CHAPTER 16
CAREER AND EDUCATION INFORMATION
As this letter points out, you have opportunities in
the Navy. You can advance, get an education, and have a
rewarding career. Since the Navy is an all-volunteer
organization, its success is influenced by the personal
satisfaction of its personnel. Your desire to serve and
your patriotism are two factors that contribute to your
job satisfaction.
This chapter doesn’t provide a detailed explanation
of all the available rights and benefits; but it does
introduce you to some of them. Remember, the Navy
and the Department of Defense make frequent changes
to personnel policies. Therefore, some of the
information may have changed by the time you read this
manual. You should check with your LPO, division or
department career counselor, or the command career
counselor for the latest information about any Navy
program.
THE NAVY GOAL CARD
Learning Objective: When you finish this chapter, you
will be able to—
Identify the purpose of the Navy Goal Card.
The Navy helps first-term Sailors set and achieve
both short-term and long-term goals while in the
service. The Goal Card Program is one way to keep the
volunteer, high-quality Sailor in the Navy. This program
is made up of the Navy Goal Card and the Navy Pocket
Goal Card. It reinforces goal setting and goal
accomplishment by first-term Sailors.
The Navy Goal Card is a two-page document of
rating and advancement career information for each
new recruit and first-term Sailor. Some of the topics
covered by the Goal Card include the following:
Advanced training and education for your rating
Montgomery G.I. Bill benefits and goals
Voluntary education, including Tuition
Assistance and SOCNAV
Officer programs
Advancement
Career milestones
The Apprenticeship Program
Job descriptions
The Navy Pocket Goal Card (fig. 16-1 and
Appendix V) shows a sample of the trifold form for
newly recruited Sailors. Appendix V contains a Navy
Pocket Goal Card for your use. Areas of goal setting
covered on the Pocket Goal Card include the following:
Delayed Entry Program (DEP) goals
Navy Core Values
Recruit training goals
The Sailor’s Creed
Fleet goals, personal priorities (including
education)
Space for Sailors to write in their own goals
16-1
I came into the Navy feeling I could spend a few years away from home, save some
money, see different places, and maybe get some training or education that I could
use later. I’ve had to change my attitude about several things since joining. I didn’t
realize there are so many different opportunities open to me. I guess I’m only limited
to how far I can go by how much effort I’m willing to put forth.
—A letter home
