CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED ROUTINE R 191556Z MAY 22 MID200001723522U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 116/22 PASS TO OFFICE CODES: FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/MAY// SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2023 SEAMAN TO ADMIRAL-21 PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT// REF/A/DOC/OPNAV/14DEC09// REF/B/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/171350ZJUL17// NARR/REF A IS OPNAVINST 1420.1B, ENLISTED TO OFFICER COMMISSIONING PROGRAMS APPLICATION ADMINISTRATIVE MANUAL. REF B IS NAVADMIN 177/17, NUCLEAR TRAINED SAILOR APPLICATIONS TO OFFICER COMMISSIONING PROGRAMS.// RMKS/1. This NAVADMIN solicits applications and provides guidance for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Seaman to Admiral-21 (STA-21) Commissioning Program. Due to the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, an exception to policy for the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and American College Test (ACT) application requirement has been approved for those stationed outside the United States at any time between April 2021 and April 2022 or those who were deployed at any time between April 2021 and April 2022 as detailed in paragraph 7h. Additionally, the SAT and ACT application requirement is waived for STA-21 Nuclear option (STA-21(N)) applicants. Supplemental information for applicant submission is provided in paragraphs 7g and 7h of this NAVADMIN. 2. STA-21 is a full-time undergraduate education and commissioning program open to enlisted personnel of all paygrades and ratings who meet the eligibility requirements specified in reference (a). 3. Deadline for submission of applications for the FY-23 STA-21 Commissioning Program is 1 July 2022. Application packages must be postmarked (if mailed) or submitted electronically on or before the deadline date. For electronic submissions, Department of Defense Secure Access File Exchange (DODSAFE) is the preferred method of delivery. It is recommended that applications be submitted prior to the deadline as early submission allows timely feedback to the Sailor for submission of missing or illegible documents. Deadline for submission of additional documentation to an applicants package is 1 August 2022. No additional documents can be submitted after this date. The selection board is scheduled to convene between late August and early September 2022 and the approved list of selectees will be announced via a NAVADMIN. 4. The following target options are open for application for the FY-23 selection board: Surface Warfare Officer (SWO), Surface Warfare Engineering Duty Option, Nuclear (Surface/Sub), Special Warfare, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Naval Flight Officer, Aviator Pilot, Civil Engineering Corps, Nurse Corps and Information Professional. 5. The following target options have zero select opportunity for FY-23: Human Resources, Intelligence, Information Warfare, Medical Corps, Supply Corps, Surface Warfare Officer Information Professional Option, Oceanography Officer (OCEANO) and SWO/OCEANO. 6. The Nuclear (Surface/SUB) target option is now open to Sailors who are serving in the Fleet and hold an active nuclear Navy enlisted classification (NEC) (N1XO, N1XS, N2XO, N2XS) and to those Sailors who are in the nuclear training pipeline with the N91T NEC. Applicants holding a nuclear NEC must receive a conditional release from the Nuclear Enlisted Community Manager (OPNAV N133D), in line with reference (b), if applying for an option outside the nuclear community. All applicants for STA-21(N) must be able to begin their first day of class in the first semester of their course work prior to commencing their eighth year of service. See the STA-21(N) Program Authorization (PA 150A) dated May 2019 for more specific information and all other requirements to apply for the STA-21(N) Program. Additional information applicable to this years STA-21(N) application is as follows: a. If a physical fitness assessment (PFA) was not performed within the last year, a commanding officers (CO) statement in the endorsement is required to ensure the applicant is within height and weight requirements as required by paragraph 7g. b. SAT/ACT scores are not required to submit an application in line with paragraph 7h. Candidates are advised to verify school admission requirements, as the STA-21(N) SAT/ACT waiver does not supersede university SAT/ACT admission requirements. c. The Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART), in line with reference (a), enclosure (1), chapter 8, paragraph 6b(9) is not required to be submitted for this application. A future revision of reference (a) will remove the SMART transcript requirement. d. The applicants photograph, in line with reference (a), enclosure (1), chapter 8, paragraph 6b(10) is not required to be submitted for this application. A future revision of reference (a) will remove this requirement. 