14 December 2000
NSCC ACTION LETTER 6-00
1. IAW
ref (a), ref (b) was convened at Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado, Ca. Meeting minutes have been separately distributed to all
Regional Directors and Headquarters Representatives. Action items in this letter are a
continuation to those resulting from the 1998 and 1999 Regional Directors conference,
previously promulgated in refs (c) and (d). All ref (c) and (d) action items remain in
effect, unless modified by this letter. This
year’s action items having immediate, or in near future, impact on NSCC/NLCC policy
and/or administrative procedure are addressed in this letter and are as follow in
sub-paragraphs a through f, immediately below. All
action items are being incorporated into updates of NSCC directives as appropriate. Paragraph 2 addresses other action and information
items being undertaken which may impact units in the future. Unit CO’s have no
immediate action to take with regard to paragraph 2 items.
They are provided for information and advance planning only.
REQUIREMENT
TO COMPLETE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS OF THE BMR PRIOR TO RECRUIT TRAINING CHANGED.
Current policy calls for completion of the first three chapters of the Basic Military
Requirements (BMR) prior to reporting for recruit training.
That requirement stands only for NAVEDTRA 12043 dated April 1992. This NAVEDTRA has been updated to a newer version which is NAVEDTRA 12018
dated September 1999. This is the new BMR
that is replacing the older version. Effectively
immediately, cadets using this newer BMR are to complete Chapter 1, sections on Hazing,
Sexual Harassment, and Fraternization, and chapters 5,6,9, and 10 prior to reporting for
recruit training. Further guidance will be as
contained in updates to the Advancement and Training
Manual.
TRAINING
DEPOSIT OF $50 TO REMAIN, EVEN WITH 2001 FEDERAL FUNDING SUPPORT; $25 FOR ONE WEEK
EVOLUTIONS. NSCC Information Letter 13-00 advertised that all
cadet and escort berthing and messing costs will be paid for by NHQ using federal funds
for summer training 2001. It also said that
the $50.00 deposit would not be required. That
guidance is revised. A non-refundable $50.00
training deposit, or summer training quota reservation fee, will still be required for TWT
summer training 2001 when advertised in the summer training schedules. This will be submitted to the COTC as has been
done for the last two years. The fee for one week training evolutions will be $25. Specific guidance will be as promulgated in the
summer training schedules. Only cadets pay
this deposit; escorts do not. To summarize, cadet costs will be the initial $50 or $25
training deposit and quota reservation fee that will be submitted to the COTC with the
request for orders, plus whatever it costs the unit or parent to get cadets to and from
the training site. COTC’s will apply
these fees towards the total training costs. NHQ
will pay with federal funds all additional berthing and messing costs for adults and
escorts; details for each training evolution will be as published in the summer training
schedules.
1999
RELAXATION OF ASTHMA POLICY GUIDELINES TO ALLOW CONDITIONAL PROGRAM ACCEPTANCE RESCINDED. In an effort to more closely follow USN
guidelines, the policy of not allowing any child with any history of asthma to join the
NSCC was relaxed over the 1999 summer training season.
NSCC Information Letter 5-00
(Change One), dtd 24 March 1999, to the 1999 summer training schedule refers. Exercise of this revised policy proved to be far
more difficult than anticipated, and caused COTC’s and adult escorts to bear more of
a burden than reasonable. Effectively
immediately, the relaxed policy that went into effect in 1999, is rescinded. The old policy of not accepting into the NSCC/NLCC
any child with any history of asthma is reinstated. Cadets who may have been admitted in
1999 under the policy in effect at that time are grand fathered, provided there was no
violation of that acceptance policy. All are
reminded that NSCC medical insurance coverage does not cover illness or pre-existing
conditions.
FIREARMS
QUALIFICATION TRAINING FOR NLCC IS REINSTATED AND NEW POLICY FOR FIREARMS TRAINING FOR ALL
NSCC/NLCC CADETS TO BE IMPLEMENTED. Effective
immediately, firearms training for NLCC cadets is reinstated with the caveat that all NLCC
and NSCC firearms training will be done with safety as the very first consideration, with
qualified instructors, at approved ranges, and IAW NRA or other nationally recognized and
NSCC approved sponsoring authority guidelines. Guidelines
for training and governing policy statements will soon be promulgated and included in
updates to the Advancement and Training Manual. Guidelines and policy will include parental
consent form completion requirements as well as laser and air gun use. Paintball is not approved, and is not an
authorized NSCC/NLCC activity.
