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Tools · MyNavyHR Sea-Shore Flow

Sea/Shore Rotation by Rating

The official tables, in one place. Filter by rating or community to see your typical sea tour, shore tour, and what a 20-year career actually looks like. The table says 36 months. Your detailer says 42. The detailer wins. Know the official number so you know when to push back.

⚓Source: MyNavyHR Sea-Shore Flow· NAVADMIN 190/16, 274/19, 021/22

76 ratings shown· All times in months

Rating	Full Name	SEA 1	SHORE 1	SEA 2	SHORE 2	SEA 3	SHORE 3	Notes
BM	Boatswain's Mate	56mo	36mo	60mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	Sea-intensive. Shore tour typically at CONUS installation or training command.
GM	Gunner's Mate	49mo	36mo	60mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	SEA1 −5 mo, SEA2 +6 mo per NAVADMIN 274/19.
FC	Fire Controlman	60mo	36mo	60mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	Sea-intensive. Aegis-trained FC billets follow same pattern.
DC	Damage Controlman	60mo	36mo	60mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	Sea-intensive community.
IC	Interior Communications Electrician	60mo	36mo	60mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	Sea-intensive community.
OS	Operations Specialist	54mo	36mo	60mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	Sea-intensive. Carrier and ship CIC community.
QM	Quartermaster	54mo	36mo	60mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	Sea-intensive community.
IT	Information Systems Technician	36mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	Shore-capable community. Adjusted per NAVADMIN 274/19. Rotation is more balanced than surface warfare average.
IS	Intelligence Specialist	36mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	Shore-intensive. Rotation strongly influenced by NEC. Many billets are ashore at intel centers.
STG	Sonar Technician (Surface)	50mo	36mo	54mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	Adjusted per NAVADMIN 274/19.
GSE	Gas Turbine System Tech (Electrical)	51mo	36mo	60mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	Sea-intensive. Carrier/DDG community.
GSM	Gas Turbine System Tech (Mechanical)	53mo	36mo	60mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	Sea-intensive. Adjusted per NAVADMIN 274/19.
EN	Engineman	60mo	36mo	60mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	Sea-intensive community.
EM	Electrician's Mate (Surface)	52mo	36mo	60mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	Surface (non-nuclear) variant. +1 mo SEA1 per NAVADMIN 274/19. Nuclear-trained EMs follow separate rotation.
MM	Machinist's Mate (Surface)	54mo	36mo	60mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	Surface (non-nuclear) variant. SEA1 −6 mo per NAVADMIN 274/19. Nuclear-trained MMs follow separate rotation.
ET	Electronics Technician (Surface)	54mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	Surface (non-nuclear) variant. SEA2 +6 mo per NAVADMIN 274/19. Nuclear-trained ETs follow separate rotation.
ETR	Electronics Technician (Navigation)	48mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	Navigation electronics variant. SEA1 +6 mo per NAVADMIN 274/19.
HT	Hull Maintenance Technician	54mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	Adjusted per NAVADMIN 274/19 (−6 mo SEA1).
MR	Machinery Repairman	48mo	36mo	42mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	Adjusted per NAVADMIN 274/19.
MN	Mineman	36mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	42mo	36mo	Mine warfare community. Shore-to-sea balance shifts after first tour. +12 mo SEA1 per NAVADMIN 274/19.
EOD	Explosive Ordnance Disposal	60mo	36mo	60mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	Sea-intensive. Shore billets at NAS/NB EOD units and schoolhouse.
ND	Navy Diver	36mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	36mo
