is 30-35 Seabees and for FY 2016 it increases to 90-110.
[mappress mapid=”16316″]
Image: US Navy