Promotion Boards
MC Chief Letter for O4 or O5 Board Requests – Due 1 March 2024
Packages will be submitted to the Medical Corps Chief’s Office from the CMO/TYCOM/Fleet Surgeon with CO endorsement to the MC Career Planner, CAPT Shauna O’Sullivan, with the Deputy Corps Chief, Captain Terri Allen. CC’ed for awareness. The packages will include:
i. Officer Summary Record (OSR)
ii. Performance Summary Record (PSR)
iii. Last two Fitreps
iv. Draft Letter for Admiral Valdes to sign if the officer is selected
·The Corps Chief’s Office will score and rank packages. The top 3 will be presented to RMDL Valdes for consideration.
·The Corps Chief will notify the command of the selected officer and provide the signed letter by RDML Valdes for records maintenance.
Language for Your FITREPs from the FY25 Promotion Board Precept
One of my most popular posts of all time remains a 2016 deconstruction of the promotion board precept and LCDR convening order to find language to use in your fitness reports (FITREPs). As the FY25 promotion boards kick off, here is the language that I think could be useful in the FY25 promotion board precept, which is at the bottom of this post:
Paragraph 3. b.
“a broad spectrum of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives”
“innovative and creative leaders”
“a mindset of continuous self-improvement”
“a desire to ‘Get Real, Get Better’ every day”
“show boldness”
“ability to think creatively, challenge assumptions, and take well-calculated risks to better prepare our Navy to win in combat”
Paragraph 4
“progressed in billet complexity, professional development, and leadership responsibility”
Paragraph 5. b.
“excelled in their knowledge of the politico-military affairs, U.S. strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region, and operational contingency planning for Indo-Pacific was plans”
Appendix B. 1. c. 7.
“a good example of virtue, honor, patriotism, and subordination”
“to promote and safeguard the morale, the physical well-being, and the general welfare of the officers and enlisted persons under their command or charge”
Here is the full precept:
FY25 O6 Promotion Opportunities
Now that the FY25 O6 promotion board has started, they released the Convening Order, inserted below. The promotion opportunities are (always found on page 2):
- Dental Corps – 92%
- Medical Corps – 90%
- Medical Service Corps – 70%
- Nurse Corps – 71%
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 a physician 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.
And remember, they are now due 10 days before a board convenes (not 24 hours like before).
Officer Photos No Longer Required Anywhere
They stopped displaying officer photos at promotion boards in 2020, but they were still required in your Official Military Personnel File (OMPF). Thanks to a reader, though, for pointing out that when you click on the Officer Photo portion of the BOL menu, you now get this:
Officer photos are no longer required anywhere!
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.
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:
How to Be Considered for Promotion if You’ve Been on Active Duty for Less Than 1 Year
The FY25 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 URL/RL Captain 10 JAN 24 25 DEC 23 / 2359 CST Staff Corps Captain 6 FEB 24 6 JAN 24 / 2359 CST URL/RL Commander 13 FEB 24 13 JAN 24 / 2359 CST Staff Corps Commander 29 APR 24 29 MAR 24 / 2359 CST Staff Corps Lieutenant Commander 29 APR 24 29 MAR 24 / 2359 CST URL/RL Lieutenant Commander 6 MAY 24 6 APR 24 / 2359 CST Chief Warrant Officer 5/4/3/2 3 JUN 24 3 MAY 24 / 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. There might be other situations that would put you in this position, like getting time-in-grade credit for other experience.
If you believe you are in this position, here is what I’d do:
- Confirm you are in-zone or above-zone. How can you do this? The easiest way if you are MC is to read Chapter 2 of the Promo Prep. Or you can use your date or rank and the zones spelled out in this NAVADMIN. Or you can hunt down your Corps’ lineal list, which are probably floating around as they are usually released in mid-DEC.
- If you wish to be considered for promotion to LCDR, CDR, or CAPT, do what it says above. Send the letter simply requesting this. It can probably be a very short letter. There is no need to be verbose.