MA	Master-at-Arms	36mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	Relatively balanced rotation. Sea billets include ships and overseas installations.
PS	Personnel Specialist	48mo	36mo	42mo	36mo	42mo	36mo
YN	Yeoman (Surface)	36mo	48mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	48mo	Shore-intensive community. Shore tours are longer than sea tours by design.
CS	Culinary Specialist	55mo	36mo	54mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	Sea-intensive. Carrier/ship food service. Adjusted per NAVADMIN 274/19.
LS	Logistics Specialist	55mo	36mo	42mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	Adjusted per NAVADMIN 274/19 (+13 mo SEA1). Sea-intensive.
SW	Steelworker	54mo	36mo	54mo	36mo	42mo	36mo	Seabee community. Shore billets typically at NMCB homeports.
BU	Builder	54mo	36mo	54mo	36mo	42mo	36mo	Seabee community.
CE	Construction Electrician	48mo	36mo	42mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	Seabee community. SEA1 −12 mo per NAVADMIN 274/19.
EO	Equipment Operator	60mo	36mo	60mo	36mo	42mo	36mo	Seabee community. SEA1 −6 mo per NAVADMIN 274/19.
UT	Utilitiesman	52mo	36mo	42mo	36mo	42mo	36mo	Seabee community.
CM	Construction Mechanic	60mo	36mo	60mo	36mo	42mo	36mo	Seabee community.
EA	Engineering Aid	36mo	48mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	36mo	Shore-intensive Seabee planning/survey community. Shore tours longer than sea tours. +12 mo SHORE2 per NAVADMIN 274/19.
CTM	Cryptologic Technician (Maintenance)	36mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	36mo
CTT	Cryptologic Technician (Technical)	42mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	SEA1 +6 mo per NAVADMIN 274/19. AEF-qualified variant: SEA1 48 mo.
CTI	Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive)	NEC-dependent — no standard SSF table (verify with detailer)						Language-dependent. No standard SSF table — tour lengths assigned by NEC and language code. Verify with NETC/CTI detailer.
CTN	Cryptologic Technician (Networks)	NEC-dependent — no standard SSF table (verify with detailer)						Shore-intensive community. No standard SSF table — most billets at NSA, NIOC, or afloat. Tour lengths NEC-dependent.
CTR	Cryptologic Technician (Collection)	NEC-dependent — no standard SSF table (verify with detailer)						No standard SSF table. Billets range from ships to NSA facilities. Rotation heavily NEC-dependent.
AD	Aviation Machinist's Mate	48mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	48mo	36mo
AE	Aviation Electrician's Mate	54mo	36mo	54mo	36mo	36mo	36mo
AM	Aviation Structural Mechanic	60mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	42mo	36mo	SEA2 −12 mo per NAVADMIN 274/19.
AME	Aviation Structural Mech (Egress)	52mo	36mo	54mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	Ejection seat/egress systems. SEA1 +1 mo per NAVADMIN 274/19.
AT	Aviation Electronics Technician	48mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	SEA1 +6 mo per NAVADMIN 274/19.
AO	Aviation Ordnanceman	53mo	36mo	60mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	Sea-intensive. Carrier-based. SEA1 +6 mo per NAVADMIN 274/19.
AB	Aviation Boatswain's Mate	55mo	36mo	60mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	Carrier-based community (ABE/ABF/ABH variants). Sea-intensive.
AZ	Aviation Maintenance Administrationman	54mo	36mo	42mo	36mo	42mo	36mo	SEA1 +12 mo per NAVADMIN 274/19.
AG	Aerographer's Mate	36mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	36mo
PR	Aircrew Survival Equipmentman	42mo	36mo	42mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	SEA1 −18 mo per NAVADMIN 274/19.
AC	Air Traffic Controlman	NEC-dependent — no standard SSF table (verify with detailer)						Career path managed separately from standard SSF. Tour lengths assigned by NEC and duty station. Verify with ATC detailer.
AS	Aviation Support Equipment Technician	36mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	36mo	48mo	Longer SHORE3 reflects limited fleet billets at senior levels.
