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With the selection board season underway, Sailors worldwide are once again focused on preparing their records. Even as they do their part to show board members they have what it takes to be selected for the next higher pay grade, the men and women of Navy Personnel Command’s Career Progression Division are doing theirs, ensuring the sanctity of the selection process and the privacy of Sailors’ records.
“The goal of the Boards Division is for every officer and enlisted Sailor to understand how the selection board process works,” said Capt. David Neal, the Career Progression Division director.
One of the most challenging aspects of the process Sailors often wonder about is the secrecy involved in board deliberations. According to Neal, all selection board members take an oath to perform their duties without prejudice or partiality. They also vow to never discuss those specific actions with anyone outside the board spaces. This commitment to confidentiality allows board members to have frank and honest discussions about records and a Sailor’s suitability for the next rank.
“Selection boards review the records of every eligible candidate to include correspondence submitted via a letter to the board,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jason McClinton, Branch Head, Enlisted Promotion Boards & Advancements. “The records of each eligible candidate contains sensitive personally identifiable information and some eligible candidates have highly sensitive adverse and privileged information.”
“We have an obligation to safeguard PII,” said Neal. “That’s on top of ensuring the sanctity of the board process. Just as you wouldn’t want the whole world to know what a selection board discussed about your record, other Sailors deserve the same privacy and consideration.”
After board deliberations wrap up, the results are validated and checked by three independent reviewers including the board’s head recorder, an assistant recorder, and selection board sponsor. After validation, the final record of proceedings is routed to the final disposition authority – after going through multiple post-board reviewers – before being officially published. For some Sailors, however, such privacy measures make it hard to understand what the board was considering. According to McClinton, each year approximately 17,000 Active and Reserve Sailors hoping to make Chief do not get selected. Furnishing tailored and individualized feedback to each of those Sailors – and not break the oath – would be extraordinarily difficult.
“The appropriate method for Sailors that do not select for promotion or advancement to receive feedback for improvement is through a career development board,” he said. CDBs should be conducted utilizing the board precept and convening order and the applicable Enlisted Career Path, a key supporting document board members utilize to help understand different rates and what is considered crucial for advancement. These tools, together with mentorship from those who have sat on selection boards and counseling Sailors receive both at evaluation time and during midterm performance counseling, will go a long way in making Sailors competitive at future boards.
For more information on selection boards, visit www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Career-Management/Boards/.
| Date Taken: | 03.21.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 03.21.2022 12:10 |
| Story ID: | 416826 |
| Location: | MILLINGTON, TENNESSEE, US |
| Web Views: | 1,507 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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