WASHINGTON -- New guidance for the Career Intermission Pilot Program (CIPP), released with the update of OPNAVINST 1330.2B, includes a provision that now permits Full Time Support (FTS) personnel to apply for CIPP.
Announced in NAVADMIN 125/13, the revised instruction authorizes FTS personnel the option to participate in CIPP, which was previously closed to all Navy Reserve Sailors.
"These changes were in direct response to feedback we received from the fleet," said Vice Admiral Scott Van Buskirk, Chief of Naval Personnel. "CIPP allows us to meet the short-term needs of our Sailors, while ensuring they stay Navy for the long term. These important changes will now allow us take that mission further, providing more Sailors the opportunity to utilize this valuable program."
The revised instruction also authorizes up to 60 days of accrued unused leave to be carried over through a CIPP participant's intermission. It also clarifies authorization for disability processing, allowing participants that are critically injured or ill to be treated under the same provisions as a member serving on active duty.
CIPP presents a unique opportunity for Sailors to take a career intermission from the Navy, without penalty, and return to active duty to complete a successful Navy career.
During their time in CIPP, participants retain their full medical and dental benefits for themselves and their dependents, as well as exchange and commissary benefits. Participants also receive a small monthly stipend equal to 1/15th of their basic pay. Members may also choose a Navy-funded permanent change of station move to anywhere in the continental United States when entering the program.
Upon returning to Active Duty, the CIPP participant's date of rank/service is adjusted day for day to account for their intermission, ensuring participants compete in promotion boards with people at the same experience level.
Twenty officer applications and twenty enlisted applications are accepted for the program each year. Interested applicants must first submit an electronic package to Navy Office of Diversity and Inclusion (OPNAV N134) program manager for consideration. Packages are then reviewed for eligibility and routed to the member's detailer community managers before final approval by the Commander of Navy Personnel Command.
All program participants will return to active duty at the end of the period prescribed and will incur a two-to-one service obligation for every month in the program. This obligation is in addition to any previously existing obligation. Time spent in the IRR will not count towards retirement, computation of total years of commissioned service, or high year tenure limitations.