REGIONAL
DIRECTORS CONFIRMED AS REGIONAL CLEARING HOUSES, POINTS OF CONTACT, AND APPROVAL AUTHORITY
FOR UNITS ATTEMPTING TO CONDUCT, OR CONDUCTING, TRAINING ACROSS TRADITIONAL REGIONAL
BOUNDARIES. Effective
immediately, Regional Directors are established as control points, through whom approval
must be obtained, for all non NHQ advertised training, which occurs across traditional
unit boundaries. While all coordination and
planning responsibilities remain with the Unit CO, they must work through the appropriate
Regional Director where the proposed training is to occur, in setting up their training.
This is for training not formally scheduled and published through NHQ summer or winter
training schedules. This action is intended
to preclude instances where multiple units compete for the same training resources and
cause embarrassment to the NSCC. Call your
Regional Director!
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NSCC
OFFICER PROMOTION POLICY AND REQUIREMENTS CHANGED.
At encl (1) are the
revised promotion policy and requirements that go into effect
on 1 January 2001. The
issue of promotion requirements and policy was brought before
all Regional Directors in their meeting of 1999.
Ref (d) refers. Focus
at that time was on ensuring emphasis on adult support of cadets
and that promotion was in fact a reward for cadet support.
Also considered was the significance of promotion and whether
or not promotions were to easy, and the regard with which NSCC
officers are held in the eyes of the USN and other youth organizations. A committee was established and
over year 2000, that committee studied the issue with the assigned
responsibility to report out their recommendations at the 2000
meeting. Their recommendations are at encl (1). The revised policy and requirements at encl (1) have been approved
by majority vote for implementation effective 1 January 2001. All hands are enjoined to study
the new requirements carefully. Time in grade requirements are
now in parity with the U.S. Navy and continued support of cadets,
particularly as escorts, is emphasized. Additionally, course requirements
have been adjusted downward to ensure our junior officers are
even more qualified for the leadership roles to which they aspire.
2. The
following items do not require any immediate Unit CO action. They are provided for
information and incorporation into planning for CY 2001 and beyond.
ALL
HANDS ASKED TO HELP IN LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. With federal funding to offset cadet and escort
messing and berthing costs, program growth is well underway. The NSCC is looking for additional training
opportunities to offer our growing numbers of NSCC/NLCC cadets. Specifically, expanded one week or two week (or
even longer) summer training opportunities are desired.
While military training onboard bases, stations, and ships, continues to be
of first preference in accordance with our program goal of making cadets aware of the
prestige of military careers and also to increase advancement potential for those who
join, we are not restricted to only that training. Our
other goals are:
- Develop interest and skills in basic seamanship and seagoing skills.
- Instill virtues of good citizenship and strong moral character and principles.
- Demonstrate value of alcohol, drug and gang free lifestyle.
One and two week training courses that support any of these goals are desired. If you
have any ideas or recommendations, call NSCC NHQ Capt
Nyland or 1SG Bunting. We need your help, and remember, messing and
berthing will be covered and this applies to both NSCC and NLCC training.
NSCC
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION TO BE CREATED. Intent
is to create an electronic forum where former members are invited to enter themselves onto
the list. This list will be developed as part
of the currently existing NSCC WEB site,
and the opportunity to sign on will be further advertised by NHQ after the site is
developed. Look for it during CY 2001.
AVAILABILITY
OF COTC TRAINING PHONE NUMBERS TO BE EXPANDED.
Currently, COTC’s post their contact phone numbers for arranging training in
the summer training schedule and once training commences, quarterdeck and other emergency
phone numbers for training sites are phoned into NHQ where they are maintained for ready
reference. This will continue as before,
however, starting this summer, COTC’s will also be able to post their training
quarterdeck, and other emergency phone numbers on the NSCC Internet WEB site for immediate
availability to all parents. Details and
further guidance for all units will be as contained in the Summer Training Schedules and
COTC’s will be advised and provided details in their COTC letters.
