BOSSES KNOW that to motivate high-flying employees, it pays to give them goals that force them to spread their wings, to stretch for what's possible.

Then there's the Navy.

Since the earliest days of the nation's space program, Navy folks have been among NASA's best and brightest. Alan Shepard, the first American in space, came out of a Navy jet.

Now, facing a shortage in several specialties, the Navy brass has told some of its most accomplished people that there's no sense in aspiring to a rocket. Among the excluded, according to The New York Times: SEALs, engineers, professors, explosive ordnance disposal experts.

The Navy initially planned to offer up just five people to become astronauts this year, then made it 50. In the past 15 years, the Navy has always nominated at least 105.

"Officially, we are a very enthusiastic supporter of the NASA program," said a spokesman, who apparently has unusual definitions of "enthusiastic" and "supporter."

Aspiring to become an astronaut has long been one of the perks of being the best in the military. Though NASA is a civilian agency, it has always recruited soldiers and sailors for what they bring to the program.

But with the nation at war and the Pentagon struggling to keep highly skilled billets filled, the Navy decided it couldn't afford to let so many sailors dream of the stars.

While the Navy may be able to keep sailors in place by denying them a chance at the space program, that will only work so long.

These are some of the most talented, ambitious men and women to ever collect a pay check from the U.S. government. By shutting off such an attractive avenue for advancement, the Navy gives some of them no choice but to leave to find opportunity. When that happens, not only does the Navy lose its brightest talent, but so does NASA, and so does the nation.