Preparing for Your
Promotion
Board
MajGen R. L. Bailey,
USMC
Maj B. S. Taylor,
USMC
Agenda
• Authority
• Pre-board Actions
• Board Process
• General Info
• Areas of Concern
Authority
• Title 10, United States Code
- Chapter 36: Promotion, Separation, &
Involuntary Retirement of Officers on Active
Duty
- Chapter 1400: Promotion & Retention of
Officers on the Reserve Active-Status List
• Secretary of the Navy
- Process “owner”
Pre-Board Actions
Promotion Board Schedule
• Published in MARADMIN
– FY14 schedule: MARADMIN157/12
• Contains:
– Convening dates
– Personal responsibilities
• PME Cert in OMPF
• Photo
• Complete and Accurate record
– How & where to submit update material
– Address/Website/POC info
Officer Convening Notice
• Published in MARADMIN
• By law due at 30 days
• Contains:
– Promotion zones
– Personal Responsibilities
– Digital photos
– How & where to submit update material
– Address/Website/POC info
WHAT NOT TO LOOK LIKE
WHAT NOT TO LOOK LIKE
Officer Precepts
• Board Charter
– Membership
– Selection Opportunity
– Confidentiality
• SecNav Guidance
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–
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No Career Path
Skill Shortage
Continuation
Joint / Acquisition
PME
Adverse Information
Selection Criteria: “Best & Fully Qualified”
BOARD PROCESS
Board Membership
• Title 10 and SECNAVINST rules
• MMOA-3 coordinates via MCBUL 5420
• Reflects the composition of the Corps
– Aviator/Ground Combat/CSS mix
– Minority/female representation
– 50% rule for USMCR boards
–1 x MajGen
–20 x Cols
Population by Zone
Above
Zone
In
Zone
Below
Zone
Case Preparation
CASE
PREP
IN
OUT
BRIEF
FULL
PREP
BRIEF
/ VOTE
GOAL
1. Select to # Authorized to Select
2. Best & Fully Qualified
3. Majority Vote
• What’s in a case file?
- MBS, OMPF, & any communication from the
Officer
(Letter of Rec., photo, etc.)
• Cases assigned randomly
• Typically take 30-60 minutes to prepare
Case Preparation
AZ
IZ
BZ
• Full Prep of In Zone to
establish a baseline &
determine
Competitiveness
• Short Prep of AZ, then
BZ to determine
Competitiveness
relative to IZ
In/Out Voting
CASE
PREP
IN
OUT
BRIEF
FULL
PREP
BRIEF
/ VOTE
GOAL
1. Select to # Authorized to Select
2. Best & Fully Qualified
3. Majority Vote
• Briefing the Above Zone & Below Zone Population
• Determine “Premier” cases
- Short 2-3 minute brief of AZ cases
- 1 “Yes” Vote from any member makes you a “premier” case.
- Must brief all Above Zone
- Brief Below Zone by exception
Full Preparation
CASE
PREP
IN
OUT
BRIEF
FULL
PREP
BRIEF
/ VOTE
GOAL
1. Select to # Authorized to Select
2. Best & Fully Qualified
3. Majority Vote
• Remember we did a short Prep of AZ/BZ
cases?
• Time is allotted to ensure Premier Cases
have the same level of preparedness as In
Zone cases
Brief/Vote
CASE
PREP
IN
OUT
BRIEF
FULL
PREP
BRIEF
/ VOTE
GOAL
1. Select to # Authorized to Select
2. Best & Fully Qualified
3. Majority Vote
• Brief 8 to 10 minutes per case
• Vote
- Select to # Authorized to Select
- Criteria: “Best & Fully Qualified”
Briefing Guide
VOTING PROCESS
• Voting Criteria
– 1ST ROUND IS ALWAYS UNINAMOUS
– 21 – 0
• Board President sets voting criteria for
every iteration until desired allocation is
reached
What is Relative Value?
• RV is a numerical representation of how a single
fitness report compares to other reports written by
the same RS on Marines of the same grade
• RV= TOOL that displays RS’s marking philosophy
• RV should be used within the context of all other
information on the report
• RV=Common Language that translates the RS’s
Marking Philosophy (fitrep average ) by grade of
Marine reported on
• RV Levels the playing field among RSs reporting
on Marines of the same grade
20
20
How does RV Work?
•
First, you must calculate the Fitrep Average.
