2024 CNO Professional Reading Program
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SUBJ/2024 CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS PROFESSIONAL READING PROGRAM//
RMKS/1. Nearly two centuries ago, Navy leaders took the first step in
establishing a professional education program to help train and educate
Sailors beyond apprenticeship at sea. Knowing well the importance of using
lessons from our past to help think through the challenges of the present and
future, these leaders provided the Fleet with a library of 37 recommended
books. They knew it was important for our Navy to be a learning organization
- with people who think critically and seek professional and warfighting
excellence - in order to remain the world's premier warfighting force.
2. I am continuing that momentum with a warfighting-focused Chief of Naval
Operations Professional Reading Program (CNO-PRP) to support your
professional development, broaden your knowledge, and challenge your
thinking. This list of 14 books aligns with my "America's Warfighting Navy,"
published in January, where I outlined my priorities of warfighting,
warfighters, and the foundation that supports them.
3. I encourage each of you to read the CNO-PRP. The ideas found in these
books will not only expand your thinking, but also directly contribute to
maintaining our warfighting advantage. They support the development of Great
People, Great Leaders, and Great Teams that can out-think any adversary
anytime and anywhere. Most importantly, they will make our Navy stronger and
more ready to preserve the peace, respond in crisis, and win decisively in
war, if called.
4. This book list will be periodically updated to ensure we keep pace with
the changing character of war. The list, as well as updates to the list, will
be posted here: https://www.navy.mil/Leadership/Chief-of-Naval-
Operations/Chief-of-Naval-Operations-Professional-Reading-Library/.
5. Admiral Franchetti sends, the 33rd Chief of Naval Operations.
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A Message from the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
Colleagues:
As this month draws to a close, I wanted to acknowledge the fast pace at which we are all working and start by thanking you for keeping up with the ever-changing and wide-ranging issues we face. I don’t ever want to get so caught up in the pace that I neglect to recognize the effort made every day and the accomplishments that effort yields.
We welcomed more than 2,100 of you to Portland earlier this month for the first MHS Conference in more than a dozen years. All of the feedback so far matches my own view that it was a resounding success – bringing us together to share knowledge, learn, and strengthen the relationships that are such a vital factor in our success. I’m grateful to Hon. Vazarani for kicking off the week, and for the MHS leaders who provided their perspectives in eleven plenary sessions and 64 break-outs. I came away with a better understanding of our opportunities and challenges and with renewed energy and enthusiasm about our ability to meet them. Plenary session recordings and all presentation materials will soon be posted at the conference website. I hope you’ll be happy to know that planning is already underway for next year’s conference.
Spring in Washington D.C. means posture season on the Hill, and we are deep in preparations for our annual presentations to Congress. We have worked hard to develop strong working relationships with Members and staff and look forward to productive discussions with them.
I began this week at an event with Veterans Affairs, announcing an expansion of services at the Keller Army Community Hospital in West Point, NY. Our growing partnership with the VA helps us maintain clinical readiness by increasing access to care for beneficiaries of both agencies – it’s a win for everyone.
Again, thank you for everything you do every day to advance our mission, and as always, stay safe!
Very Respectfully,
Lester
Lester Martínez-López, M.D., M.P.H.
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
Should You Apply for XO?
I’ve been the Deputy at Portsmouth since FEB 2022. In addition, before I came to Portsmouth I was the Deputy Chief of the Medical Corps. I made the sausage for 3 years when it came to the Executive Medicine application, screening, and slating process. Finally, I’ve been on a Milestone and Executive Medicine screening board in Millington, TN.
These three facts qualify me to answer the question, should you apply for XO?
People Who Should Definitely Apply for XO
You should definitely apply for XO if you are sure you want to lead people and be an XO/Deputy MTF Director or Commanding Officer (CO)/MTF Director. There is no other path to these positions.
People Who Should Not Apply for XO
I believe strongly that the following people should not apply for XO:
- People who don’t want to be an XO or CO or don’t want to lead people.
- People who don’t really want to do the job but want to use it to try and promote. This is not fair to the people you will be leading. You have to be 100% in or your people will suffer.
- People who do not want to move/PCS. XO applicants are expected to worldwide assignable, and the Navy Medicine leadership is not kidding.
- People who do not want to make hard decisions. No XO of any command has everything they need, and you will be balancing risk and making hard decisions your entire tour.
People Who Should Consider Applying for XO
If you are not in the above categories, you are on the fence about applying, and there is nothing wrong with that. My usual advice if you find yourself in this fairly large group:
- Review the application materials and available opportunities in detail.
- Talk to those who can give you some insight. This would include previous applicants, officers in your Corps Chief’s office (or those who previously were, like me), and admirals involved in the process (Corps Chiefs, the DSG, the SG).
After you’ve taken these steps, I recommend you review what you’ve learned with your significant other(s), if you have any. Most officers want perfect information, but it does not exist. You have no idea how things will actually go after you apply, so all you can do is gather as much information about the process as you can and make the best decision you can about whether or not to apply.
