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Z-Gram #73; dated 18 February 1971

Enlisted Vietnam Volunteers

R 181654Z FEB 71
FM CNO (Z-73)

TO NAVOP

UNCLAS //N01306//
ENLISTED VIETNAM VOLUNTEERS

A. CNO 051525Z DEC 70 (NAVP Z-65)
B. BUPERSNOTE 1306 OF 14 JAN 70
C. BUPERSNOTE 1306 OF 11 JUL 70

1. IN EARLY DECEMBER, I REPORTED, IN REF (A), ON THE PROGRESS OF THE NAVY’S PORTION OF VIETNAMIZATION. SINCE THEN TWO MAJOR MILESTONES HAVE OCCURRED TO MOVE US AND THE VIETNAMESE NAVY FURTHER TOWARDS THE GOAL OF TURNING OVER THE COMPLETE NAVAL RESPONSIBILITY.

2. FIRST, THE PRESIDENT HAS COMPLETED THE FINAL STEP OF AUTHORIZING TURNOVER OF TWO DESTROYER ESCORTS BY SIGNING THE RECENT SHIP LOAN BILL. THE FIRST OF THESE WILL BE TURNED OVER IN EARLY FEBRUARY AND THE SECOND ONE IN LATE SUMMER. THE VIETNAMESE LARGE SHIP NAVY WILL THEN CONSIST OF TWO DER’S, TWO WHEC’S, SIX LST’S, TWO PBR SUPPORT TENDERS AND NINE PCE/PC’S IN ADDITION TO OVER THIRTY MEDIUM LANDING CRAFT AND PATROL GUN BOATS.

3. THE SECOND RECENT MAJOR MILESTONE WAS THE ACTUAL TURNOVER AS ANNOUNCED IN REF (A) OF THE FINAL US NAVY COMBAT CRAFT IN VIETNAM THUS BRINGING THE VIETNAMESE NAVY TO A TOTAL OF OVER 600 SMALL COMBAT CRAFT.

4. IN ADDITION, ALL OF THE PROJECTED VIETNAMESE BASES TO SUPPORT THIS LARGE BROWN WATER AND GROWING BLUE WATER NAVY ARE COMPLETED OR UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

5. AS I HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE, THE TWO BIGGEST PROBLEMS REMAINING ARE THE NEED, MORE SEVERE THAN EVER BEFORE, OF OUR NAVY TO PROVIDE MIDDLE MANAGEMENT ADVISORS (PETTY OFFICERS AND JUNIOR OFFICERS) TO STRENGTHEN THIS RECENTLY DOUBLED VNN ORGANIZATION AND THE NEED TO HELP THEM LEARN HOW TO LOGISTICALLY SUPPORT THEIR VERY FORMIDABLE NAVY. THUS, TO TRAIN MIDDLE MANAGEMENT IN THE VNN OPERATING FORCES AND TO TRAIN VNN PERSONNEL IN BASE AND CRAFT MAINTENANCE, SUPPLY, AND OVERALL LOGISTICS SUPPORT. THE CHALLENGE TO THE US NAVY IS GREATER THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN.

6. WE ARE ALL EXTREMELY PROUD OF BOTH THE US NAVY AND THE VIETNAMESE NAVY PERSONNEL WHO HAVE MADE SO MUCH PROGRESS TO DATE. IN VIEWING THE STATE OF THE VIETNAMESE NAVY TODAY WE COULD SAY THAT THE VIETNAMESE NAVY CNO, HIS STAFF, AND FIELD COMMANDERS HAVE MADE THE FORM, POURED THE METAL, AND REMOVED THE ROUGH CASTING FROM THE MOLD. THEIR JOB FROM NOW ON IS TO PERFORM THE CAREFUL MACHINING REQUIRED TO WORK THIS CASTING INTO A FINE INTEGRAL PART OF THE RVN ARMED FORCES. FOR THIS REASON, THE US NAVY TEAM OF THE NEXT FEW YEARS MUST BE A HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL, ELITE GROUP OF ADVISORS WHO CAN PROVIDE THE VERY FINEST ASSISTANCE AS THE VNN COMPLETE THIS PRECISION WORK.

7. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MESSAGE IS TO SEEK VOLUNTEERS FROM AMONG THE ENLISTED PERSONNEL TO MEET THE CHALLENGE DESCRIBED ABOVE, AND TO ANNOUNCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF GREATLY IMPROVED TRAINING PROGRAM AND SEVERAL COMPENSATING INCENTIVES FOR THOSE ENLISTED MEN WHO VOLUNTEER FOR THE VITAL AND CHALLENGING DUTY AS NAVAL ADVISORS.

