Chapter 5 Navy Enlisted Advancement System (NEAS)

CHAPTER 5 NAVY ENLISTED ADVANCEMENT SYSTEM (NEAS) The Navy Enlisted Advancement System (NEAS) is the most formal advancement system of the armed services. It is unlike any of the other services. The majority of Navy advancement opportunities depend on each member’s final multiple score in a Navywide competitive advancement cycle. The final multiple score measures whether the person as a whole is qualified for advancement. The score is based on a combination of the person’s performance, experience, and knowledge. Persons cannot be advanced to paygrades E-4, E-5, E-6, or E-7 without taking an advancement examination, except for those enrolled in special programs. Petty officer examinations consist of 150 questions. Generally, 135 questions pertain to the rating and 15 questions pertain to general military subjects. Candidates for Chief petty officer (E-7) take t h e e x a m t o b e c o m e S E L E C T I O N B O A R D ELIGIBILE (SBE). E-7 candidates are designated SBE if their final multiple score (FMS) is in the top 60 percent for their rating. Personnel in paygrades E-2, E-3, E-8, and E-9 do not take Navywide examinations for advancement. T h e N a v a l M i l i t a r y P e r s o n n e l M a n u al (MILPERSMAN) gives commanding officers the authority to advance qualified enlisted personnel to E-2 and E-3 without numerical limitations. No exam is required for advancement to E-2. However, commands have the option of administering E-3 apprenticeship exams for AN, FN, and SN. E-8 and E-9 candidates are designated SBE on the basis of their commanding officer’s recommendation. The Naval Education and Training Professional Development and Technology Center (NETPDTC), Pensacola, Florida, develops, publishes, and distributes Navywide advancement-in-rate examinations. Chief petty officers from each Navy rating at NETPDTC, develop challenging examinations that afford enlisted personnel Navywide equal opportunities to compete for advancement with all others in their respective ratings and rates. For example, a Boatswain’s Mate second class (BM2) serving in the Far East and a BM2 serving in the Mediterranean will take an identical Boatswain’s Mate first class (BM1) advancement examination on the same day. Before personnel can take part in a Navywide competitive examination, appear before any selection board, or be advanced, the commanding officer must recommend them for advancement. The educational services officer (ESO) should ensure personnel are fully qualified for advancement. ENSURING THAT THE BEST QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS ARE RECOMMENDED AND PROMOTED is the goal of every commanding officer. In this chapter we will discuss the following information covered under the NEAS: � Definitions used in the Navy Enlisted Advancement System (NEAS) � Advancement qualification requirements � Special advancement requirements � Factors that determine the final multiple score for advancement � Advancement requirements for regular candidates � Advancement for early candidates � High-year tenure � Change in rate or rating � Selection board advancement � Command Advancement Program � Accelerated Advancement Program � Advanced Electronics Field, Advanced Technic al Field, and Nuclear Field Programs � Selective Conversion and Reenlistment (SCORE) Program � Selective Training and Reenlistment (STAR) Program � Enlisted-to-officer programs � Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) Program 5-1