You Hold All the Cards Until You Apply
Do not underestimate the power of your application. They cannot make you apply, and until you apply you hold all the cards. Make sure you really want to apply and are willing to move. The associated geographic uncertainty is the number #1 reason people don’t apply and should not apply.
What if you get something that is not on your rank list? That is an important question you and your significant other(s) need to think through BEFORE you apply.
I say it again…BEFORE you apply. Remember…once you apply, you are worldwide assignable.
What’s It Like to Be an XO?
That’s the next post…
2024-25 Naval War College Fleet Seminar Program
This is how I did my JPME I, and I strongly recommend it:
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SUBJ/MOD_ACADEMIC YEAR 2024-2025 NAVAL WAR COLLEGE FLEET SEMINAR PROGRAM//
RMKS/1. This NAVADMIN announces the U.S. Naval War College (NWC) Fleet
Seminar Program (FSP) which offers intermediate level Joint Professional
Military Education (JPME-I) through a set of three courses: Strategy and War
(S and W), Theater Security Decision Making (TSDM) and Joint Maritime
Operations (JMO). Each course normally requires one academic year to
complete, which runs from September through the following May. All three
courses are not offered simultaneously at all locations. There is no tuition
fee and course materials are provided on a loan basis at no cost to the
students. Applicants must apply by 31 May 2024.
2. Background:
a. The NWC FSP will be offered in 15 regional locations in the United
States for academic year 2024-2025. Planned locations and courses are:
(1) Annapolis, MD (S and W, TSDM and JMO)
(2) Everett, WA (JMO)
(3) Dahlgren, VA (S and W)
(4) Great Lakes, IL (S and W)
(5) Jacksonville, FL (TSDM and JMO)
(6) Kitsap, WA (S and W)
(7) Mayport, FL (S and W)
(8) New Orleans, LA (S and W)
(9) Newport, RI (S and W, TSDM and JMO)
(10) Norfolk, VA (S and W, TSDM and JMO)
(11) Patuxent River, MD (S and W)
(12) Pearl Harbor, HI (S and W, TSDM and JMO)
(13) Pensacola, FL (Whiting Field) (TSDM)
(14) San Diego, CA (S and W, TSDM and JMO)
(15) Washington, DC (S and W, TSDM and JMO)
b. Seminars meet once a week in the evening for 34 weeks. Completion of
all three courses results in the award of a College of Naval Command and
Staff diploma, as well as credit for JPME-I. The FSP also provides a path to
attain the NWC Masters Degree through the College of Distance Education
(CDE)Graduate Degree Program (GDP). FSP students may apply for the GDP
following successful completion of their first FSP course. The FSP at all
locations are conducted in-step with each other, so students who transfer to
or assigned temporary additional duty at another location may attend class at
the new location.
3. Criteria:
a. NWC accepts program applications from commissioned officers
(active and reserve) and civilian employees of the federal government,
subject to the following eligibility requirements:
(1) Members of the sea services (Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard)
in the paygrade of O-3 or above, while officers from the other services must
be in the paygrade of O-4 or above. Civilian employees of the federal
government in the grade of GS-11 and above, or equivalent, are also eligible
for enrollment.
(2) All applicants must have previously earned at least a
baccalaureate degree.
b. Qualified individuals currently stationed in areas listed in
paragraph two, or those who expect transfer to those sites prior to
1 September 2024 are encouraged to apply.
4. Application Process. More information is available and applications must
be submitted at the NWC College of Distance Education FSP website at
https://www.mnp.navy.mil/group/training-education-qualifications
(NWC Academic Programs link). The application period will remain
open until 31 May 2024.
5. Selection Notifications. NWC will make enrollment selections and
accepted applicants will be advised of their enrollment selection status via
email.
6. Points of contact are Ms. Kelly Folger who can be reached at
(401) 856-6530 or via email at fsp@usnwc.edu, Mr. Walter Stiles who can be
reached at walter.stiles@usnwc.edu, and Professor Ronald Oard who can be
reached via email at oardr@usnwc.edu.
7. Request widest dissemination of the above information.
Regional coordinators at the sites listed in paragraph two are requested to
pass this information to all Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, and
Coast Guard units and all reserve units located within safe-driving distance
of an FSP site.
8. This message will remain in effect until superseded or 31 May 2024,
whichever occurs first.
9. Released by VADM D. W. Dwyer, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for
Warfighting Development (N7).//
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From CNO: America’s Warfighting Navy Returning to CBS Prime Time: Recap
Leaders,
I wanted to share a compilation of the coverage of our warfighters operating in the U.S. 5th Fleet, linked below my signature. If you only have a few moments please check out the closing of Wednesday’s broadcast: (Flankspeed users | non-Flankspeed users)
The coverage is incredible, and I am immeasurably proud of the depiction of America’s Warfighting Navy in action. We should all stand a little taller knowing that what we see in the CBS special edition, though remarkable, is actually just a small glimpse into the incredible experience of being side by side with your shipmates, ready and working together in service to our great nation. As you watch this video, I encourage you to share with your friends and families to give them a better sense of how their sacrifices fuel the American way of life, and to share your own stories of service as you are able.
