§573 Convening of Selection Boards

Summary

When the Secretary decides the service needs it, the Secretary must call a selection board to recommend promotions of warrant officers on the active-duty warrant officer list who are in grades W–2, W–3, or W–4 to the next higher warrant grade. Warrant officers in grade W–1 are promoted to W–2 under rules the Secretary makes, and those rules must require at least 18 months of active duty in W–1 before promotion. A selection board has five or more officers from the same service, and at least five members must hold a permanent rank above major or lieutenant commander. The Secretary can add senior warrant officers as extra members and, if competitive categories exist, must include at least one senior warrant officer from each category unless not enough qualified seniors exist. Boards should reflect the service’s diversity. The Secretary may also use boards to recommend continuation or retirement under sections 580 and 581. If reserve warrant officers are being considered, the board should, if practical, include at least one reserve officer of that service. No officer may serve on two consecutive boards that consider the same person. The Secretary sets other details such as quorum size, notices, and communications.