Navy Announces New High Year Tenure Policy for E-4 through E-6

WASHINGTON – The Navy is increasing its High Year Tenure policy for active component and Full Time Support E-4 through E-6 Sailors by two years in an effort to improve sea duty manning, the service announced June 21 in NAVADMIN 143/17.

The updated policy, which sets the maximum number of years a Sailor may serve based on rank, will go into effect Aug. 1.

The updated HYT changes for active and FTS Sailors are:
- E-4: increases from 8 years to 10 years
- E-5: increases from 14 years to 16 years
- E-6: increases from 20 years to 22 years

Extending the time an individual may serve provides Sailors more opportunities to advance, and the Fleet with critical manning. The Navy anticipates this change could potentially allow more than 2,800 experienced Sailors to remain in the Navy, filling key sea duty and other high priority billets by the end of 2018.

HYT for all other active duty and FTS enlisted pay grades, as well as enlisted Selected Reserve Sailors, remains unchanged.

The Navy will continue to offer HYT waivers for enlisted Sailors who volunteer for sea duty on a case-by-case basis.

Sailors who have reached HYT with an approved date for separation or Fleet Reserve (retirement) on or after Aug. 1, but before Jan. 1, 2018, have until July 31, to request cancellation of their orders or execute their orders as originally planned.

Sailors affected by this change to HYT who decide to continue their service in the Navy can take the September, cycle 236, Navy wide petty officer advancement exam or the January 2018 cycle 238 E-7 exam if they maintain advancement eligibility.

Complete information on HYT policy can be found at www.npc.navy.mil/CAREER/RESERVEPERSONNELMGMT/ENLISTED/Pages/HYT.aspx

More information on order processing, assignments and reenlistment/exertion process can be found in NAVADMIN 143/17 on www.npc.navy.mil.

For more news from Chief of Naval Personnel, visit www.navy.mil/local/cnp/.

Navy