Navy channeling Willy Wonka offering golden tickets to return after getting out

https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2018/03/01/navy-channeling-willy-wonka-offering-golden-tickets-to-return-after-getting-out/

Navy channeling Willy Wonka — offering ‘golden tickets’ to return after getting out

By: Mark D. Faram    1 day ago


Sailors in good standing who want to get out and test the waters of civilian life, but not completely sever ties to the Navy, may now have an option that will be just the ticket — literally. The Targeted Reentry Program was announced Feb. 27 by Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. Robert Burke. With the program, the Navy will offer gold or silver tickets to qualified officers and enlisted sailors who might be dead set on leaving, but may want to return within a couple years. The Navy is planning to grow the fleet to the tune of 25,000 more sailors over the next five years, and this is one way the service hopes reach that goal.
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The talent the Navy is targeting are O-3 and O-4 officers, and E-4 to E-6 enlisted, those who have completed their initial service obligations but haven’t surpassed 14 years of total active service. The fine print for both officer and enlisted states they must already have their basic warfare qualifications, have passed their latest fitness test and have “superior” performance evaluations or fitness reports. Disqualified personnel are officers who have failed to select for promotion or any sailor who has record of civil or military convictions, to include nonjudicial punishment.

Golden ticket recipients are guaranteed a quota that will give them an expedited return to active service as long as they request the return within one year of their release.
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Silver ticket recipients, meanwhile, get a two-year window to return, but it comes with more risk. This population’s request will be “subject to the needs of the Navy.” Golden tickets convert to the status of silver if not not used within the year. and sailors lose their quota guarantee. Silver tickets that go unused within two years expire.
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