- Also, here is a great article on this topic from the August 2018 Medical Corps Newsletter:
Notice of Convening FY-25 Active-Duty Navy Officer Continuation Selection Boards and Announcement of Continuation Policy
CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//
ROUTINE
R 061601Z DEC 23 MID120000699424U
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC
TO NAVADMIN
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC
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UNCLAS
NAVADMIN 291/23
PASS TO OFFICE CODES:
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
MSGID/NAVADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/DEC//
SUBJ/NOTICE OF CONVENING FY-25 ACTIVE-DUTY NAVY OFFICER CONTINUATION
SELECTION BOARDS AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF CONTINUATION POLICY//
REF/A/10 U.S.C., SECTION 632
REF/B/10 U.S.C., SECTION 8323
NARR/REF A IS UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 10, SECTION 632.
REF B IS UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 10, SECTION 8323.
RMKS/1. This NAVADMIN announces the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Active- Duty Navy
Officer Continuation Selection Boards. The FY-25 Active- Duty Navy Officer
Continuation Selection Boards will convene, when required, immediately
following the corresponding FY-25 Active-Duty Navy Officer and Chief Warrant
Officer Promotion Selection Boards.
Eligible officers on the Active-Duty List (ADL) who are fully qualified to
remain on active duty and meet the requirements in paragraphs 2 through 6
will be considered for continuation.
- Captains (CAPT) in the unrestricted line (URL) officer competitive
category who have a specific designation as acquisition workforce (AW)
members will be considered for continuation.
Eligible officers on the ADL who are not on a rear admiral (lower
half) promotion list and who meet the requirements in subparagraph 2a will be
considered for expanded continuation.
a. CAPT URL officers who are AW members with 28 or more years of active
commissioned service on the convening date of the board and hold one or more
of the following additional qualification designation (AQD) codes:
(1) AA3 or AA4 Program Management
(2) AG3 Production, Quality, and Manufacturing
(3) AS3 Engineering
b. Officers selected by these boards will be continued to 33 years of
active commissioned service, subject to the statutory maximum age requirement
of 62 years. These expanded continuation boards are part of the Navy “Up and
Stay” initiative. - Lieutenant commander (LCDR) URL, restricted line (RL) and staff corps
(limited duty officers (LDO) continuation policy is promulgated in paragraph
5):
a. Twice failure of selection (2XFOS) LCDRs with 14 to 18 years of
active service (YOAS) on the date of mandatory discharge.
Officers selected for continuation will be continued until eligible for
retirement at the completion of 20 YOAS.
b. 2xFOS LCDRs with less than 14 YOAS on the date of mandatory
discharge. Officers selected for continuation will be continued for a period
of 3 years.
c. 2xFOS LCDRs with 18 or more YOAS, in line with reference (b), will
not be considered for continuation, but will be retained on active-duty until
retirement eligible at 20 YOAS.
d. 2xFOS URL 1310 aviators with primary additional qualification
designations (AQD) of professional flight instructor
(DIP) or DA5/DA7/DB2/DB5/DB6/DD1/DH3/DL3/DS2 (TACAIR), Chaplain Corps (CHC),
Cyber Warfare Engineer (CWE), Foreign Area Officer (FAO), Information
Professional (IP), Maritime Space Officer (MSO), Medical Corps (MC), Nurse
Corps (NC) and Supply Corps (SC) LCDRs will be considered for continuation
who would statutorily retire in
FY-25 with 20 YOAS. URL 1310 aviators with primary AQDs of DIP or
DA5/DA7/DB2/DB5/DB6/DD1/DH3/DL3/DS2 (TACAIR), CWE, FAO, IP, and SC officers
selected for continuation will be continued for a period of
3 years to 23 YOAS. CHC, MSO, MC, and NC officers selected for continuation
will be continued until the last day of the month in which the officer
completes 24 YOAS.
e. In no case will any LCDR be continued or retained beyond the last day
of the month in which the officer becomes 62 years of age. - Lieutenant (LT) Aerospace Engineering Duty Officer (AEDO), CHC, CWE,
Cryptologic Warfare (CW), Dental Corps (DC), FAO, Intelligence Officer
(INTEL), IP, Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAGC), MC, Medical Service Corps
(MSC), MSO, NC, and SC will follow the below as applicable:
a. 2XFOS LTs covered in paragraph 4 with less than 18 YOAS and selected
for continuation will be continued for a period of three years, but not
beyond retirement eligibility at 20 YOAS.