AWO	Naval Aircrewman (Operator)	54mo	36mo	42mo	36mo	42mo	36mo	Aircrewman community. SEA1 −12 mo, SEA2 per NAVADMIN 274/19.
AWR	Naval Aircrewman (Rescue Swimmer)	54mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	SEA1 −18 mo per NAVADMIN 274/19.
AWS	Naval Aircrewman (Helicopter ASW)	54mo	36mo	42mo	36mo	42mo	36mo	SEA1 −12 mo per NAVADMIN 274/19.
AWF	Naval Aircrewman (Mechanical)	54mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	36mo
FT	Fire Control Technician (Submarine)	54mo	36mo	42mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	Submarine-only rating. SEA1 −12 mo per NAVADMIN 274/19. Shore billets at TYCOM and weapons facilities.
STS	Sonar Technician (Submarine)	48mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	42mo	36mo	Submarine community. SEA1 −6 mo per NAVADMIN 274/19.
MT	Missile Technician	48mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	30mo	30mo	Ballistic missile submarine community. SEA1 +12 mo per NAVADMIN 274/19. Shore billets at Strategic Weapons Facilities.
ITS	IT (Submarine)	54mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	42mo	36mo	Submarine variant of IT rating.
CS(SS)	Culinary Specialist (Submarine)	52mo	36mo	54mo	36mo	48mo	36mo
LS(SS)	Logistics Specialist (Submarine)	52mo	36mo	42mo	36mo	36mo	36mo
YN(SS)	Yeoman (Submarine)	36mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	36mo
EM(NUC)	Electrician's Mate (Nuclear — Surface)	54mo	36mo	60mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	SEA1 extended to 54 mo per NAVADMIN 021/22 (was 48 mo). Surface nuclear community.
MM(NUC)	Machinist's Mate (Nuclear — Surface)	54mo	36mo	60mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	SEA1 extended to 54 mo per NAVADMIN 021/22. Surface nuclear community.
ET(NUC)	Electronics Technician (Nuclear — Surface)	54mo	36mo	60mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	SEA1 extended to 54 mo per NAVADMIN 021/22. Surface nuclear community.
EM(SS)	Electrician's Mate (Nuclear — Submarine)	54mo	36mo	60mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	Nuclear-trained submarine variant. SEA1 extended to 54 mo per NAVADMIN 021/22.
MM(SS)	Machinist's Mate (Nuclear — Submarine)	54mo	36mo	60mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	Nuclear-trained submarine variant. SEA1 extended to 54 mo per NAVADMIN 021/22.
ET(SS)	Electronics Technician (Nuclear — Submarine)	54mo	36mo	60mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	Nuclear-trained submarine variant. SEA1 extended to 54 mo per NAVADMIN 021/22.
SO	Special Warfare Operator (SEAL)	60mo	36mo	60mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	Sea-intensive. NSW community. "Sea duty" includes all team/group assignments. Shore billets: BUD/S cadre, NSWG staff, schoolhouse.
SB	Special Warfare Boat Operator	60mo	36mo	60mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	Sea-intensive. Part of NSW community.
HM	Hospital Corpsman	NEC-dependent — no standard SSF table (verify with detailer)						Assignment by NEC. Shore-intensive overall, but FMF/SOI/diving NECs are field-intensive. HM-8404 (FMF Corpsman) follows Marine unit cycles. Verify with NEC detailer.
NC	Navy Counselor	—	—	48mo	42mo	36mo	36mo	No initial sea tour as NC (must serve as another rating first). Primarily shore-duty community. Rotation for NC begins at SEA2 position.
LN	Legalman	36mo	48mo	36mo	48mo	36mo	48mo	Shore-intensive. Longer shore tours reflect limited sea billets for legal work.
MC	Mass Communication Specialist	36mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	Shore-intensive. Shore2 adjustment per NAVADMIN 274/19.
RP	Religious Program Specialist	36mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	36mo	36mo
MU	Musician	NEC-dependent — no standard SSF table (verify with detailer)						Shore-duty community assigned to naval bands. No standard SSF table.