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NSCC
INTERNET WEB SITE TO INCLUDE NSCC OFFICER RECRUITING LINK TO ENHANCE
RECRUITING ADDITIONAL ADULTS INTO THE NSCC;
RECRUITING POSTER TARGETING ADULTS TO BE DEVELOPED.
This action is already well underway and this link will
be available sometime in 2001 to assist in NSCC officer recruiting
efforts. It will start as a WEB site link, with a poster
that can be reproduced and distributed (and NHQ will also distribute
upon development) and be complemented with a 20 Questions brochure
for adults. Look
for these recruiting aids during CY 2001.
PROMOTION
BOARD WAIVER POLICY BEING REVISED TO ELIMINATE, REDUCE PROMOTION BOARD WAIVERS. This action complements the revised promotion
policy and guidelines addressed in para 1, f, above,
and detailed in encl (1). The general
policy is that there will be no waivers and the new guidelines will be adhered to. However, it is also recognized that there may be,
always are, exceptional circumstances. For
those unique situations characterized with exceptional circumstances, waivers may be
entertained but only with the full support of all in the chain of command.
CONTINUED
USE AND RELIANCE ON E-MAIL AND INTERNET RESOURCES TO CONTINUE, HOWEVER, HARD COPY MAILING
TO CONTINUE AS WELL. Units having
difficulty with reliance on Internet resources and e-mail for program administration are
encouraged to call NHQ for problem resolution. Hard
copy distribution of forms, manuals, etc. will continue.
We intend to continue the modest fee for manuals, as it currently exists. Please work with NHQ where local reproduction of
forms or other burdens being incurred by units, due to Internet reliance, are causing
financial hardship.
ONCE
AGAIN, USE OF THE CHAIN OF COMMAND IS MOST STRONGLY ENDORSED. This was an information item last year in ref (d),
and is included again this year due to its importance.
All hands are encouraged to first fully exhaust the chain of command in seeking
answers to questions and problems, before jumping to NHQ.
The chain of command is best positioned to help and provide an answer in the
shortest amount of time. The same policy
applies when using e-mail. This is the best
and most effective approach in helping us to help you.
While everyone at NHQ dearly enjoys working and talking directly with all in the
field, the more that we try and directly assist individuals at our NHQ level (when action
properly rests at a lower level) the less work, that we are supposed to do, gets done! We end up neglecting the things that you in the
field really want and need us to do. And that only hurts the field in the long run. So, please use the chain of command.
ONLY
ONE COPY OF 24C NEED BE RETAINED IN SERVICE RECORDS. The Advancement
and Training Manual, and other relevant manuals are being changed to reflect this new
requirement. Two copies are not required,
retain only one in service records.
AWARDS
MANUAL BEING UPDATED; UPDATE TO ELIMINATE CONFUSION WITH REGARD TO TRANSFERABILITY OF NLCC
RIBBONS TO NSCC. Current guidance in
the Awards Manual says in one place that the NLCC
Merit Ribbon is transferable to the NSCC, and in another place says it is not. This ribbon is not transferable and the next
change to the awards manual will eliminate this, as well as any other discrepancies.
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NHQ
TO GIVE IMPROVED ATTENTION TO MARS REPORT CORRECTIONS. Every effort is being extended
to incorporate corrections into the MARS report as expeditiously
as possible. Field help, your help is solicited. NHQ can only work with the information
it gets, and if incomplete, then the desired correction is delayed.
Please ensure all the information needed to effect
a change is submitted and, even more importantly, that the right
vehicle is being used to make a change. For example, many personnel attempt
cadet and/or officer unit changes via MARS annotations, when NSCC
Regulations directs those changes be made using the NSCADM
002 for cadets. It is the NSCADM 002 that prompts
transfers and drives issuance of new ID cards; not a MARS annotation.
For officer transfers, letters are required from officers
with endorsement from the new CO to effect the officer transfer.
Again NSCC Regulations refer, and this is
just one example. NHQ promises to do its’ best,
but your help is essential.
3. Many
ref (c) and (d) actions continue to be in process and those letters remain in effect until
all actions or changes are incorporated into relevant manuals. This action letter announces additional changes
and will also remain in effect until incorporation of changes into relevant manuals.
M.D. FORD |
Distribution:
National Chairman/National President
NSCC Headquarters Representatives
Regional/Associate Regional Directors
NSCC/NLCC Unit Commanding Officers |