UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 161555Z MAR 20 MID110000473579U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 066/20 // PASS TO OFFICE CODES: FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/MAR// SUBJ/MERGER OF THE ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN, COMMUNICATIONS (SUBMARINES) SERVICE RATING INTO THE INFORMATION SYSTEMS TECHNICIAN (SUBMARINES) SERVICE RATING// REF/A/GENADMIN/COMSUBFOR/111441ZJUL19// REF/B/DOC/COMNAVPERSCOM/24APR18// NARR/REF A IS COMSUBLANT COMSUBPAC EXORD 05-19 ITS RATING CONVERSION (U). REF B IS MILPERSMAN ARTICLE 1510-030, ADVANCED ELECTRONICS FIELD, ADVANCED TECHNICAL FIELD, AND NUCLEAR FIELD PROGRAMS.// RMKS//1. This NAVADMIN announces the realignment of all electronics technician, communications (Submarines) (ETR) and information systems technician (Submarines) (ITS) Sailors into a single ITS service rating. The merged ratings will apply to Active-Duty, Full- Time Support (FTS) and Selected Reserve (SELRES) Sailors and billets. Sailors in the newly consolidated ITS service rating will possess the foundational skills that enable them to maintain shipboard networks, while pursuing mastery in either a communications (ITS-COMMS) or electronic warfare (ITS-EW) specialization career path. In the future, billets for both shore and sea will be based on the specialization Navy enlisted classification (NEC) codes and aligned to enhance the career paths of our Sailors. 2. Realigning the ETR and ITS ratings into a single ITS service rating is in direct support of Sailor 2025 and Rating Modernization initiatives. This change creates an opportunity for the submarine force to leverage a larger community of skilled Sailors to maintain shipboard networks and will allow skilled Sailors to pursue mastery in either an ITS-COMMS or ITS-EW specialization career path. The rating merger increases Navy undersea effectiveness while enhancing Fleet ability to operate and maintain submarine computer networks. It allows for the creation of an information warfare division onboard submarines, bringing more capability (due to enhanced training and career paths) in electronic warfare, computer networking, cyber operations, communications and cryptography areas of expertise, while simultaneously increasing Fleet readiness, sustainability and fit. 3. The merger of ETR into the ITS service rating will occur on 1 June 2020. The primary personnel and billets to receive the merged rating will be all ITS and ETR Sailors. NEC codes affected by this merger are I25A, T11A, T12A, T13A, T15A, T17A, T22A, T24A, T25A, T28A, T29A, T32A, T47A, 729A, 730A, 731A, 733A, 734A, 736A, 737A, 738A, 739A, 741A, 742A, 744A, 745A, 746A, 756A, 772B, 773B, 774B, 783A, 784A, 785A, 786A, 789A and 794A. ETR Sailors and billets awarded/assigned any of these codes shall be converted to the ITS service rating. 4. For E-1 through E-9 Active-Duty and Reserve personnel, commands will coordinate with their immediate superior in command and Non- nuclear Submarine Enlisted Community Manager (BUPERS-322) in order to select which career path best suits the needs of the Navy, the command and the Sailors in line with reference (a). The merger of the service ratings will require Sailors who were previously designated as ETR to convert their rating badge to the existing ITS rating badge no later than 1 March 2021. ETR Sailors who transfer to the Fleet Reserve or to the retired list before 1 June 2020 may continue to wear the ETR rating badge. Sailors who, prior to 1 June 2019, have received approval for retirement are exempt from this merger. 5. While the shipboard networking knowledge base will be shared, these career paths will be distinct, each managed by separate training pipelines and NEC codes. All ITS Sailors will become specialists in either ITS-COMMS or ITS-EW and each path will have its own rating examinations as well as advancement quotas. Rating exams and quotas will be managed by separate enlisted management codes. In order to ensure that all ITS Sailors maintain the same IT foundational knowledge, the shipboard networking exam bank will be identical across both career paths. 