Sample Point Paper

Subj: NEED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUBSPECIALTY COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT (UNCLAS)

BACKGROUND

In the early 1990’s, the Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) recognized the need for CEC officers with expertise in Environmental Engineering to address numerous environmental management, compliance and cleanup issues at Naval activities.

* The number of CEC Officers attending graduate school for Environmental Engineering increased.

* NAVFAC assigned environmental officers to several key activities (single tour) with the agreement that claimants would request long term funding/ support for these billets through the POM Cycle.

* Few environmental billets outside the NAVFAC claimancy were added via the POM process. Many military billets were replaced with civilian billets to gain continuity at the activity.

DISCUSSION

Complex environmental issues continue to challenge the Navy’s ability to conduct its national defense mission. These challenges are increasingly operational in nature and benefit greatly from leadership by military officers.

Few senior CEC officer billets work full-time in environmental programs.

- The CEC 0-6 billet assigned as the deputy to N45 was reassigned to N46 in FY01.

* The Environmental Officers at PACFLT (0-5), LANTFLT (0-4), CECOS/NFI (0-4) and COMNAVREG MARIANAS (0-4) are the only mid-grade CEC Officer billets.

* About a dozen ENS/LTJG/LT billets exist at PWCs, CBCs, staff commands, and Regional Commander staffs. These billets are often reassigned to other uses than environmental.

The perception exists that the CEC does not value the expertise of the environmental sub-specialty, and that officers serving in these billets are not competitive for promotion.

* Anecdotal information and isolated data points support this perception.

* 3 LTs assigned as Environmental Officers at PWC’s did not select for LCDR.

* 2 of the last 4 LCDR incumbents in CECOS’ Environmental Training Director position FOS’d for...