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How to Evaluate the Promotion Potential of a Billet/Position
Recently I advertised the USUHS Commandant position. A reader asked:
Any thoughts on whether you think this is a position that would make an O5 competitive for O6?
This is a common issue. A position is advertised, but you want to know if it will help get your promoted to O5 or O6 if you take it. Here is how I’d evaluate that situation.
First, you need to contact the incumbent in that position now, if possible. You’re going to need information that they have.
Now that you’ve contacted that person, you need to ask them some questions:
- Did they or anyone before them promote to O5/O6 while they were in the position or shortly thereafter? In other words, has taking the position led to promotion for those who’ve already done it? If the answer is yes, that is telling and indicative that the position advances people’s careers. If the answer is no, you should probably look elsewhere for a career advancing position.
- How large is their competitive group on their fitreps? You want a position with a large competitive group so that you can perform well and break out to the right with MP and EP fitreps. Competitive EP fitreps are probably the #1 most important ingredient for successful promotion, so if the position has a small competitive group or leads to a 1/1 fitrep, it would be a mark against that position’s potential to get you promoted.
- Were they able to get EP fitreps? They might not tell you this, but if they are willing to give you this info it can help you gauge the potential for you to get EP fitreps while doing the job.
- What do your mentors think about you taking the position? We all need mentors, and I always ask mine what they think when a potential position is in my crosshairs. If they don’t think it is a good idea, I usually pass on it.
That’s it. Those are the things I’d look at when trying to evaluate whether or not a position will help you get promoted. Most of the information needs to come from the incumbent or people who have previously done the job.
My Miked Up Blog Guest Post – Shortly Thereafter, Things Started to Explode
If you’re interested in reading my guest post on the Miked Up Blog about four of the best and worst moments of my life, you can check it out here:
New Instruction Governing the Appointment of Regular and Reserve Officers in the Medical Corps
If you know anyone trying to figure out all the rules and regulations associated with joining the Active and Reserve Medical Corps, they should read the new instruction:
OPNAVINST 1120.4C – Appointment of Regular and Reserve Officers in the Medical Corps of the Navy
FY19 CO/XO Slate
The FY19 CO/XO slate came out a few days ago, but it is CAC-protected everywhere and therefore I can’t post it. It can be found in the upper left corner on this site but make sure you pick the e-mail certificate or it won’t open:
https://es.med.navy.mil/bumed/m00/m00c/M00C1/SitePages/Home.aspx
Brief Update on FY19 Special Pays
Here’s a brief update on FY19 special pays from BUMED:
Ladies and Gentleman, appreciate if you could please get the word out to your Corps. The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs [ASD(HA)] pay plan was signed on 26 Sep 2018, but the Navy Pay Guidance has not been signed. Any special pays requests effective 1 Oct 2018 or later cannot be submitted until the Navy’s Special Pays NAVADMIN has been released, which is not expected until possibly sometime in December 2018.
Thank you!
SEMPER FI!
William L. “Bill” Marin
Program Manager, Navy Medical Special Pays Program
New BUMED Instruction for Reservist Subspecialty Codes and AQDs
Those transitioning to the Reserves or already in the Reserves may want to read this new instruction on subspecialty codes and additional qualification designators (AQDs):
BUMEDINST 1001.2C – RESERVE OFFICER CLASSIFICATION, SUBSPECIALTY, AND QUALIFICATION DESIGNATOR CODES
Finance Friday Articles
I’ve been sharing personal finance articles on Friday, most of which came from the other blog I wrote on called Military Millions. Last week we decided to shut it down. As a result, I’ll start sharing some of my own writing as well as other articles I find that are particularly relevant to the readers of MCCareer.org. Enjoy!
Financial CME #4: Test Your Knowledge
How Often Can You Buy the Dip in Housing?
Income is the Wrong Goal for Your Clients
President Trump Signs Defense Spending Bill That Includes 2.6 Percent Military Pay Raise
Will The Cost Of Financial Advising Drop Like Other Fees In The Financial Services Industry?
2019 Version of Promo Prep Available
Every year after the promotion boards I do a major update of my Promo Prep document. I update images and statistics, check links, and update the appendices. I also add new things, like the reappearance of photos at promotion boards.
I am happy to tell you that the 2019 version is done, and the most recent version of the Officer Record Management Document is posted as well. Both can be found on the Joel Schofer’s Promo Prep page. If you haven’t started updating your record for next year’s promotion boards, you need to start now. It takes a few months.
As always, if you find any issues with the document, contact me.
Sleep and Orthopedic Program Director Positions – SAUSHEC, San Antonio, TX
If you are interested in these positions, the POC is CDR Melissa Austin at BUMED (e-mail address is in the global). They want the selectee for both positions to arrive by JAN 2019.
Here are the PDFs that were uploaded for each:
ForeignPolicy.com – America’s Elite Needs to Get Back in Uniform
Here’s an interesting article from ForeignPolicy.com:
Joel Schofer's Career Planning Blog 