6. In an effort to fully represent the community focus on the job- specific knowledge required to execute the ITS ratings career paths of communications and electronic warfare, two ITS advancement exams will be administered for the E-5, E-6 and E-7 paygrades. The following exam rates will be selected for the ITS job-specific specializations when ordering exams: IRM for the ITS Communications content and IEW for the ITS electronic warfare content. Following is the Navy-wide examination administration schedule: a. E-7 (Active-Duty/FTS): (1) Last Separate ITS and ETR Exams - January 2020. (2) First IRM and IEW Job-Specific Career Path Exams January 2021. b. E-7 (SELRES): (1) Last Separate ITS and ETR Exams February 2020. (2) First IRM and IEW Job-Specific Career Path Exams February 2021. c. E-5 through E-6 (Active-Duty/FTS): (1) Last Separate ITS and ETR Exams March 2020. (2) First IRM and IEW Job-Specific Career Path Exams September 2020. d. E-5 through E-6 (SELRES): (1) Last Separate ITS and ETR Exams August 2020. (2)First IRM and IEW Job-Specific Career Path Exams February 2021. e. E-4 (Active-Duty/FTS): (1) Last ETR Exam March 2020. (2) ITS advancements to E-4 occur in line with ITS program Requirements (See paragraph 6(g) below). f. E-4 (SELRES): (1) Last ETR Exam August 2020. (2) ITS advancements to E-4 occur in line with ITS program Requirements (See paragraph 6(g) below). g. As of 1 June 2020, Active-Duty, FTS and SELRES Sailors who were ETRSN and converted to ITSSN will follow reference (b) guidelines for advancement to E-4 with the exception of the additional 12 months of obligated service. Sailors are required to have obtained the ITS NECs prior to advancement. For additional details regarding these policies, contact the applicable enlisted community manager (ECM) in line with paragraph 10 below. 7. Following is the E-7, E-8 and E-9 Selection Board schedule: a. E-9 (Active-Duty): (1) Last Separate ITS and ETR Boards April 2020 (fiscal year (FY) 2021 Board). (2) First IRM and IEW Job-Specific Career Path Boards April 2021 (FY-22 Board). b. E-8 (Active-Duty): (1) Last Separate ITS and ETR Boards April 2020 (FY-21 Board). (2) First IRM and IEW Job-Specific Career Path Boards April 2021 (FY-22 Boards). c. E-8/9 (FTS/SELRES): (1) Last Separate ITS and ETR Boards March 2020 (FY-21 Board). (2) First IRM and IEW Job-Specific Career Path Boards March 2021 (FY-22 Board). d. E-7 (Active-Duty): (1) Last Separate ITS and ETR Boards June 2020 (FY-21 Board). (2) First IRM and IEW Job-Specific Career Path Boards June 2021 (FY-22 Board). e. E-7 (FTS/SELRES): (1) Last Separate ITS and ETR Boards May 2020 (FY-21 Board). (2) First IRM and IEW Job-Specific Career Path Boards May 2021 (FY-22 Board). 8. Starting FY-21, Commander, Navy Recruiting Command (CNRC) will recruit only into the merged ITS service rating. All new accession recruits will attend ITS *A* school. Beginning 1 June 2020, all new accession students will attend the new ITS *A* pipelines, which will train them on either ITS- COMMS or ITS-EW. 9. This NAVADMIN does not modify any previous guidance concerning early separation, Fleet Reserve, conversion packages or career waypoints (C-Way) quotas. C-Way quota requests dated prior to 1 October 2020 shall be submitted in line with guidance for the separate ETR and ITS service ratings. C-Way quota requests dated 1 October 2020 or later will be submitted in line with guidance for the ITS rating. ETR Sailors will only be eligible to reenlist for an ITS selective reenlistment bonus (SRB) upon completion of the job qualification requirement conversion package and awarding of an ITS NEC code. SRB payments for applicable ETR/ITS Sailors will continue to be paid after the 1 June 2020 conversion date. 10. Points of contact during the merger are as follows: a. ECM: (1) LT Rafael Byron, BUPERS-322, at (901) 874-2081/DSN 882 or via e-mail rafael.m.byron(at)navy.mil. (2) ETRCS Jimmy Long, BUPERS-322, (901) 874-2819/DSN 882 or via e-mail jimmy.r.long(at)navy.mil. (3) ISCM Nick Ferguson, Reserve ECM (BUPERS-352), (901) 874-4508/DSN 882 or via e-mail nicholas.ferguson(at)navy.mil. (4) PSC Angela Hutton, BUPERS-352, (901) 874-3761/DSN 882 or via e-mail angela.r.hutton(at)navy.mil. b. Enlisted Submarine Detailers: (1) ETRC Lucas Shepard, Submarine ETR Detailer at (901) 874-3619/ DSN 882, or via e-mail sub_nav(at)navy.mil. (2) ITS1 Anthony Tavarez, Submarine ITS Detailer at (901) 874-3652/ DSN 882, or via e-mail sub_nav(at)navy.mil. 11. Released by Vice Admiral John B. Nowell, Jr, N1.// BT #0001 NNNN UNCLASSIFIED//