Promotion Boards
What is a “Don’t Pick Me” Promotion Board Letter? Why Would You Send One?
If you go to the Navy Active Duty Officer Promotions Page, you’ll find this at the bottom:
Sample “Don’t Pick Me” Letter to the Board
Removing the introductory portion, here is what the meat of this letter says:
- Per reference (a), please do not select me for promotion by the FY-[XX] [ActiveDuty Navy/Navy Reserve] [Grade] [Line/Staff Corps] [Competitive Category] Promotion Selection Board.
That’s it. All it says to the promotion board is, “Don’t pick me.”
Why would or should an officer send a letter requesting NOT to be considered by a promotion board? Here are a few reasons:
- You know that you are resigning/separating, not joining the Reserves, and will not be hanging around long enough to accept the promotion.
- You are an O4 or O5 who is retiring but you know that if selected for promotion you won’t accept it – Why would someone not accept a promotion? Because a promotion to O5 or O6 obligates you for 3 more years if you intend to retire. And the Navy still isn’t letting anyone get out early. If you want to get out as fast as possible with a 20 year retirement, taking a promotion to O6 in year 18 means you must stick around until year 21 at least.
So…if #1 or #2 above are applicable, consider sending a “Don’t Pick Me” letter. Make sure, though, that you are 100% POSITIVE that nothing in your situation will change. Lots of people who think they are going to get out, not join the Reserves, or want to retire right at 20 years later change their mind.
All the Posts About Letters to the Board in One Place
It is time to start writing letters to the O6 promotion board, so here are all the posts about letters to the board in one place…
The question most people ask me is answered in these posts:
Should You Send a Letter to the Promotion Board?
Do You Still Need to Send the Above Zone Letter?
The bottom line is:
Pretend that you did not send a letter to the board, the board is over, and you were not selected for promotion. Are you going to be kicking yourself for not sending the letter? If the answer is yes or maybe, then send the letter. As long as you keep it short and sweet, there is no real downside.
Frankly, I think that when officers send letters to promotion boards they are often just making themselves feel better, and there is nothing wrong with that. You want to make sure that when the promotion board results come out, no matter what happened, you feel like you did everything you could to get promoted.
Here is how to request a letter from the Medical Corps Chief:
How to Request a Letter to the Promotion Board from the Medical Corps Chief
Letters to promotion boards have a new due date. You can’t send them the day before the board anymore:
Letters to Promotion Boards Now Due 10 Calendar Days Before the Board
If you know you are getting out of the Navy and really don’t care about getting promoted, you should read this post:
What is a “Don’t Pick Me” Promotion Board Letter? Why Would You Send One?
Have you been on active duty for less than 1 year? Read this:
How to Be Considered for Promotion if You’ve Been on Active Duty for Less Than 1 Year
You now need to use your DoD ID number and not your Social Security number on letters to the board. Read this:
Use DoD ID Number and Not Your SSN on Letters to the Board
You can now submit letters electronically:
FY27 MSC Promotion Talking Points
I think all Corps can learn from this Word document:
How to Be Considered for Promotion if You’ve Been on Active Duty for Less Than 1 Year
The FY27 promotion board NAVADMIN was released. If you are in-zone or above-zone for an upcoming promotion board but you’ve been on active duty for less than 1 year, you should read paragraph #8:
8. In-zone and above-zone eligible officers in the grades of chief warrant officer 2/3/4, lieutenant, lieutenant commander, and commander, whose placement on the active-duty list is within one year of the convening dates of these boards, are automatically deferred unless they specifically request to be considered. The officer may waive this deferment and request consideration for promotion, in writing, emailed to NPC_Officer_SELBD_Elig_Waivers.fct@navy.mil or mailed to:
Commander, Navy Personnel Command (PERS-802)
5720 Integrity Drive
Millington, TN 38055-0000
For in-zone and above-zone eligible line officers in the grade of commander, the request must be received by PERS-802 not later than 2359 CST 15 days prior to the convening date of the respective board. For in-zone and above-zone eligible staff corps officers in the grade of commander, in-zone and above-zone eligible line and staff corps officers in the grade of lieutenant commander and lieutenant, and in-zone and above-zone chief warrant officers, the request must be received by PERS-802 not later than 2359 CST 30 days prior to the convening date of the respective board. Specifically:
Selection To – Convening Date – Due Date / Time
Staff Corps Captain – 10 FEB 26 – 10 JAN 26 / 2359 CST
Staff Corps Commander – 4 MAY 26 – 3 APR 26 / 2359 CST
Staff Corps Lieutenant Commander – 4 MAY 26 – 3 APR 26 / 2359 CST
What does this mean and why would it apply to you? Maybe you had prior service, you went to medical school, and now you’re a senior LT who is in-zone for LCDR right away. Maybe you did a civilian NADDS residency and you are in-zone right away for LCDR. Maybe you are a direct accession with entry grade credit for your experience.
If you believe you are in this position, and you wish to be considered for promotion to LCDR, CDR, or CAPT, do what it says above. Send the letter simply requesting this. Here is the template:
FY-27 Active-Duty Navy Officer Continuation Boards and Continuation Policy
This is the policy that governs what happens to people who fail to promote. I’ve highlighted the sections that are relevant to Navy Medicine personnel in this version of the NAVADMIN:
Notice of Convening FY-27 Active-Duty Navy Promotion Selection Boards – O4 Medical Corps Zone Size is Doubled!
Below is the NAVADMIN that sets FY-27 promotion board dates and official promotion zones. The most striking change, which I highlighted, is that the zone size for O4 Medical Corps is effectively doubled since instead of it being 1 year of officers it is almost 2 years worth. This means some O3 MC officers will be in zone a year before they previously would have been. Time to read chapter 3 of The Wealth Captain and get those records ready!
MedTalks Inaugural Episode Recording Now Available
The Corps Chief Office launched a new educational initiative, MedTalks, designed to provide valuable professional development insights to the community.
Episode #1: Promotion Preparation with CAPT Joel Schofer Recording: Available here on our MedTalks page
Topics for Future Episodes:
-Special Pays
-Benefits of Staying Navy
-Centralized Privileging
-Preparing for Deployment
MedTalks: CAPT Schofer Promotion Board Preparation – November 19th
The Corps Chief Office is launching a new educational initiative, MedTalks, designed to provide valuable professional development insights to the community.
Episode #1: Promotion Board Preparation (Presenter: CAPT Joel Schofer)
November 19th
0700-0730 and 1830-1900 EST
Microsoft Teams
Recording will be available on the Medical Corps MedTalks page after the sessions.
________________________________________________________________________________
Here’s the meeting info for the 1st session:
Meeting ID: 993 525 973 379
Passcode: ZD7U65ZT
Here’s the meeting info for the 2nd session:
Meeting ID: 993 948 079 079
Passcode: jk37ci6J
Joel Schofer's Career Planning Blog 