Sea dutyShore duty— = not applicableSource: MyNavyHR Sea-Shore Flow (NAVADMIN 190/16, 274/19, 021/22)

How Sea/Shore Flow Works

The basic pattern

Sea/Shore Flow (SSF) replaced Sea/Shore Rotation (SSR) in 2008. Each rating has a defined cycle: sea tour, then shore tour, repeating. The lengths are set in the SSF table, published by MyNavyHR and updated periodically by NAVADMIN.

Mandatory rotation

When you reach your Projected Rotation Date (PRD), your detailer moves you to the next duty type. If you're on sea duty, you go to shore duty — and vice versa. You can request to stay (extend), but the command and Navy both have to agree.

DMAP and automation

The Detailing Marketplace (DMAP) is replacing traditional detailing for many sea-intensive ratings (BM, OS, EM, AO, GM, QM, AME, ABE). DMAP gives Sailors more visibility into open billets and slightly more negotiating leverage — but your PRD and tour length still come from the SSF table.

The 60-month cap

The policy caps sea tours at 60 months for Sailors under 20 years of service. Sailors can voluntarily extend beyond that cap, but cannot be ordered past 60 months without consent. Shore tours cap at 48 months for most ratings.

Sample 20-Year Timeline

Surface warfare enlisted (E-4 to E-7 path). Exact dates shift by rating — this illustrates the pattern.

Yr 0–1A-School / Fleet training

Approximately 4–9 months of initial technical training depending on rating. Counts as neither sea nor shore duty for rotation purposes.

Yr 1–5.5Sea Tour 1 (54 mo avg)

First ship assignment. Where you make E-4, E-5 or E-6 depending on rating. Your sea time clock starts the day you report aboard.

Yr 5.5–8.5Shore Tour 1 (36 mo)

First shore assignment — A-school instructor, NROTC, recruiting, shore command support. Career-career decisions happen here. Reenlistment window.

Yr 8.5–13.5Sea Tour 2 (48–60 mo)

Senior deckplate tour. Department LCPO candidate for many ratings. Chief selection board timing for E-7. Most Sailors hit this tour as E-5 or E-6.

Yr 13.5–16.5Shore Tour 2 (36 mo)

Mid-career shore tour. Many Sailors use this for higher education (tuition assistance, degree completion). 14-year retirement decision window.

Yr 16.5–20Sea Tour 3 or separation

Third sea tour leads to 20-year retirement eligibility. Senior enlisted (E-7 to E-9) leadership roles on ships and staffs. Many branch here for shore-heavy senior assignments.

What an IA Assignment Does to Your Clock

The short version: IA assignments to active combat zones are typically coded as sea duty. Your sea tour clock keeps running while you are downrange. When you return, you're closer to your shore duty window — but if your IA was coded as TDY rather than PCS, none of it may count. Always verify the duty-type code on your orders before deployment.

IA during sea tour

Most common

Sea time continues to accrue. You return to your ship for the remainder of your sea tour obligation. IA time is credited toward your rotation date.

IA from shore duty

Verify orders carefully

Shore tour clock may pause or be adjusted. You don't automatically start a new sea tour — you typically return to complete the remaining shore tour obligation. Shore credit depends on the specific IA orders.

Voluntary GWOT support IA

Depends on orders code

Combat zone IAs (Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, etc.) are generally coded as sea duty. Non-combat support IAs may be coded differently. The code on your orders is determinative.

The Table vs. Reality

Your PRD is the number that actually moves you

The SSF table gives you a tour length target. The Projected Rotation Date (PRD) is the actual date on your record. If your PRD is set wrong, you could serve longer than the table shows. Check your PRD in MyNavy Portal early — wrong PRDs are common, especially after a conversion or IA assignment.

