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New detailing system gives sailors control

Getting your next assignment just got easier.

On Thursday, sailors began applying online for their next job, bypassing their career counselor.

Previously, sailors had the option of viewing available jobs online, but career counselors still had to submit the applications.

But assignments won’t be automatic. It’s still up to detailers at Navy Personnel Command to approve the moves.

“This gives individual sailors more control, but doesn’t make the career counselor obsolete,” said Senior Chief Navy Counselor (SW) Veronica Holliday, Navy Region Southwest command career counselor. “We are still a part of the process, but our job now is to help sailors prepare for picking assignments and help them navigate any problems they encounter.”

By logging on to Navy Knowledge Online and using a common access card reader — available for $15 — sailors can access the secure server and research assignments during each month’s two-week application window.

The system was tested in Navy Region Southwest aboard the carrier Nimitz before being approved for fleetwide use.

“I wasn’t sure at first if this would end up creating more work for me, but that didn’t happen,” Holliday said. “It’s our job as a command team to prepare sailors to know what they should be looking for, and the online system works well to guide them from there.”

The online listing includes color-coded dots next to jobs. These are called “gates” and “flags,” and they will pop up as the system matches the sailor’s personal information with the requirements for the job.

“A gate will not allow you to apply for a job, such as [one in] the wrong paygrade or [Navy enlisted classification],” she said. “A flag won’t prevent a sailor from applying, but in the end it could be a factor in them not being selected.”

By not processing sailor requests, Holliday will have more time to conduct career development boards and counsel individual sailors.

Sailors enter the detailing window at the seven-month point before their rotation date. If they don’t have orders in hand by the five-month point, the Navy will decide the sailor’s next assignment.

But Holliday said sailors should start the process long before that. “The most important thing sailors can do to prepare for this is to ensure their records are up to date,” she said.

If anything needs to be updated, the system will tell sailors where to go.

Sailors with questions should seek out their career counselor or visit their command’s personnel officer or personnel support department to get missing or inaccurate information updated.

Career checklist

Inaccurate information in a sailor’s electronic service jacket — which the online detailing system uses to determine job eligibility — could stand in the way of his dream assignment.

Here’s what sailors need to check before applying for a job online.

• Duty preference form.

• Exceptional family member status.

• Security clearance.

• Citizenship.

• Number of family members.

• Perform to Serve approval.

• Updated Navy enlisted classification.