8. THERE ARE THREE PROGRAMS FOR ENLISTED PERSONNEL IN VIETNAM:

A. GENERAL DUTY PROGRAM. PERSONNEL ACCEPTED FOR THIS PROGRAM RECEIVE MINIMAL TRAINING AND ARE ORDERED TO A ONE YEAR TOUR OF DUTY IN-COUNTRY AT SUPPORT AND AVIATION ACTIVITIES AND ON NON-ROTATED SHIPS. VOLUNTEERS ARE SCREENED, ORDERED AND REASSIGNED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF REFS B AND C. IN ADDITION TO INCENTIVES PROVIDED BY REF C, ADDITIONAL SEA DUTY CREDIT WILL BE AFFORDED TO ALL PERSONNEL WHO EXTEND THEIR TOUR FOR AT LEAST 12 FULL MONTHS, OR WHO ARE CURRENTLY SERVING SUCH AN EXTENSION, OR WHO ARE SERVING ON A SECOND TOUR. THIS ADDITIONAL SEA DUTY CREDIT WILL BE AT THE RATE OF TWO MONTHS FOR EACH MONTH OF EITHER A 12 MONTH EXTENSION OR A SECOND TOUR.

B. PRESENT ADVISOR PROGRAM. PERSONNEL WHO VOLUNTEER AND ARE FOUND QUALIFIED WILL RECEIVE MINIMUM LANGUAGE TRAINING ALONG WITH 7 TO 11 WEEKS OF SPECIALIZED TRAINING BEFORE REPORTING TO NAVAL ADVISORY GROUP (NAVADVGRP). BECAUSE OF THE CONTINUING NEED FOR HIGH QUALITY PERSONNEL IN THE NAVADVGRP, THIS PROGRAM MUST BE CONTINUED UNTIL THE NEW ADVISORS START TO ARRIVE IN QUANTITY IN VIETNAM, AT WHICH TIME PHASE OUT OF PRESENT ADVISORS WILL COMMENCE. VOLUNTEERS SHOULD FORWARD REQUESTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH REFERENCE B.

C. NEW ADVISOR PROGRAM. THIS UNIQUE PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE AS MUCH AS ONE YEAR OF TRAINING FOR ABOUT ONE- QUARTER OF THE NEW ADVISORS, ENABLING PARTICIPANTS TO ARRIVE IN-COUNTRY CONVERSANT IN VIETNAMESE. THESE SELECT PERSONNEL WILL FORM AN ELITE NUCLEUS OF ADVISORS WHO WILL CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE RAPID GROWTH IN EXPERTISE OF THE VIETNAMESE NAVY. TWO AND THREE YEAR ASSIGNMENTS, INCLUDING TRAINING ARE AVAILABLE IN THIS PROGRAM.

9. BENEFITS FOR THOSE WHO ARE PRESENTLY SERVING IN THE NAVAL ADVISORY GROUP AND FOR THOSE VOLUNTEERING FOR EITHER THE PRESENT ADVISOR PROGRAM OR FOR THE TWO YEAR OPTION OF THE NEW ADVISOR PROGRAM ARE AS FOLLOWS:

A. PROVIDED PREREQUISITES ARE MET, ONE FIELD ADVANCEMENT ON CERTIFICATION OF SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE BY CHNAVADVGRP FOR PETTY OFFICERS FIRST CLASS AND BELOW. THIS WILL PERMIT FIELD ADVANCEMENT TO E-7.

B. ADDITIONAL SEA DUTY CREDIT, AT THE RATE OF 2 MONTHS SEA DUTY CREDIT FOR EACH MONTH SPENT IN VIETNAM ON EITHER A 12 MONTH EXTENSION OR A SECOND TOUR, FOR PERSONNEL WHO EXTEND OR ARE SELECTED FOR A SECOND TOUR WITHIN THREE YEARS, REGARDLESS OF TYPE ACTIVITY AT WHICH FIRST TOUR WAS SERVED.

