Senior Surface Officer Detailer
CDR Jeffrey Gerring
jeffrey.a.gerring.mil@us.navy.mil
Junior Surface Officer Detailer
LCDR Jonathon Cassel
Jonathon.d.cassel.mil@us.navy.mil
THE TAR SURFACE SHORE PICTURE
Shore duty as a TAR focuses heavily on reserve management and the training and integration of Selected Reservists. TAR Officers primarily serve in three main roles during their shore tours - as a Reserve Program Director (RPD) on a major staff, as an NRC Commanding Officer, or on a major reserve staff such as OCNR, CNRFC, or at one of six REDCOMs. While TAR SWOs are eligible for designation as a Joint Qualified Officer (JQO), Joint tours are not required for career progression.
TAR Officers have a unique opportunity to truly command early, command often. There are 123 total NOSCs throughout the country, with at least one NRC in every state, plus Guam and Puerto Rico. NRC Commanding Officer billets start at LCDR and continue through CAPT, but it is possible to serve as a CO as early as a LT. Major shore billets are in Norfolk, VA, Washington, D.C., and Millington, TN.
SURFACE WARFARE TAR (1117)
TAR SWO's have a career path that closely mirrors the active duty SWOs and is essentially identical to their AC counterparts. Officers are expected to serve in and complete their required Division Officer tours, screen and serve two tours as a Department Head afloat, and compete for Command at Sea and other afloat milestone billets. The sea/shore rotation follows the same path as an 1110.
1117 Officers will have two detailers - sea tours are detailed by PERS-41, while shore tours are detailed by PERS-46. Interested Officers should reference the approved SECNAV community brief at https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Career-Management/Boards/Reserve-Officer/Community-Briefs/ for career timing information as well as community values prior to promotion to the next paygrade . For additional information on SWO community issues refer to the PERS-41 webpage: https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Career-Management/Detailing/Officer/Pers-41-SWO/.
SUBMARINE TAR (1127)
The TAR Submarine Community focuses exclusively on reserve management. A Submariner who has re-designated to 1127 will no longer be detailed to at-sea billets. Additionally, 1127s no longer maintain their Nuclear AQDs and associated submarine incentive pays.
However, Submarine TAR officers serve on operational staffs and provide direct contributions to operational forces, and also have the opportunity to command ashore. An officer in the 1127 community will serve as an OSO on major Submarine Staffs, as a NRC CO, or in staff billets at OCNR and CNRFC.
SPECIAL WARFARE (1137)
SEAL TAR officers follow a dual career path, alternating between operational tours and reserve management shore tours. 1137 officers compete with their active duty counterparts for operational command and career milestones. SEALs are eligible to command NRCs, and also serve in billets at OCNR/CNRFC and as an OSO on major or TYCOM staffs, such as Special Boat Squadrons, SPECWARCOM, SOCOM, and at the Group level. Many billets are available overseas.
SPECIAL OPERATIONS (1147)
Special Operations Officers also follow dual career paths. They can be assigned to any reserve center CO, XO, or Training Officer billet and nearly any of the reserve staff billets throughout the country including Operational Support Officer.
SELRES SWOs HAVE A FUTURE IN THE TAR PROGRAM
If selected for accession to return to active duty in the TAR program, junior SELRES officers (O-2/3) not screened for department head tours may be expected to return to sea duty for the purpose of screening for department head school. Other shore duty opportunities for post-Division Officer TAR SWOs are in major TAR billet concentration areas, and in Reserve Management tours as Training Officers or Executive Officers of a reserve center.
Department Head screened Officers typically will proceed directly to their afloat department head tour via the six month department head training course in Newport, RI. Department head tours are currently comprised of two 18 month tours in accordance with the current department head sequencing plan.
Upon completion of two department head tours, TAR officers can expect to take command of a Naval Reserve Center or serve in other valuable Reserve Management tours to increase their likelihood of selection for afloat milestones. TAR Officers should, in general, not expect to serve in non-TAR related positions during shore tours.