b. 2XFOS LTs covered in paragraph 4 with 18 or more YOAS, in line with
references (a) and (b), will not be considered for continuation, but will
instead be retained on active-duty until retirement eligible at 20 YOAS.
c. In no case will any 2xFOS LTs covered in paragraph 4 be continued or
retained beyond the last day of the month in which the officer becomes
eligible for retirement under reference (b) or the last day of the month in
which the officer becomes 62 years of age, whichever is earlier. - Commander (CDR), LCDR, and LT LDOs:
a. All LDOs selected for promotion in FY-25 who are subject to mandatory
retirement for YOAS prior to their scheduled promotion dates and/or prior to
completing the time-in-grade (TIG) necessary to retire in the next higher
grade after promotion will be considered for continuation. If selected,
these officers will be continued for a period sufficient to allow them to
accept promotion and, as required, attain sufficient TIG to retire at the
higher grade.
b. All LDOs who are on active duty at the time when the promotion board
meets and are considered in zone for promotion and who are subject to
mandatory retirement for YOAS prior to the end of
FY-24 will be considered for continuation. If selected, these officers will
be continued for a period sufficient to allow them to accept promotion and,
as required, attain sufficient TIG to retire at the higher grade or, if not
selected for promotion, until the end of FY-24. - Chief Warrant Officers (CWO):
a. All CWOs selected for promotion in FY-25 who are subject to mandatory
retirement for YOAS prior to their scheduled promotion dates and/or prior to
completing the TIG necessary to retire in the next higher grade after
promotion will be considered for continuation. If selected, these officers
will be continued for a period sufficient to allow them to accept promotion
and complete the minimum TIG for retirement to the next higher CWO grade.
b. All CWOs who are on active duty at the time the promotion board meets
and are considered in zone and who are subject to mandatory retirement for
YOAS prior to the end of FY-24, will be considered for continuation. If
selected, these officers will be continued for a period sufficient to allow
them to accept promotion and complete the minimum TIG for retirement to the
next higher CWO grade. All CWOs who are not selected for promotion to the
next higher CWO grade will be continued on active duty, until the end of FY-
24. - Officers on the ADL who meet any of the criteria in paragraphs 2 through
6 must check BUPERS Online, via MyNavy Portal (MNP) at
https://my.navy.mil/quick-links.html, after release of the respective
promotion selection ALNAV message, to determine if they were selected for
continuation. Once logged into BUPERS Online, click on
Advancements/Selection Boards and then on the appropriate officer
(Promotion/Continuation) board to determine the results. - Promotion selection board convening dates are as follows:
a. The FY-25 Active-Duty Navy O-6 Line Promotion Selection Board
convenes 10 January 2024. The FY-25 Active-Duty Navy O-5 LDO Line
Continuation Selection board will follow this board.
b. The FY-25 Active-Duty Navy O-6 Staff Promotion Selection Board
convenes 6 February 2024. The FY-25 Active-Duty Navy O-5 LDO Staff
Continuation Selection Board will follow this board.
c. The FY-25 Active-Duty Navy O-5 Line Promotion Selection Board
convenes 13 February 2024. The FY-25 Active-Duty Navy O-4 Line and LDO
Continuation Selection Board will follow this board.
d. The FY-25 Active-Duty Navy O-5 Staff Promotion Selection Board
convenes 29 April 2024. The FY-25 Active-Duty Navy O-4 Staff and LDO
Continuation Selection Board will follow this board.
e. The FY-25 Active-Duty Navy O-4 Staff Promotion Selection Board
convenes 29 April 2024. The FY-25 Active-Duty Navy O-3 Staff and LDO
Continuation Selection boards will follow this board.
f. The FY-25 Active-Duty Navy O-4 Line Promotion Selection Board
convenes 6 May 2024. The FY-25 Active-Duty Navy O-3 Line and LDO
Continuation Selection Boards will follow this board.
g. The FY-25 Active-Duty Navy CWO3/CWO4/CWO5 Promotion Selection Boards
convene 3 Jun 2024. The FY-25 Active-Duty Navy
CWO2/CWO3/CWO4 Continuation Selection Boards will follow these boards.
h. The FY-26 Active O-7 Line and Staff Promotion Selection Board
convenes 17 September 2024. The FY-26 Active O-6 Expanded Continuation
Selection Board will follow this board. - Correspondence addressed to the promotion selection board will not be
forwarded to a subsequent continuation selection board for consideration.
