Promo Prep Document
The Updated FY26 Promo Prep is Now Chapter 3 in The Wealthy Captain!
This blog has been primarily about three things:
- Helping you advance your career
- Personal finance
- Keeping you in the know
I’m going to combining #1 and #2 into a new resource called The Wealthy Captain: Your Guide to Becoming One. This means that the document that used to be called “The Promo Prep” or “Joel Schofer’s Promo Prep” is now Chapter 3 in The Wealthy Captain.
There will come a time when I no longer can do this blog, so my plan is to slowly but surely turn The Wealthy Captain into a lasting resource with timeless advice. For now, it is a very short 30 page or so e-book, but as I work through all the content I’ve written in the last 10 years, my hope is that it will become much more than that.
Don’t worry. I’ll make sure that everyone can easily find what they are looking for as I slowly update things. In other words, I’ll keep the Promo Prep tab on the blog since people are used to going there. But there will now be a Wealthy Captain tab as well.
The FY26 promotion boards are coming. Happy preparing!
MC Continuous Symposium – Promo Prep with CAPT Schofer (Me!) – 11/29/2023 12:00 PM Eastern
Please join me for the next MC Continuous Symposium. I’ve updated my Promotion Preparation presentation for FY25 promotion boards:
Or call in (audio only)
+1 410-874-6747,,488577772# United States, Odenton
Phone Conference ID: 488 577 772#
MC Continuous Symposium – My FY25 Promo Prep Talk – 11/29/2023 at 12:00 PM Eastern
Please join me for the next Medical Corps Continuous Symposium as I give my updated FY25 Promo Prep presentation:
https://dod.teams.microsoft.us/l/meetup-join/19%3adod%3ameeting_e09a91a19c9a47d59fa51da74896be0b%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%228903a443-af33-4ed4-acf5-ee613bcb2f59%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%2253885b3a-1742-45f1-af24-ba456b7527c1%22%7dOr call in (audio only)
+1 410-874-6747,,488577772# United States, Odenton
Phone Conference ID: 488 577 772#
Fitrep Update for Upcoming O4/O5 Promotion Boards
Here’s the quick summary of a recent and somewhat lengthy e-mail PERS sent out about the current state of FITREPs and promotion boards. I have removed all the extraneous info and boiled it down to only two items that summarize the whole e-mail:
- They are about 3-4 months behind on uploading FITREPs.
- If you look at your Performance Summary Record (PSR) and do not see a FITREP that you received, you will need to submit it via a letter to the board.
All of the info to review your PSR and figure out your letter to the board is in the Promo Prep.
Upcoming Promo Board Prep Session – Microsoft Teams – 21 OCT at 1200 EDT

Barring technical difficulties, the session will be recorded and available on YouTube and on this blog.
2023 Promo Prep Update
For those of you looking for the updated Promo Prep for next year’s promotion boards, you can find it here. As changes occur, I’ll update it (as usual), but this one should be ready for those looking to start early on their records:
2022 Promo Prep for FY23 Promotion Boards is Live!
The 2022 edition of Joel Schofer’s Promo Prep for FY23 promotion boards as well as the FY23 screencast video can be found on this page.
2021 Promotion Board Prep Available
The updated 2021 version of Joel Schofer’s Promotion Board Prep can be found here. I was planning on putting it on Amazon as a free e-book, so I put it into the Amazon book template, but apparently you can’t list a book on Amazon for free. Oh well!
Download it on this page as much as you like (for free).
Updated Awards Section in Promo Prep
I’m slowly but steadily working on the 2021 version of the Promo Prep and Fitrep Prep, but because Navy Personnel Command retired NDAWS (awards.navy.mil) and now uses BOL for awards, the awards section needed to be updated. The version with the updated awards section has been uploaded to the Promo Prep page.
Bottom Line – If your awards are accurate on your OSR, there is no action to take. If they are not, have fun!
New Process to Add Degrees to Your Record
Thanks to the Detailers for sending me this update. Below and in the just updated Promo Prep are the new procedures for adding degrees to your record:
To have your formal education updated, the official transcripts must come directly from the school to the office below. They can be delivered electronically as long as the school uses a secure delivery system such as eScript/Parchment to JST@DODED.MIL or they can be mailed to:
NETC N644
JST Ops Center
6490 Saufley Field Road
Pensacola, Florida 32509
Before sending the transcripts, you must contact the Joint Services Transcript Operations Center (JST OPS) at JST@DODED.MIL, advising them that you are having an official transcript mailed to them directly from the academic institution for the purpose of adding it to your Joint Services Transcript (JST). You are to provide your name, last four of your SSN, and either your e-mail or phone number so that they can reach you should there be any questions.
To see if the degrees have been added, please check the ACADEMIC page or the INQUIRIES tab on the JST website before contacting the office to see if the degree has been added. Please wait a minimum of 10 business days before contacting the JST office to see if they have received the degree.
The JST website can be found at https://jst.doded.mil/jst/.