7. The following information addresses lessons learned from the FY- 22 STA-21 selection process and board. This information is provided to preclude common errors: a. Of the 429 applications received for FY-22, only 394 were board eligible. A total of 55 were selected to participate in the FY-22 STA-21 Program. b. Each year, packages are not considered due to non-qualifying SAT/ACT test scores, missing COs endorsement/recommendation, recent non-judicial punishment, missing PFA cycle scores, missing or illegible submission of documents and not meeting specific program age or PFA requirements. c. Minimum eligibility requirements must be met before submitting an application. Applications should be mailed or preferably sent electronically via DODSAFE only when fully completed. Officer interview boards shall consist of three officers. The applicants CO may not be a board member and should not submit an interview appraisal sheet. The COs personal interview should be conducted only after the application is complete and the officer interview board has submitted their appraisals. The full picture of an applicants academic and officer potential can only be determined by reviewing the SAT/ACT scores, high school/college transcripts and a completed application package. d. The COs endorsement is extremely important, especially the ranking of the individual among their peers. The endorsement should contain specifics about the individuals academic potential, commitment, leadership, service above self and potential as a naval officer. CO comments should specify the primary option to which the individual is applying and address how the individual meets qualifications for that option. For junior Sailors with only schoolhouse evaluations, the CO must address this issue in their endorsement. e. An interview board and nomination review board shall be conducted in line with reference (a). It is recommended that officers of the applicants designator of choice, if available, be asked to participate in the interview/nomination review board to assess the applicant for their community. Interviews conducted virtually such as telephone or video conferencing (such as Skype, Zoom or other means) are acceptable. Officer appraisals provide important insight on the applicant. The appraisal from the board should be a frank and honest assessment of the applicants leadership and academic potential. Appraisal forms should be typed in 10 or 12 point font. f. The applicants personal statement should address why the Sailor wants to become an officer, how the Sailors selection would improve the Navy and why the Sailor is applying for a specific option. Sailors must also address any hardships or unique experiences that shaped their character. Junior Sailors should provide information on high school experiences as high school transcripts rarely provide in-depth information on involvement in sports, clubs, volunteer hours, work and other extracurricular activities. Applicants should additionally address any anomalies in the package (examples include, but are not limited to: poor high school, college, or service school grades and any poor evaluation performance). The explanation should include details of the situation, how the applicant has overcome these issues, lessons learned and why the applicant will be successful in the future. g. The application is a reflection of the applicant. Applicants must review their packages in their entirety before submitting, to include misspelled words and improper grammar. All transcripts (high school, colleges and service schools) should be included. Applicants must submit results from the last PFA completed, including their overall score. h. Qualifying SAT/ACT scores are required. Applications can still be submitted pending receipt of SAT/ACT scores or with a command statement indicating non-availability for overseas locations and deployed units. SAT/ACT scores can be from exams taken between 1 July 2017 and 1 July 2022 (five years - an exception to policy has been approved for FY-23 extending SAT/ACT validity window specified in reference (b) from three to five years). Applicants without a SAT/ACT score and who meet the SAT/ACT exception to policy criteria of having either been stationed outside the United States at any time between April 2021 and April 2022 or deployed at any time between April 2021 and April 2022 should ensure their high school cumulative grade point average (minimum 2.5 grade point average (GPA)) is within the last five years or have a minimum 2.5 cumulative college GPA on a 4.0 scale with 12 or more semester hours. i. It is recommended that the command retain a copy of the entire application package. The command portion of the application (such as command endorsement and interview appraisal sheets) should not be provided to the applicant. 8. The preferred method of delivery for applications is through DODSAFE to the following e-mail address: GRLK_STA21(at)navy.mil. Members should ensure they e-mail the encrypted passphrase to the same GRLK_STA21(at)navy.mil account. Applications may also be mailed to: Naval Service Training Command Attn: N92/STA-21 2601A Paul Jones Street Building 1 Great Lakes, IL 60088-2845 9. For questions, specific details, eligibility criteria, application requirements and selection procedures, please refer to reference (a), contact your command career counselor or visit the STA-21 website at: https://www.netc.navy.mil/Commands/Naval-Service-Training- Command/STA-21 for the most up-to-date information. 10. Points of contact: a. Naval Service Training Command, STA-21 Program Office, at (847) 688-5454, extension 243 (DSN 792) or e-mail at GRLK_STA21(at)navy.mil. b. Nuclear Enlisted Community Manager (OPNAV N133D), at (703) 604-5491 (DSN 664) or e-mail at bullnuke(at)navy.mil. 11. Released by Vice Admiral John B. Nowell Jr, N1.// BT #0001 NNNN UNCLASSIFIED//