petty  officers  (E-4  through  E-6),  and  chief  petty officers (E-7 through E-9). ADVANCEMENT QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS To be qualified for advancement, a member must meet the following requirements: · Be recommended by the commanding officer · Meet  minimum  Performance  Mark  Average (PMA) of 2.6 for E-4 through E-6 and 3.0 for E-7 · Be within prescribed physical fitness standards · Have minimum time in rate (TIR) · Be in the proper path of advancement · Met special requirements (citizenship, security, medical, and so forth) for certain ratings · Successfully  complete  service  school,  if required · Have evaluation completed within computation period for advancement cycle · Not  be  involved  in  circumstances  that  render candidate ineligible for advancement · Not be a selectee for LDO · Not  have  pending  request  for  transfer  to  Fleet Reserve  (E-7/8/9  candidates)  which  is  not high-year tenure (HYT) mandated · Have  eligibility  documented  and  verified  by service record entry · Complete  Personnel  Advancement  Require- ments  (PARs)  including  special  requirements/ performance tests · Complete mandatory course requirements · Complete  mandatory  Leadership  Training Course  (LTC)  for  LPO  and  CPO  prerequisite courses · Pass  the  Navywide  advancement-in-rate examination · Naval  Reservists:    Must  maintain  satisfactory drill participation in the Naval Reserve · After selection for advancement to PO3 or CPO, must complete the Petty Officer Indoctrination Course  (POIC)   o r  Chief  Petty  Officer Indoctrination Course (CPOIC) The  Advancement  Manual ,  BUPERSINST 1430.16,  discusses  in  detail  the  requirements  for advancement. SPECIAL ADVANCEMENT REQUIREMENTS Many times nondesignated strikers complete the required courses for a rating without confirming if the rating they desire to strike for is open or closed.  Rating Entry  for  General  Apprentices  (REGA),  Career Reenlistment  Objectives  (CREO),   and  a  periodic NAVADMIN  message,  govern  the  different  rating entries.    ESOs  should  encourage  nondesignated strikers to strike for OPEN ratings since these ratings provide the best opportunities for advancement.  ESOs must  be  aware  that  manpower  requirements  for junior-level  rating  entries  fluctuate  with  the  overall needs of the Navy. The CNO periodic NAVADMIN messages use two major categories of rating control (open and closed) to identify  Navy  manpower  needs.    The  rating-entry categories  from  the  apprenticeship  level  to  petty officer third class (PO3) may be either open or closed. An OPEN rating is open to nondesignated personnel. A  CLOSED  rating  means  no  E-4  rating  entry opportunities or the rating is overmanned at the E-4 level. There are other categories such as nondesignated strikers  requiring  Navy  Personnel  Command (COMNAVPERSCOM) approval for rate entry or that the  rating  is  being  disestablished  or  merged  with another rating. P e r i o d i c    NAVA D M I N    m e s s a g e s    l i s t    a ll rating-entry categories. The ESO should be aware of the rules that apply to personnel desiring to enter any rating.    He  or  she  may  serve  as  a  member  of  the command  striker  selection  board.    The  ESO  should know what special advancement requirements exist for certain  ratings.    Those  special  requirements  may include  completion  of  service  schools,  U.S. citizenship, and a specific security clearance. Service School Requirements Some ratings require personnel to complete an “A” school  before  they  can  take  the  examination  for paygrade  E-4.    Periodic   Rating  Entry  for  General Apprentices  (REGA)  and  Career  Reenlistment Objectives  (CREO),  and  the  NAVADMIN  message contain a list of those ratings.  Some ratings require personnel  to  complete  more  advanced  schools  and courses before advancing beyond a certain paygrade. 5-3