Navy to increase tour length amid retention crisis

This is one way to solve the problem

In an effort to reach retention goals the Navy announced it will increase the sea tour length for enlisted nuclear operators to 54-months. Enlisted nukes previously completed 48-month sea tours after their nuclear training pipeline in Charleston, SC.

The increase follows a year-long investigation into the Navy’s manning and incentive practices.

“The results of the investigation are pretty clear,” US Navy spokesperson CDR Jordan Rockhold said. “One of the major impediments to our retention goals was allowing sailors to detach from their command. This new initiative addresses that problem.”

The move follows similar steps to those taken during WWII when leadership continued to raise the required number of missions to increase retention of Army Air Corps bombardier crews.

The investigation also concluded that many trained nuclear operators left the Navy because they weren’t separated from their families long enough and did not participate in enough ORSE [Operational Reactor Safeguards Examination] drill sets.

Other retention techniques for enlisted sailors were briefly considered such as increased hotracking, prolonged field days, and a tattoo stipend of $84 a month. However, an independent review board of retired submarine captains determined it would be more effective to simply force sailors to extend on the submarine for six months.