Final answer:
The amendment to the Career Compensation Act of 1949 created senior and master chief petty officer paygrades in the Navy to provide increased compensation and recognition for senior enlisted personnel.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1958, the Career Compensation Act of 1949 was amended for a significant reason. This amendment led to the creation of the senior chief and master chief petty officer pay grades in the United States Navy. It was implemented not to reduce personnel numbers, create new administrative positions, or align with Marine Corps ranks, but specifically to provide increased compensation and recognition for senior enlisted personnel.
Recognizing the levels of competency, skill, and experience that senior enlisted service members bring to the Navy, this change in the Navy's structure aimed to establish a fair and motivating compensation system akin to what is seen in the U.S. Federal General Schedule, where different grades and steps reflect levels of education and specialized experience required for civil service positions, with appropriate pay scales.