This is the first of a weekly column I intend to write to discuss items of interest and importance for all the members of the Navy Region Northwest family—Sailors, families, civil service and contractor employees alike. I encourage your feedback; let me know what topics you want to see discussed and let me know your thoughts on what’s presented in this space.

Last week we saw several senior chiefs throughout Navy Region Northwest selected for promotion to master chief petty officer. That is great news, and I offer congratulations to all. Competition, as always, was keen and I know that all our eligible senior chiefs were top notch.

Because of the just-released master chief selections and because the March petty officer exam cycle is still in recent memory, I’m glad of this opportunity to write about professional growth and advancement. Though my remarks will focus on Sailors (officer and enlisted), I strongly encourage civil service and contractor employees, as well as family members, to focus on their personal and professional growth.

The men and women on the master chief list aren’t there because of a lottery, quota, or because they knew someone on the selection board.  They’re on the list because they worked hard, studied, trained, and pursued education.

Working hard is a key component of your advancement. Sustained superior performance is the buzzword, but how do you make that reality?  Seek out and take hard jobs—assignments that are challenging increase your professional knowledge and abilities. That makes you competitive, whether on an officer or Chief Petty Officer selection board or when sitting down to an enlisted rating exam.

Likewise, hard jobs give fitness reports and evaluations that are critical to your advancement. For our junior enlisted Sailors, remember that your evaluations are part of your final multiple— don’t discount the impact of a great evaluation on your advancement potential; great evaluations come from great—and challenging—jobs.

Study!  We’ve all heard it before, but the importance of study can’t be overstated and deserves to be highlighted.  There isn’t a single proven method or a certain time—the key is to make sure that you study. People learn differently; some Sailors ace exams by studying alone while others rely on a partner or a team approach. 

Though detailed specifics on study plans aren’t well suited to this space, there is a wealth of material available. Bibliographies, rate training manuals, Navy Knowledge Online, chiefs, fellow Sailors, and past selection board precepts all provide excellent avenues to obtain and polish the knowledge necessary to excel on the advancement exam.

Training is essential. It hones skills, builds new abilities, and sharpens you for obtaining new goals. Even more, it prepares you for exams while showing selection boards that you’re serious about your career. Most of all, though, training develops you professionally - through training you grow.

There is a final component to your preparing for advancement, and that’s education. Every Sailor—from E-1 to (and including) flag officer should pursue education.

Whether you are a junior petty officer starting a college degree (soon to be a requirement for advancement into the chief petty officer ranks) or a senior officer pursuing executive certificates, education is crucial to your personal and professional growth. It also benefits the Navy; the knowledge and skills you bring back from training and education enable mission accomplishment.

Advancement and professional growth are critical to the nation, the Navy, and you.  Key to advancement is preparation, and key to preparation is starting soon, with a plan. What I touched on above is just the tip of the iceberg, but hopefully gets you thinking.

Best wishes as you continue reaching for (and attaining) continued success.