PENSACOLA, Florida – The U.S. Navy has reaffirmed its commitment to Sailor development through the annual review of Learning and Development Roadmaps (LaDRs), completed on November 2nd. These LaDRs serve as crucial documents, meticulously outlining the training and educational milestones for every Navy rating across all pay grades, solidifying their position as a vital Navy Career Tool.
“LaDRs are essential enlisted roadmaps that ensure continuity and provide clear direction for Sailors in their career progression,” stated Tom Smith, Education Program Manager at Naval Education and Training Command (NETC). “A LaDR acts as a guide, assisting Sailors in navigating current and future assignments, understanding Navy enlisted classifications, and identifying crucial training and educational opportunities. This includes rate-specific training, Professional Military Education, advanced education programs, and professional certifications, all designed to foster both personal and professional growth for our Sailors.”
The annual review, a comprehensive process led by subject matter experts (SMEs) from the Navy’s 15 learning centers, is designed to guarantee that all LaDRs are up-to-date and effectively meeting the evolving needs of Sailors. It also ensures these roadmaps remain fully aligned with the Navy Total Force Strategic Vision and the ongoing Sailor 2025 initiative. This alignment underscores the LaDR’s role as a key navy career tool in achieving broader strategic objectives.
“The Navy Total Force Strategic Vision directly addresses the critical need to anticipate future warfighting requirements, pinpoint necessary personnel capabilities, and then effectively recruit, develop, manage, and deploy Sailors in a manner that is both agile and cost-effective,” Smith explained. “LaDRs directly support this overarching vision, providing Sailors with a tangible navy career tool they can utilize to pursue and achieve both their professional aspirations and personal goals throughout their Navy careers.”
LaDRs are not only beneficial for individual Sailors but also serve as invaluable resources for Navy leaders. These leaders can leverage LaDRs to effectively monitor, encourage, and strategically guide the career development of their personnel, reinforcing the LaDR’s function as a leadership-level navy career tool.
“It is imperative that both Sailors and their leaders consistently review the LaDR at each scheduled career development board,” Smith emphasized. “This ensures every Sailor remains on track with their career progression. The recommended training and credentials detailed within each LaDR are carefully vetted by their respective communities and are specifically designed to empower Sailors to excel and advance in the Navy’s evolving landscape.”
A significant enhancement to this year’s review was the integration of Occupational Advancement Requirement Standards (OARS). OARS provides E3 Sailors with a structured method to document their rating competency and development at the E4 level within their specific rating. This addition further strengthens the LaDR as a comprehensive navy career tool, starting from the earliest stages of a Sailor’s career.
“This year marked the first comprehensive review of OARS by all 15 learning centers,” Smith noted. “This process allowed them to validate the accurate capture of all occupational standards within their rating-specific OARS. Furthermore, it provided our SMEs with a deeper understanding of OARS development, the procedures for updating rating OARS, and how OARS will directly contribute to the advancement of their Sailors.”
Access to LaDRs is readily available through multiple online platforms and a dedicated mobile application, ensuring Sailors can utilize this navy career tool wherever they are.
Sailors can access LaDRs via the MyNavy Portal website at https://my.navy.mil. By navigating to “Career & Life Events” in the top menu, selecting “Career Planning,” and then clicking “LaDR” in the left-hand menu, Sailors can easily find their specific roadmap. Importantly, MyNavy Portal is now accessible CAC-free on mobile devices after initial CAC login and setup.
Alt text: A U.S. Navy Sailor diligently reviews their Learning and Development Roadmap on a tablet via MyNavy Portal, utilizing this digital navy career tool for planning their professional development.
Navy Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL) also hosts LaDRs at https://www.cool.navy.mil/usn. Additionally, the Navy COOL app (available for Android and iOS) can be downloaded through the Navy App Locker, found within the Navy Advancement category at https://www.applocker.navy.mil. Navy COOL further provides resources to aid in understanding LaDRs, available at https://www.cool.navy.mil/usn/resources_and_links/understanding_your_ladr.htm.
Alt text: The Navy COOL website interface is displayed, highlighting the prominent access point for Sailors to find and utilize their Learning and Development Roadmaps, a key navy career tool.
Navy COOL is an integral part of the NETC Force Development team, which is dedicated to recruiting civilians and transforming them into combat-ready warfighters through world-class training. NETC provides continuous learning and development opportunities, ensuring the Navy remains prepared for both current and future challenges.
For further information on NETC, please visit https://www.netc.navy.mil. Stay updated on MyNavy HR Transformation initiatives, which are enhancing service delivery throughout a Sailor’s career lifecycle and improving fleet readiness, by following https://www.facebook.com/MyNAVYHR.
In conclusion, Learning and Development Roadmaps are a vital navy career tool, actively supported and regularly updated by the U.S. Navy to ensure Sailors have the resources they need for successful and fulfilling careers. By utilizing LaDRs, both Sailors and their leaders can strategically plan for professional growth, contributing to a more capable and ready naval force.
