It's important to carefully review all of the following:
Current Copy of Officer Promotion Manual: Review this
to ensure you are up-to-date on the latest procedures and regulations
concerning Officer Promotions.
Officer Promotion Board Schedule Message: Although the
convening dates for boards are usually constant from year to year,
there are no guarantees. Don't miss your board because you assumed
it was going to be held the same time as last year.
Convening Message: This message formally announces the
convening of the board, along with the zones. It is released approximately
30 days prior to the board. This message will contain specific guidance
about the board, so it's important to read the entire message.
Get a copy of your OMPF and MBS within 12 months of the board:
It's important to review your OMPF and MBS early enough that you
have time to correct any problems that you discover. In some cases,
the RS or RO from years ago need to be located to get a copy of
a missing fitness report. Current instructions on how to order your
OMPF and MBS can be obtained at https://www.mmsb.usmc.mil. Problems
with the MMSB web site can be resolved at DSN: 278-3909 or Comm:
(703) 784-3909.
Review both the OMPF and MBS: Realize that the OMPF and MBS are two separate documents and
are not linked. It is possible for a fitness report to be listed
on the MBS but, not be in the OMPF, and vice versa. Carefully review
both for accuracy.
Review
a current copy of Officer Promotion Manual to ensure you are
up-to-date on the latest procedures and regulations concerning
Officer Promotions.
What to look for in the MBS: Only the New-Style MBS header information is being updated.
Old MBS's were archived and will not necessarily reflect your
correct current information. - Is the header information correct?
(Name, DOR, etc...)
Does the Special Information Block correctly reflect your current
billet? Board members like to see where you are right now (not
just HQSVCBN but the S-3, etc...). If missing, your S-1 can correct
it or you can communicate it to the board.
Is the Civilian Education correct?Does the matching diploma
appear in the OMPF? Corrections to the MBS are made via unit
diary - see your S-1.
Are the Awards correct? Do the awards and their citations appear
in the OMPF? Corrections to the MBS are made via unit diary
- see your S-1.
Do you hold a joint or acquisition additional MOS? (9957 / 8
/ 9) Is it listed on your MBS?
Are all your fitness reports as an Officer correctly listed? (although any fitness reports you might have received while
enlisted are still in your OMPF, they are omitted from the MBS)
Are the dates, occasions, and markings correctly listed?
What to look for in the OMPF:
Are all fitness reports present (back to when you were a Sgt,
2nd Lt, or W1) and readable? If not, contact MMSB to correct
the OMPF and send a copy directly to the board as a precaution.
Back pages of the old fitness reports that reflect rankings
are important -- make sure you can read them.
Are your awards and schools documented in your "C" fiche?
A copy of your award, school certificate, MCI, etc... should be
in your OMPF.
Communicate with the board:
Communicate with the board via letter on anything you think
is important. If it is not on your MBS or in your OMPF, then
the board CAN NOT VIEW IT! The MCI you finished last week, you
are in the Exceptional Member Family Program, just PCS'd to be
the MEU OPsO, etc... will not be visible to the board. This is
the best way to communicate information that you feel is important
directly to the board.
Written communication must come directly from the eligible
officer, must have a signed cover letter from the eligible
officer, and must arrive no later than 2400 the day the board
convenes.
Send a photo:
Send a photo. If you don't send a photo, the board could get one
of two impressions: you don't care enough about being selected to
send one, or that you are trying to hide something. If you are unable
for some reason to send a photo, communicate to the board as to
why not.
Review the Officer Promotions Website before calling: - The
Officer Promotion Section goes to great lengths to keep their Web
site as current as possible. Check to see if the answer to your
question is already available. Spread the word about the site, and
send recomendations for improvements.
