MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) — Revisions to special duty assignment pay (SDAP) for eligible enlisted Sailors were released in NAVADMIN 076/13, March 26.
The update contained few changes, incorporating two additions, one deletion and several increases to existing SDAPs.
The SDAP program enhances the Navy’s ability to size, shape and stabilize the force by encouraging qualified Sailors to serve in designated Special Duty Assignments (SDAs) for a monetary incentive ranging from $75 to $450 a month.
SDAs are demanding duties that require extraordinary effort for satisfactory performance or an unusual degree of responsibility. Considered extremely difficult, they may entail arduous duty. Recruit Division Commander, recruiters, Ceremonial Guard, Search and Rescue swimmer, Independent Duty Corpsman and SEALs are some assignments that may be eligible for SDAP.
Increases to existing SDAP levels are effective immediately.
In order to qualify for SDAP, a service member must be assigned to and working in a valid billet on the command Manpower Authorization Listing, and hold a matching Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) and Distribution Navy Enlisted Classification (DNEC) billet. The billet must also be authorized by the Bureau of Naval Personnel as an SDA billet.
Each Sailor is eligible for only one SDAP entitlement at a time and commands must ensure the number of personnel receiving SDAP does not exceed the number of authorized SDAP billets.
Commanding officers must certify that service members meet all the qualifying criteria established by OPNAVINST 1160.6B, DODINST 1304.27 and NAVADMIN 076/13 prior to receiving SDAP. A Sailor must complete all qualifications, including personal qualification standards (PQS) and under instruction (UI) time before they are eligible for SDAP certification.
The annual re-certification required by commands with SDAP billets begins in June and guidance for the re-certification process will be announced in a follow-on Navy message.
Commands, via personnel support detachments if applicable, are responsible for making any rate adjustments as directed by NAVADMIN 076/13. Commands should also ensure compliance with MILPERSMAN 1306-1200/1210 for Sailors in a limited duty status.
More than 25,000 Sailors currently receive SDAP. Sailors can read OPNAVINST 1160.6B and talk with their command career counselor to learn more about SDAP or visit http://www.npc.navy.mil/career/enlistedcareeradmin/Pages/SRB.aspx.
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