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Reserve Personnel Management Division
Lateral Change In Rate
Reserve Policy Manual
Chapter 7 Section C ENLISTED PERSONNEL
7.C.9 Lateral Changes in Rating
a. A reservist's rating may be changed in order to maximize the use of his or her skills while simultaneously meeting the needs of the Service. Lateral changes in rating are authorized based on position vacancies and the desires and qualifications of an individual.
(1) If an enlisted reservist plans to remain
geographically stable in a location that has little
or no requirement or training capacity for his or her
particular rating, and
(a) the reservist is qualified or
can within a reasonable time become qualified for a
change to another rating where there
are vacancies, then
(b) the change in rating shall be
encouraged as the preferred alternative to over billeting
or asking the reservist to travel
beyond RCD to fill a vacant position.
(2) A reservist may request a change in rating if there
are local vacancies and he or she has
a civilian occupation that would facilitate easier attainment
and/or maintenance of
qualifications in the new rating.
b. Individual lateral change in rating is defined as an individual changing rating without changing pay grade (e.g., BM3 to PS3). A reservist must be authorized to prepare for a lateral change in rating and must then perform the minimum requirements set forth in this section to complete the change. Requests to pursue change in rating must be sent either to CGPC-rpm or the servicing ISC as indicated below, via the chain of command (and Commandant (G-O-CGIS) in the case of IV rating), and must use the following format, with each item addressed in the order given:
(1) New rating requested (e.g., YN2, FS2).
(2) Reason for the request.
(3) Date of enlistment and expiration of obligated service, if any (YYYYMMDD).
(4) Current rate and date of rate (e.g., BM2, YYYYMMDD).
(5) Number of months served in the present rating (e.g., 18 months in BM rating).
(6) Correspondence courses successfully completed.
(7) Service schools completed (include dates and all Service branches).
(8) Other training applicable to both the present rating
and the requested rating (including
augmentation training duties and experience).
(9) Other justification for the requested change (including civilian skills).
c. Commanding officers shall endorse all requests for changes in rating. The following information shall be provided:
(1) Statement certifying accuracy of information contained in the member’s request.
(2) The individual's current position number and
description, and anticipated position
number and description if the change is approved.
(3) Ability of the unit to train the member in the new rating.
(4) A definite recommendation regarding the request.
(5) Desired date of transfer from the unit, if rating requested cannot be trained at the unit.
(6) Any information deemed pertinent to the request.
d. Servicing ISC (pf)s shall:
(1) Approve or deny requests for lateral changes in
rating for personnel in pay grades E-4
through E-6, except for changes to ratings that require Class
"A" School attendance.
Approval or denial shall be determined after considering
local existing and projected
vacancies in both the present and requested ratings.
(2) Forward requests where the change would require Class
"A" School attendance and
requests from reservists in pay grades E-7 and above to
CGPCrpm for determination,
providing a meaningful endorsement with supporting
information concerning local existing
and projected vacancies in both the present and requested
ratings.
(3) Track personnel authorized to change ratings. Notify
personnel when their authorization
has expired, taking appropriate action to remove the
reservist's training rating indicator IAW
the section on Training Rating Indicators.
e. Once a reservist has been approved to pursue a change in rating, the appropriate training-rating indicator shall be assigned and he or she shall be assigned to a position in new rating. Reservists authorized to prepare for a change in rating shall train only in the rating requested and shall not be advanced in the current rating. This restriction remains until the change in rating is completed, the time authorized for change in rating expires, or the authorization to prepare for a change in rating is withdrawn.
(1) Personnel must complete all performance
qualifications, correspondence courses, and
all required rating nonresident courses for the requested
rating up to and including the pay
grade sought.
(2) When fully qualified, the member must be recommended,
and shall participate in, the
next regularly scheduled SWE competition for the new rating;
the member’s name must
appear on the subsequent advancement list. The member must
re-compete if the lateral is
not completed during the SWE advancement cycle. If there is
no Reserve SWE or Class
“A” School requirement in the new rating, the commanding
officer shall send a message to
Personnel Service Center (adv), information addressee
Personnel Command (rpm),
requesting placement on the new rating’s striker eligibility
list. See Personnel Manual,
COMDTINST M1000.6 (series), Article 5.E.
f. Changes in rating must be completed within three years. If the time limitation has expired and no extension of the time limitation has been requested and granted, the authorization is canceled, the reservist's training rating indicator shall be removed and reassignment and training in the original rating shall be resumed.
(1) Authorization to pursue a lateral change in rating
expires after the three-year period
following the date the authorization was granted.
(2) A reservist may request an extension of the time
limit via the chain of command, with
full documentation as to why the change in rating was not
completed in the allotted time
and what steps will be taken to complete the change in
rating.
(3) Servicing ISC (pf)s are authorized to grant a single
one-year extension in extenuating
situations.
(4) Extensions exceeding one year must be forwarded to CGPC-rpm for determination.
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