Command-Wide Junior Sailors Prepare For Advancement, Share Study Habits

The junior enlisted Sailors eligible to take the E-4 advancement exam at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) are taking steps to prepare and study for the big test.

There are various trainings and enlisted advancement program (EAP) classes available for junior Sailors, coming at a time of change to the Navy-wide advancement exam structure.

In September 2012, the amount of questions on Navy-wide examinations will decrease from 200 to 175. The 175 questions will consist of 150 rate-specific technical questions and 25 Professional Military Knowledge (PMK) questions. The new exam structure will increase the emphasis on rating-specific technical questions, improving the opportunity for Sailors to demonstrate greater rating knowledge in comparison to their peers.

In studying for the exam, Hospitalman Kenneth Glenn, a technician in the anesthesiology department, said, "It's all about note cards for me.

"With advancement being an important part of our careers, it all starts with retaining the information that I am looking at," Glenn explained.

"Advancement in rate shows your ability to know your job and to do that will require a good memory and continuous hard work."

Glenn said he's nervous about the exam, but the feeling is motivating.

"If I look back on all the times I have set goals and achieved them, I was nervous every time," he said. "I don't allow my nervousness to control my confidence and decision-making. I embrace it because I believe if you are nervous about something like advancement, then you care a lot about it."

While Glenn makes flash cards to help him study, other Sailors chose to study with a group.

"Study sessions help a lot," said Master-at-Arms Petty Officer 3rd Class Ian Hamilton. "Whenever I am preparing for an exam, it has always been more beneficial for me to study in a group setting. It allowed me to ask my shipmates questions if I needed to. We all have strong areas and weak areas. If five Sailors come together with an area of expertise, it can rub off on each of the Sailors and everyone benefits. A person's study habits follow them their whole life, so this is good training too."

Glenn, an EAP alumni, added, "We know that not everyone is a corpsman, and that is fine. There is always an opportunity to cover the basic military requirements (BMR) that everyone has to know. It's about finding a common ground and utilizing it. I want everyone to put themselves in the position to advance. I tell myself every morning that if I do my part, the rest will take care of itself."

For more information on the EAP, contact HM1 Mamaril at 301-295-5036 or HM1 Henry at 301-319-4834. For questions regarding JEM classes, contact Hospitalman Kenneth Glenn at Kenneth.g lennmed.navy.mil.