promotion boards
Opinion – Playing Politics with Military Promotions
BLUF – The article argues that recent interventions by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Navy and Air Force flag officer promotion lists represent a challenge to the military’s traditional merit-based promotion system, contending that political considerations are increasingly influencing senior leader selection. The author warns that perceived departures from established promotion processes could erode trust in the officer personnel system, affect retention of high-performing leaders, and raise concerns about the long-term health of the military leadership pipeline.
Opinion – Thoughts on Secretary Hegseth’s Removal of Admiral and Generals From Promotion Lists
BLUF – The author, a former Air Force General Counsel who advised promotion boards, argues that Secretary Hegseth’s removal of officers from Navy and Air Force flag promotion lists is an unprecedented departure from the military’s longstanding merit-based promotion process and risks introducing political considerations into officer advancement. He contends that the action could undermine confidence in the promotion system, weaken the tradition of a nonpartisan military, and create uncertainty among senior officers about whether factors other than performance and qualifications will influence promotion decisions.
https://notesfortheperplexed.substack.com/p/thoughts-on-secretary-hegseths-removal
FY27 O4 and O5 Convening Orders and Promotion Opportunities
The FY27 O4 and O5 promotion board convening orders are out, and I posted them at the bottom of this post. Here are the promotion opportunities:
O4
O5
My Navy Career Center and Promotion Board E-mail Addresses Changing
AskMNCC Email Inbox Upgrade: MyNavy Career Center’s (MNCC) customer service inbox address is now AskMNCC@us.navy.mil (formerly @navy.mil). Update your notes to reflect the new inbox address and use it moving forward. You can still call MNCC at (833) 330-MNCC (6622) or chat with an agent via MyNavy Portal anytime, 24/7.
Selection Board Email Inbox Upgrade: MyNavy Career Center’s (MNCC) selection board inbox address is now HRSCSELBOARD@us.navy.mil (formerly CSCSELBOARD@navy.mil). Update your notes to reflect the new inbox address and use it moving forward. Electronic Submission of Selection Board Documents (ESSBD) is the preferred method for submitting board correspondence. You can still call MNCC at (833) 330-MNCC (6622) or chat with an agent via MyNavy Portal anytime, 24/7.
FY27 Staff Corps O6 Promotion Board Opportunities and Convening Order
The FY27 Staff Corps O6 Promotion Board convening order has been released and can be found on this page and below. On page 2, you will find the promotion board opportunities:
Here is the full document:
Medical Corps Promotion Flow Points Starting This Fiscal Year
This announcement clarifies an update to the promotion flow points for Medical Corps officers, effective this promotion cycle. Previously, the usual expected flow point for medical officer promotion to LCDR, CDR, and CAPT occurred at 6 years of being in the ranks of LT, LCDR, and CDR, respectively. Starting with this year, the new flow point for promotion to LCDR will occur at 5 years of being an LT. Promotion to CDR and CAPT will still be expected after 6 years of being LCDR and CDR.
The overall effect is that medical officers who put on LT in 2022 and after, promotion to LCDR, CDR, and CAPT will each occur 1 year earlier than previously designed:
| Promotion To | Previous Flow Point | New Flow Point |
| LCDR | 6 Years as LT | 5 Years as LT |
| CDR | 6 Years as LCDR | 6 Years as LCDR |
| CAPT | 6 Years as CDR | 6 Years as CDR |
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:
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