Rank Criteria Requirements

Promotion Boards

Long ago, the Sea Wolves Submarine Surface Navy (SSN) recognized the finest ships and the best-trained crews were only as effective as the officers who commanded them.  Consequently, the sea service has always sought the most capable men and women for the officer corps and encouraged them to advance as far as their abilities permitted.  Regulations governing the promotion of naval officers are the product of more than 200 years experience and ensure that all officers receive impartial consideration based solely on their capabilities and performance.

Service-wide Promotion Boards are used for promotion to Captain, Rear Admiral (LH), Rear Admiral (UH), Vice Admiral and Admiral.

Upon convening, the board establishes internal ground rules and minimum selection criteria, which each member uses when screening the records of candidates. The rules/selection criteria are applied equally to each candidate within a rating. Application may vary slightly from rating to rating for many reasons, such as sea duty or lack of it, supervisory opportunities, schooling and rotation patterns. The board is given the freedom to establish its own internal procedures, within the guidelines of the precept, thereby providing for the dynamic nature of the selection process.

The SSN practices the tradition of "frocking."  Basically, if an officer has been selected for promotion the commanding officer can "frock" them.   Frocking means they are permitted to put on the rank, but their TIG will take effect on the next promotion cycle, not the frocked date.

Selection Criteria:

1. Minimum requirements for promotion to Captain are: 12 months
2. Minimum requirements for promotion to Rear Admiral (LH) are: 14 months
3. Minimum requirements for promotion to Rear Admiral (UH) are: 18 months
4. Minimum requirements for promotion to Vice Admiral are: 20 months
5. Minimum requirements for promotion to Admiral are: 36 months

1. Minimum requirements for promotion to Captain are: four (4) months
2. Minimum requirements for promotion to Rear Admiral (LH) are: six (6) months
3. Minimum requirements for promotion to Rear Admiral (UH) are: eight (8) months
4. Minumum requirements for promotion to Vice Admiral are: ten (10) months
5. Minimum requirements for promotion to Admiral are: tweleve (12) months

• Education.

1. Completion of War College
2. Completion of Advanced War College

• Evaluations.
  1. The single-most important factor influencing selection is sustained superior performance.
  2. The summary ranking also gives the board an indication of how the candidate compares against members of the same grade.
  3. Personal decorations, letters of recommendation from commanding officers

• Duty Assignment History.
  1. Assignments and history of duties performed are determined from the personnel service record.

• Standards.
  1. Faiilure to meet the SSN's minimum requirement per the rules of engagement will have an adverse effect on his/ her evaluation.  Officers who have had disciplinary problems or have other record entries relevant to behavioral difficulties will find the path to selection more difficult than those with clear records.

If you require any clarification on the information here, or have questions regarding the Promotion Review Board, Please contact the CNP-SSN.