C. FOR NEW ADVISORS ONLY, WAIVER OF TIME IN RATE AND LENGTH OF SERVICE REQUIREMENTS FOR ADVANCEMENT.

D. REASSIGNMENT BENEFITS INCLUDING:

(1) GUARANTEED ASSIGNMENT IN EITHER TYPE SHIP OR HOME PORT OF CHOICE FOR SEA DUTY ELIGIBLES, PROVIDING SHIP HAS ALLOWANCE FOR RATING/NEC AND HOME PORT CHOSEN IS A MAJOR FLEET CONCENTRATION AREA.
(2) GUARANTEED ASSIGNMENT TO NAVDIST OF CHOICE FOR SEAVEY ELIGIBLES.
(3) GUARANTEED ASSIGNMENT TO CLASS B OR C SCHOOL FOR RATING IF QUALIFIED AND HAS NOT PREVIOUSLY ATTENDED.
(4) PREFERENTIAL CONSIDERATION BY THE ADCOP SELECTION BOARD FOR THOSE QUALIFIED PERSONNEL WHO APPLY.

E. BECAUSE OF THE CRITICAL NEED FOR ENGINEMEN IN THE NEW ADVISOR PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS FOR THIS DUTY WILL RECEIVE SPECIAL BENEFITS INCLUDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TWO ADVANCEMENTS FOR E-4’S AND E-5’S, SCHOOLING OF CHOICE ON COMPLETION OF TOUR AND ADDITIONAL SEA DUTY CREDIT.

F. PREFERENTIAL HOUSING CONSIDERATIONS, DETAILS TO BE PROMULGATED BY SEPARATE NAVOP.

10. PERSONNEL WHO VOLUNTEER FOR THE THREE YEAR OPTION OF THE NEW ADVISOR PROGRAM, THOSE PERSONNEL WHO VOLUNTEERED AFTER JAN 70 FOR A SECOND TOUR IN THE NAVADVGRP, THOSE WHO NOW VOLUNTEER TO RETURN AND ARE WITHIN 3 YEARS OF COMPLETION OF A PREVIOUS VIETNAM TOUR, AND FOR THOSE CURRENTLY IN THE NAVADVGRP WHO VOLUNTEER AND ARE RECOMMENDED BY CHNAVADVGRP TO EXTEND FOR ONE YEAR WILL RECEIVE THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL BENEFITS:

A. GUARANTEED ASSIGNMENT TO A NORMAL TOUR OF SHORE DUTY, PLUS ASSIGNMENT TO NAVDIST OF CHOICE, REGARDLESS OF SEA/SHOREVEY STATUS.

B. IF SEA DUTY DESIRED, GUARANTEED ASSIGNMENT TO HOME PORT AND TYPE SHIP REQUESTED PROVIDING SHIP HAS ALLOWANCE FOR RATING/NEC AND HOME PORT CHOSEN IS A MAJOR FLEET CONCENTRATION AREA.

C. GUARANTEED ASSIGNMENT TO OVERSEAS DUTY.

D. PREFERENTIAL CONSIDERATION FOR CONTINUED ASSIGNMENT IN MAAG/ MISSION TYPE BILLETS FOR HIGHLY QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS.

E. ADDITIONAL PREFERENTIAL HOUSING CONSIDERATIONS.

11. A SUMMARY OF BENEFITS FOR ALL ENLISTED PERSONNEL ASSIGNED TO DUTY IN-COUNTRY OR ON NON-ROTATED SHIPS BASED IN VIETNAM.

A. BASIC BENEFITS (ADVISORY AND GENERAL):

- HOSTILE FIRE PAY
- TOTAL INCOME TAX EXEMPTION
- TEN PERCENT INTEREST ON SAVINGS DEPOSITS
- RELOCATION OF DEPENDENTS
- FIELD ADVANCEMENT
- ACCUMULATION OF UP TO 90 DAYS LEAVE
- FREE LETTER MAILING AND SPECIAL CUSTOMS PRIVILEGES
- FOURTEEN DAY CONUS LEAVE (CHARTER OR SPACE AVAILABLE)
- EARLY SEPARATION
- SEVEN DAY R & R PERIOD

B. ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FOR GENERAL DUTY PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS:

  THERE/ENROUTE 6 MONTH EXTENSION 12 MONTH EXTENSION
NON SEAVEY ELIGIBLE:    
-FLT OF CHOICE, PRIORITY CONSIDERATION FOR SCHOOL AND OVERSEAS DUTY         X X X
SEAVEY ELIGIBLE:  
-GUAR SHORE DUTY AND PRIORITY CONSIDERATION FOR INSTRUCTOR/RECRUITING DUTY X X X
-SPECIAL 30 DAY LEAVE   X X
-ADDITIONAL SEA DUTY CREDIT     X

C. ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FOR ADVISOR PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS:
PRESENT ADVISOR (FIRST THREE COLUMNS) NEW ADVISOR (LAST TWO COLUMNS)

  THERE/ ENROUTE 6 MONTH EXTENSION 12 MONTH EXTENSION 2 YR (1) OPTION 3 YR (1) OPTION
SPECIAL 30 DAY LEAVE   X X   X
ADDITIONAL SEA DUTY CREDIT     X   X
PREF CONSIDERATION FOR HOUSING (2)   X X X X
GUAR TYPE SHIP OR HOME PORT X X X X X
GUAR NAVDIST FOR SEAVEY ELIGIBLE X X X X X
GUAR CLASS B OR C SCHOOL X X X X X
EXPANDED FIELD ADVANCEMENT X X X X X
WAIVER OF TIME IN RATE/LENGTH OF SERVICE       X X

 

  PRESENT ADVISOR NEW ADVISOR
  THERE/ ENROUTE 6 MONTH EXTENSION 12 MONTH EXTENSION 2 YR (1) OPTION 3 YR (1) OPTION
PREF CONSIDERATION FOR ADCOP X X X X X
ENGINEMEN PO3&2 TWO ADVANCEMENTS WITH LONG LANG TRAINING       X X
ENGINEMAN PO2 MAKES PO1 AFTER 6 MONTHS IN-COUNTY       X X
ALL ENGINEMEN ADDITIONAL SEA DUTY CREDIT AND SCHOOLING OF CHOICE       X X
GUAR ASSIGNMENT TO NORMAL SHORE DUTY     X   X
IF SEA DUTY DESIRED GUAR HOME PORT AND TYPE SHIP     X   X
GUAR ASSIGNMENT TO OVERSEAS DUTY     X   X
PREF CONSIDERATION FOR MAAG/MISSION DUTY     X   X

NOTES:
(1) 2 AND 3 YEAR TOURS INCLUDE UP TO ONE YEAR OF TRAINING AND 1 OR 2 YEARS IN-COUNTRY RESPECTIVELY.
(2) DETAILS OF PREFERENTIAL CONSIDERATION FOR HOUSING WILL BE PROMULGATED BY SEPARATE NAVOP.

12. THE ABOVE BENEFITS ARE GUARANTEED TO ALL VOLUNTEERS AS ENDORSED SATISFACTORY ADVISORS BY CHNAVADVGRP.

13. IT IS REALIZED THAT NOT ALL CAN BE UTILIZED IN VIETNAM BECAUSE OF SKILL MISMATCHES; HOWEVER, RATE SUBSTITUTION WILL BE EFFECTED WHERE POSSIBLE TO ENABLE MORE VOLUNTEERS TO SERVE. VOLUNTEER REQUESTS WILL BE FORWARDED FOR ALL RATINGS CONSIDERED QUALIFIED FOR THE PROGRAMS OUTLINED ABOVE. AMPLIFICATION OF CERTAIN INCENTIVES, SCREENING CRITERIA AND NOMINATING FORMAT WILL BE PROMULGATED BY SEPARATE NAVOP.

14. I DESIRE THAT ALL NAVY PETTY OFFICERS BE FULLY AND THOROUGHLY COUNSELED REGARDING ALL ASPECTS OF THIS NAVOP. E. R. ZUMWALT, JR., ADMIRAL, U.S. NAVY, CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS.

BT

__________

ACRONYMS/ABBREVIATIONS:
ADCOP: associate degree completion program
BUPERSNOTE: Bureau of Naval Personnel note
CHNAVADVGRP: chief naval advisory group
CONUS: continental United States
DER: destroyer escort—radio
LST: tank landing ship
MAAG: Military Assistance Advisory Group
NAVDIST: naval district
NEC: Navy enlisted classification (code)
PBR: patrol boat riverine
PCE/PC: patrol escort/patrol coastal
R&R: rest and relaxation
RVN: Republic of Vietnam
SEAVEY: survey of men at sea to determine their eligibility to be rotated ashore
SHOREVEY: survey of men ashore to determine their eligibility to be rotated to sea
VNN: Vietnamese Navy
WHEC: U.S. Coast Guard Cutter

[END]
Published: Mon Sep 26 06:37:11 EDT 2016