•
Each of 14 attributes has a value from A through
H:
A=1, B=2, C=3, D=4, E=5, F=6, G=7, H=Not
Observed
•
Avg. of all observed attributes=Fitrep Average
– i.e. a straight B report (28/14) = 2.0
•
Then, you calculate the Relative Value. Which
works off of a curve scaled from 80 to 100
Highest=100; lowest=80; average of all reports=
90
•
RS average (90) derived from the total value of
all observed reports divided by the total number
of observed reports
1.5+2.0+3.0+4.0+4.4+4.6+5.0/7=3.5
•
RS must process at least three reports on
Marines of the same grade before RV is
displayed on MBS
•
REMEMBER: Approximately Half of all
21
observed
fitreps (Sgt – LtCol) will be less than 90
RV
RS Average = 3.5
1.5 2.0
80
3.0
4.0 4.4 4.6 5.0
90
Below 90 RV
does NOT mean
Below Average Performance
100
What do the numbers mean?
• Board members are always briefed that the context of the particular
report is always important
• Relative Value
* 90 RV is not the magic #
– RV broken down into thirds
• Upper: 93.34 to 100
• Middle: 86.67 to 93.33
• Lower: 80.00 to 86.66
• Para 4006.4.b, “Grades are earned by the MRO’s displayed efforts
and apparent results; they are not given to attain a perceived fitness
report average or relative value”
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AREAS
OF
CONCERN
Communication to the Board
• Title 10 USC, § 614 & 14107 authorizes
"written communication to the board,
which the officer deems relevant.”
– Send one version only
– Must be signed by eligible officer.
– Must arrive by midnight the day BEFORE the
date the board convenes.
– Verify receipt on web-site
– OfficerPromotionSection@USMC.Mil
Tips on What to Send!
• Photo taken within the last 12 months
• Missing/Unreadable information from
OMPF/MBS
• Copy of your latest Fitness Report
• PME Cert’s for OMPF!
• Current Assignment/Duty Station
• Letters of Recommendation
• “Horse Blinder” Issues
Eligible Marines
• “Express Mail”
• Timely fitness report submission
• Accurate Section A
– Don’t GROW
• Photo rules per MARADMIN 003/09
• PME reflected on MBS and OMPF!
• Request Audit of record; MMSB-31
Command Reps
• Know your Marines
– Eligibility status
• Timely fitness report submission
• CMC White Letter 02-06: “Responsibilities
for Selection Board Preparation”
– http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/dmcs/Directives/White%20Letter
s/2006/02-06.pdf
In Summary!
• Familiarize yourself with the Promotion Schedule
• Read Convening MARADMINS
• Ensure OMPF & MBS are accurate & complete
• Submit a Photo; Ensure IAW MARADMIN 003/09
• Ensure documentation of PME completion /OMPF
• Communicate with the board on important issues
• Make sure the Promotion Branch received info
OFFICERS BOARD PREP
•
BE PREPARED
– Arrange For Audit Of Your Record W/MMSB In Advance
•
READ THE MARADMIN’s (“Board Schedule” & “Convening”)
–
–
–
–
–
•
Convene Dates
Promotion Zones
Instructions On Ordering/Updating Record (Viewable on MOL)
How And Where To Submit Update Material
How To Communicate W/The Board
AREAS OF CONCERN
– Timely Fitness Report Submissions to MMSB (Into OMPF) vs MMPR (As
Update Material)
– Ensure Photos IAW MarAdmin 003/09
– PME: Completion Certificate Must Be Present In OMPF
– Letters Of Recommendation…”May Help, Won’t Hurt”
•
YOUR PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE A COMPLETE &
ACCURATE RECORD IS BEFORE THE BOARD
FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
• Q: If I’m in the above zone, does a
letter from a GO/FO guarantee that my
case as premier?
• A: NO. Many factors go into
consideration to determine a premier
case.
FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
• Q: If I miss the deadline to mail
material to the board, what can I do?
• A: Depends on what it is.
Communication/Letters to the board will
not get in to the Board Room after the
deadline published in the
MARADMIN…HOWEVER…
QUESTIONS?
Tools
• Officer Promotion Video on MarineNet
• OMPF Online via MOL
• MCO 1400.31C: MARCORPROMMAN,
VOL 1, OFFPROM
• MCO 1610.7F: PERFORMANCE
EVALUATION SYSTEM
Points of Contact
• Mailing Address for Promotion Boards:
President FY1X USMC/R (rank) Selection Board
Harry Lee Hall
17 Lejeune Rd
Quantico, Va 22134
• Officer Promotion (MMPR-1):
Comm: (703) 784-9703/4/5/6
DSN:
278-9703
• Officer Counseling & Evaluation Section (MMOA-4)
Comm: (703) 784-9281/2/3 or 800 634-7988
•
Policy and Research Unit (MMSB-31)
Comm: (703) 784-5686 / 3997