DA PAM 600-3 is a smartbook that aims to help you in your career as an officer. The smart book contains the basic information that you need to know about Officer Professional Development Career Management. A new policy allows mid-career officers to switch specialties. The HRC is responsible for informing and educating officers about the plethora of career progression options available to them. However, they will only do so if their message is received and acted upon. They are not responsible for dictating what to do or not to do, but they must offer the appropriate guidance. Among the myriad choices, a mid-career officer might want to consider the following:
As a mid-career officer, you may want to ask yourself whether a particular career progression model is the best for you. This is especially true if you have a preference for a particular weapon system. Although your preference may be a good idea, it may not be the most prudent move. If your preference is to diversify, your best bet might be to wait for a promotion or a job change. For instance, a Captain might not be the best person to lead a battalion of FACs.
Officer Professional Development Career Management
Officer Professional Development Career Management is a major initiative of the Department of the Air Force. This initiative is being implemented by splitting the air force line into six developmental categories. In addition, the officer career management board (OCMB) is also being restructured. OCMBs will score officers against pre-established standards and provide feedback to officers. The OCMB will produce an Officer’s Management Manual (OML) and use this document to inform future career management councils (CMC) decisions.
The first OCMB will be held September 10-13. It will be the first OCMB to include feedback to officers and will serve as an opportunity for VTARNG to evaluate and refine their processes. The OML will be published statewide and used by CMCs to make future decisions. Until the OCMB is fully operational, the Career Management Worksheet is still being used as a communication tool between officers and the OCMB. However, starting in 2020, the OCMB will have an impact on the Career Management Worksheet, and the officer score of the OCMB will be influenced by the CMW.
The Department of the Army Pamphlet 600-8-101 describes the Army’s in-processing and out-processing procedures for Soldier Readiness Processing and Mobilization (SRPM) and provides guidance for Soldiers and Officers implementing the SRPM. It was published on 28 May 2003. This pamphlet contains Active Army, Reserve Components, and Army National Guard information.
Before a soldier can deploy, he must meet the Army’s requirements for deployment readiness. Specifically, the soldier must meet the criteria for readiness at both the unit and the battalion/unit level. If a soldier is sent to an installation or community outside his home station, the soldier must also meet the Level 2 readiness requirement.
In-processing occurs at the home station and involves all the necessary checks and activities before a soldier can leave. These checks and activities may include requests to receive personal property and unaccompanied baggage, assistance with personal and other personal matters, and other support processing. During in-processing, Soldiers must be briefed on their expected deployment assignment, local laws, and courtesies.
Out-processing occurs at the unit/battalion/community level. During out-processing, a Soldiers Coordinator at the out-processing station ensures that a departing soldier attends an out-processing briefing and meets the readiness criteria. Afterward, the Soldiers Coordinator will notify the gaining commander of the soldier’s readiness status. He will also collect debts, provide the gaining commander with an official unit-level clearance report, and collect payments from soldiers.
Redeployment processing is also conducted at the unit/battalion/community levels. The redeployment processing stations coordinate with other processing stations within the community and at the installation. The DA PAM 600-8-101, Chapter 4, outlines the procedures and requirements for redeployment.
When a soldier leaves for a redeployment, he must sign a release of military leave. The soldier must also provide a status of redeployment readiness. DA PAM 600-8-101 requires a presentation ceremony to be scheduled for the soldier.
DA PAM 600-8-101 is a work unit of the mobilization center. It is normally under the supervision of the division G 1/adjutant general. However, the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1, has the authority to approve exceptions to the pamphlet. For example, the Inspector General may establish a processing station to assist out-processing soldiers.