§575 Recommendations for promotion by selection boards

Summary

Selection boards must pick warrant officers they think are best qualified for promotion while keeping in mind the armed force’s need for certain skills. For promotions to chief warrant officer grades W–3, W–4, or W–5, the Secretary sets how many people from below the promotion zone can be recommended. Those from below may not be more than 10% of the total recommended, but the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of Homeland Security (when the Coast Guard is not part of the Navy) can raise that to 15%. If that percentage is less than one person, the board may still recommend one. A board cannot recommend anyone unless a majority of members vote for the person and a majority agree the person is fully qualified. Each time a board meets, every warrant officer in the promotion zone and above must be considered unless rules say otherwise. When allowed by the Secretary, a board can mark certain selectees as especially meritorious and put them higher on the promotion list. Those promoted higher generally must have a majority vote unless the Secretary gives a different rule. A warrant officer can ask to be left out of consideration. The Secretary may approve that only to let the officer finish a career-related assignment or education, do an assignment the service values, or correct a delayed career step, only if it’s in the service’s best interest and the officer has not failed selection for that grade before.