PERSONNEL READINESS Capability Program

These military requirements are called naval standards. The advantages of developing your career and getting ahead are not yours alone. The Navy also profits. Highly trained personnel are essential to the functioning of the Navy. By each advance- ment, you increase your value to the Navy in two ways. First, you become more valuable as a specialist in your own rating. And second, you become more valuable as a person who can train others and thus make far-reaching contributions to the entire Navy. Many of the rewards of the Navy life are earned through the advancement system. The basic ideas behind the system have remained stable for years, but specific portions may change rather rapidly. It is important that you know the system and follow the changes carefully. One handbook that will normally keep you up to date regarding the basic advancement requirements is the Advancement Handbook for Petty Officers, NAVEDTRA 71365. The handbook outlines the Navy Advancement System in general and provides you with information about advance- ment paths, eligibility requirements for advance- ment, professional development, exams, and exam scoring. It contains naval and occupational standards with their supporting bibliographies and also personnel advancement requirements (PARS) certification. One of the most useful things you can learn about a subject is how to find out more about it. No single publication can give you all the information you need to perform the duties and responsibilities of the EA rating. You should learn where to look for accurate, authoritative, up-to-date information on all subjects related to the naval and occupational standards of your rating. Some publications are subject to change or revision from time to time—some at regular intervals, others as the need arises. When using any publication that is subject to change or revision, be sure that you have the latest edition. When using any publication that is kept current by means of changes, be sure you have a copy in which all official changes have been made. Studying canceled or obsolete information will not help you to do your work or to advance; it is likely to be a waste of time and may even be seriously misleading. PERSONNEL READINESS CAPABILITY PROGRAM The Personnel Readiness Capability Program (PRCP) provides a standard means of identifying, collecting, processing, and utilizing information on all members of the Naval Construction Force, both active and reserve. This information can be used by all levels of management and supervision to determine a unit’s readiness capability by comparing it to actual or planned requirements. The majority of PRCP information consists of an inventory of individual skills acquired through formal or on-the-job training. A record of these skills, combined with other data from the service record, such as expiration of enlistment, rotation data, and so forth, provides a ready means of predicting future capabilities and requirements. Some of these may be the following: a. Construction and military capabilities b. Personnel, logistics, and training require- ments c. Berthing, messing, and housing require- ments d. Contingency requirements Your initial PRCP skill inventory will be based upon an interview with your crew/squad leader or another senior petty officer of your rating. Special PRCP Interviewer’s Standards and Guides have been prepared to assist persons conducting interviews. Each “Guide” contains a detailed explanation of every skill identified in the PRCP. These definitions are standard throughout the entire Naval Construction Force, and any person, regardless of duty assignment, can turn to these standards and know what is expected in a given skill area. During an interview, it is imperative that you discuss your capabilities openly and honestly. Remember, if you exaggerate, you may be depriving yourself of valuable and needed training. Then too, you may be the one selected to do that special job all on your own. Will you be ready? A more detailed discussion of the Personnel Readiness Capability Program may be found in chapter 2 of Engineering Aid 1 & C, NAVEDTRA 10635-C. 16-13