Officers must communicate with each board separately. - Only eligible officers may communicate with a continuation selection
board via the letter to the board (LTB) process. NAVADMIN
220/19 announced the introduction of a new application known as Electronic
Submission of Selection Board Documents (ESSBD), accessible through My Navy
Portal (MNP). ESSBD improves the speed, transparency and confidence of
receipt over current LTB submission methods, such as hard copy and e-mail
submitted letters and related attachments.
a. ESSBD is available for all promotion, advancement and selection
boards.
b. ESSBD provides board candidates with the capability to electronically
submit LTBs in a standard, consistent format, with or without attachments and
will allow the candidate to see (for content and clarity) exactly what will
be delivered and presented to the board.
c. To utilize ESSBD, candidates must access document services through
MNP at https://my.navy.mil/quick-links.html.
On-screen instructions will direct the submitter thereafter.
d. Submission and subsequent receipt acknowledgement for LTBs submitted
via ESSBD or other means does not constitute confirmation of eligibility for
the boards to which LTBs are submitted. If required, a full visual user
guide is available through MNP at https://my.navy.mil/quick-links.html.
e. LTBs must be received by Navy Personnel Command no later than 2359
(central standard time) (CST) 10 days prior to the convening date of the
respective board, as noted below. Submitters are cautioned to not wait until
the deadline date to submit LTBs via ESSBD or other available avenues.
Continuation For Convening Date Due Date/Time
URL/RL/LDO CDR 10 JAN 24 30 DEC 23/2359 CST
Staff Corps/LDO CDR 6 FEB 24 26 JAN 24/2359 CST
URL/RL/LDO LCDR 13 FEB 24 2 FEB 24/2359 CST
Staff Corps/LDO LCDR 29 APR 24 18 APR 24/2359 CST
Staff Corps/LDO LT 29 APR 24 18 APR 24/2359 CST
URL/RL/LDO LT 6 MAY 24 25 APR 24/2359 CST
CWO 4/3/2 3 JUN 24 23 MAY 24/2359 CST
URL/RL CAPT 17 SEP 24 6 SEP 24/2359 CST
f. If unable to use ESSBD, the CSCSELBOARD@navy.mil mailbox account is
capable of receiving encrypted correspondence in accordance with Department
of Defense policy. If sending a board package from a non-NMCI network
(bumed.mil, eu.navy.mil, etc.), please review procedures listed in NAVADMIN
220/19.
g. The written communication may call attention to the board, any matter
concerning the record of the officer that the officer considers important.
Written communication may include, as enclosures, correspondence from any
individual concerning the eligible officer. Correspondence not originated by
the eligible officer, including endorsement to the letter of the eligible
officer and letters written on behalf of that officer, must contain a written
acknowledgement by the eligible officer that he or she desires such
correspondence be presented to the board.
Correspondence without such an acknowledgement is considered third party
correspondence and will be rejected without being presented to the board.
Classified correspondence will not be accepted. - All officers are reminded of their responsibility to ensure the
completeness and accuracy of their official records prior to the convening
date of the board. - Questions regarding LTB submission and continuation should be directed
to MyNavy Career Center (MNCC) by calling 1-833-330-MNCC
(1-833-330-6622/DSN: 882-6622) or e-mailing ASKMNCC@navy.mil. - Additional information concerning continuation is also available via MNP
at https://www.mnp.navy.mil/group/mnpmain
promotion/p-officer-promotion-resources-and-links, then click on the Websites
side (vice Systems side) of the blue header. Once on the Websites side, you
will see the NPC Promotion Boards link. Click on the NPC Promotion Boards
link, then click on the Officer Continuation/SERB link on the left hand side. - This NAVADMIN will remain in effect until superseded or 30 September
2025, whichever occurs first. - Released by Vice Admiral Richard J. Cheeseman Jr., N1.//
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