Overseas shore tours feel like sea duty — they're not

A tour in Bahrain, Yokosuka, or Rota is still a shore tour for rotation purposes, even if it feels operationally demanding. You get overseas COLA and OHA, but you're not banking sea time. Some Sailors choose OCONUS shore over CONUS sea for the financial upside; know what you're trading.

Billet shortfalls mean extended sea tours

When there aren't enough shore billets for everyone at rotation, the Navy holds Sailors on sea duty longer. This is called a "sea tour extension" and it can add months to what the table says. It's more common in sea-intensive communities (BM, DC, IC) than in shore-capable ratings.

The rating notes in the table actually matter

Several ratings have notes about NEC requirements, community-specific rules, or shore tour location constraints. "Shore tour must be at CONUS NAS" means what it says — you can't satisfy a shore tour requirement with a random non-aviation billet. Read the notes column before making family plans.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does an Individual Augmentee (IA) assignment count as sea duty?+

Yes — IA assignments to combat zones are typically coded as sea duty, which counts against your sea tour obligation. However, the specifics depend on the assignment's duty status code. An IA to Afghanistan or Iraq is coded as sea duty for rotation purposes. A support-role IA in the continental US usually is not. Your PERS-4 detailer can tell you exactly how an IA will be coded before you accept the assignment. Bottom line: if you're mid-sea-tour and get IA'd, your sea tour clock generally keeps running. If you're on shore duty and volunteer for IA, it does not automatically convert your shore billet to sea duty.

Can I request a shorter sea tour for family hardship?+

Yes, through the Humanitarian Assignment (HARP) or Early Return of Dependent (EROD) process, but approval is not guaranteed and competition is real. A HARP request requires documented hardship (usually medical or caregiver-related) and command endorsement. Even approved, you typically only get a curtailed tour or preferential shore billet — not a full tour reset. The process runs through your chain of command to PERS. Don't wait for the emergency to start the paperwork. If a hardship is developing, contact your command career counselor immediately and start documenting.

How does shore duty at Bahrain or Japan count?+

Overseas shore duty at locations like NSA Bahrain, Yokosuka, Rota, or Sigonella counts as shore duty — not sea duty — for your sea/shore rotation clock. You will still complete the standard shore tour length (typically 36 months). However, some overseas billets come with special pay (OCONUS COLA, OHA, SOFA benefits) that make them attractive. The nuance: some Bahrain billets are coded as sea duty equivalent by specific NAVADMIN. Always verify the specific billet's duty type code before reporting. A three-year tour in Japan is great for your bank account and career; make sure you know how it affects your next assignment window.

What if I PCS before my sea tour is technically complete?+

Arriving at a new duty station before your tour is technically complete ("curtailment") happens regularly — for school seats, billet requirements, or command needs. Your sea time accrued still counts toward your record. You won't restart the sea tour clock from zero. However, if you leave early for non-detailer reasons (e.g., early release request), you may be required to complete the remaining obligation at your next sea duty assignment. The key rule: your actual days at sea are logged in NSIPS, not based on the tour-length table. The table is a planning guide; NSIPS is the record of truth.

Does my sea/shore rotation reset when I change ratings?+

No — your sea time and shore time on record do not reset when you change ratings (lateral conversion). Your NSIPS record follows you. What changes is the tour length target under your new rating's sea/shore flow table. If your old rating required 60-month sea tours and your new rating requires 36-month sea tours, you may become eligible for shore duty sooner than you expected — or find you've already "banked" more sea time than required. Talk to your gaining community detailer immediately after a conversion approval to understand how your existing sea/shore time applies to your new community.

Where do I check my actual sea/shore time on record?+

Log into MyNavy Portal (MNP) and navigate to your career management section. Your sea/shore time on record (TIR) is tracked in NSIPS and visible in your personnel records. You can also request a SAAR (Service Activity Report) from your admin office or career counselor. If you believe your sea time is wrong — which happens more often than it should — file a PNEC correction through your ship's admin office or NPC. Do not assume the table and your record match. Verify.

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