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Marine Corps - Officer Promotion Process
Marine Corps - Officer Promotion Process

 
U.S.M.C. Officer Promotion Overview


USMC Officer
Promotion Links
  • Promotions
  • Selection Boards
  • Evaluations
  • Career Options
  • There are three elements to the officer promotion process: eligibility, selection, and promotion. Each is controlled by laws, regulations, and administrative procedures. These are interrelated and driven by:

    • Authorized strength- the number of officers in a particular category specified for a grade or combination of grades.
    • Promotion flow point- the number of years of commissioned service at which most officers would be promoted to the next higher grade.
    • Promotion percentage- the number of officers in the promotion zone to be selected.

      These factors are interrelated and cannot be separated from each other. A change in one will force a change in the others.
    Promotion Flow Point
    Rank
    Time in Service
    Time in Grade
    Process
    Success Rate
    02
    2 Years
    2 Years
    Fully Qualified
    Nearly 100%
    03
    4 Years
    2 Years
    Best Qualified-Selection Board
    95-100%
    04
    9-11 Years
    3 Years
    Best Qualified-Selection Board
    80%
    05
    15-17 Years
    3 Years
    Best Qualified-Selection Board
    70%
    06
    21-23 Years
    3 Years
    Best Qualified-Selection Board
    50%

    Marine Corps Officer Selection boards are composed of senior officers and are convened by the Secretary of Defense every year to select officers to ranks above 1st Lt. Selection boards are impartial and confidential. The selection board must submit its findings and recommendations, but not the reasons for its decisions.

    The selection board report for promotion to Colonel and below is approved by the Secretary of the Marine Corps. Selections to General Officer are approved by the President.

    The names of officers selected are announced and placed on a promotion list for each competitive category in order of seniority. The promotion becomes effective when a vacancy opens during the fiscal year following the year selected. A Marine Corps-wide message announces the officer's date of rank and establishes the date of pay, allowances, and obligations.