While it is too early to conduct a complete assessment of the CBS coverage, initial indications are that each of the 3 episodes of Evening News generated more than 2.5 million views on broadcast, and that we garnered more than 500,000 impressions on social channels. In an era where we fight every day in the war for talent, exposure through third-party validated news sources is critical to our recruiting mission. It also shouldn’t be lost on any of us that coverage like this shows the value of our Navy as we fight for the budget dollars we need.
Most importantly, I’d like to extend a big thank you to everyone involved in this production. Telling the story of American’s Warfighting Navy can only happen through the combined efforts of countless exceptional leaders around the world. Thank you for putting on such an incredible show – our Sailors deserve nothing less and I’m proud to work alongside you.
I’d like to leave you with Norah O’Donnell’s closing to the American people, as she says it far better than I ever could:
“To see the work of Navy sailors on a nuclear powered aircraft carrier is nothing short of awe inspiring. Young aviators launching fighter jets – pilots flying us on MH-60 helos and spending their days in search and rescue – this is the new, finest generation. These men and women are the very best of America, serving their country selflessly. And with honor, they put themselves in harm’s way and they leave their loved ones for months at a time in the defense of freedom. And so when Admiral Miguez says he wishes that every American could come see an aircraft carrier because it’s like the eighth wonder of the world, it struck us like a lightning bolt that we could bring the aircraft carrier to you.”
You can expect the complete CHINFO assessment of the coverage in the coming weeks.
V/R,
ADM Lisa Franchetti, USN
33rd Chief of Naval Operations
Access, download, and view the videos here:
- https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vLaUaUrHEhseZ7P8tYxmojIGTUG5bC9s/view?usp=drive_link
- https://drive.google.com/file/d/11FFTvxrbpZnbo-jGvBj6s2_YZ5NIvghn/view?usp=drive_link
- https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dc-xy7lQUjD01mz1JikHGQ80dscr2Wl0/view?usp=drive_link
- https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tB5q-86G_HiJNzi2vAxgchSr0DIqShx-/view?usp=drive_link
HOTFILL DUE MONDAY AT NOON – Medical Officer Opportunity for Master’s and Tour with Spec Ops and Low- Intensity Conflict
Please see the advertisement for this unique opportunity below:
Over the last 30 months, we’ve had a medical officer detailed to the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Irregular Warfare and Counterterrorism (ODASD IWCT) here in the Office of the Assistance Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict (OASD(SO/LIC)). She has focused on shaping the Department’s policy, authorities, and guidance in providing medical support during irregular warfare operations, to include resistance efforts. This officer’s ongoing work has received attention and support from senior DoD leaders, including a recent endorsement and further direction from the Deputy Secretary of Defense that will continue these efforts well into the future. I want to ensure these initiatives, critical to our ability to provide casualty care during military operations in semi- or fully- contested environments, continue unabated. Her replacement will join SO/LIC June 1, 2024, and complete a 24-month detail, ending in 2026.
In response to the success of this effort, SO/LIC is continuing this irregular warfare (IW) Military detail for health professionals. The detail will consist of a one-year executive-level master’s degree program (see attached) in IW at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey, California, beginning summer of 2025, followed by a two-year utilization tour at OASD SO/LIC in Washington, DC, from summer 2026 to summer 2028.
This detail (a developmental trainee assignment – DTA) is a career-broadening opportunity for medical officers and increases the breadth of IW specialists within the Department. Selectees will receive education focused on IW and its unique sustainment and medical requirements. After completing the master’s program, officers will apply their studies to shaping the department’s IW-related medical policy, authorities, and guidance and integrating the concepts into current and future strategic competition efforts. As SO/LIC’s only medical professional, this officer also supports SO/LIC’s Service secretary-like responsibilities related to health service support for U.S. Special Operations Command and special operations forces.
SO/LIC will cover the cost of tuition at NPS, and the selected detailee’s Service will cover required temporary duty (TDY) or permanent change of station (PCS) costs. Upon graduation from NPS, the detailee’s Service will assign them to a Service-specific billet in the National Capital Region then detailed to SO/LIC.
The Air Force and Army have been exceptional with accommodating our first two long-term details, and I greatly appreciate their continued support.
If your respective Service would be willing to support a detailee, please let us know if you have nominees who meet the following criteria:
Required:
· TS/SCI security clearance
· O-5 (or O-5-select)
· Operational experience (3-year assignment or 2 deployments with an operational unit)
· No pending or previous disciplinary actions
· Nominee’s SURF/ORB
· Resume
· 3 most recent performance reports
· Commander’s endorsement memo
Desired:
· Staff officer experience (any level)
· Completed Joint Professional Military Education I
· Experience in the joint, interagency, and/or special operations environment
Fully completed and combined nomination packages will be emailed to CAPT Shauna O’Sullivan NLT 1200 EST Monday, May 01, 2024.
SO/LIC’s selected top candidates (3-5) will be asked to interview, and the final selection will be made by May 30, 2024, to best support the Services’ assignment cycles and give the selected officer a one-year lead time prior to assignment to NPS.
Joel Schofer's Career Planning Blog 