SPRING 2026 (CYCLE 118) NAVY-WIDE ADVANCEMENT EXAMINATION FOR SELECTED RESERVE E5 THROUGH E7 CANDIDATES

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SUBJ/SPRING 2026 (CYCLE 118) NAVY-WIDE ADVANCEMENT EXAMINATION FOR
SELECTED RESERVE E5 THROUGH E7 CANDIDATES//
REF/A/DOC/BUPERS/07FEB22//
REF/B/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/201449ZDEC18//
REF/C/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/161157ZJUL20//
REF/D/OPS ALERT/NPPSC/15MAR21//
REF/E/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/031621ZOCT23//
REF/F/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/251840ZJUN25//
REF/G/ MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/201449ZDEC18//
NARR/REF A IS BUPERSINST 1430.16G CH-1, ADVANCEMENT MANUAL FOR
ENLISTED PERSONNEL OF THE U.S. NAVY AND U.S. NAVY RESERVE.
REF B IS NAVADMIN 316/18, ENLISTED ADVANCEMENT WORKSHEET. REF C IS
NAVADMIN 201/20, PROFESSIONAL MILITARY KNOWLEDGE ELIGIBILITY EXAM
REVISED BUSINESS RULES. REF D IS OPS ALERT 011-21, PMK-EE
REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW E4 ACCESSIONS. REF E IS NAVADMIN 237/23,
UPDATES TO THE NAVY ENLISTED LEADER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
REF F NAVADMIN 138/25, HIGHER YEAR TENURE PLUS POLICY UPDATE FOR
SELECTED RESERVE AND TRAINING AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE RESERVES
ENLISTED COMMUNITIES. REF G IS NAVADMIN 312/18, ADVANCEMENT POLICY
UPDATE.//
RMKS/1. This NAVADMIN announces the guidance for the administration
of the Spring 2026 (Cycle 118) Navy-Wide Advancement Exam (NWAE) for
Selected Reserve (SELRES) E5 through E7 candidates, to include those
serving on voluntary recall, mobilization, or as canvasser
recruiters.
2. In line with references (a) and (b), the Enlisted Advancement
Worksheet (EAW) is the authoritative source of data used to
determine Cycle 118 eligibility. Commands are to accurately
validate, complete, and finalize all EAWs in the Navy Standard
Integrated Personnel System (NSIPS). EAW discrepancies should be
addressed via the Post-examination Administration Comment (PAC)
process after Cycle 118 worksheets are locked.
3. Cycle 118 Timeline:
 a. 31 December 2025: Professional Military Knowledge
Eligibility Exam (PMK-EE) completion deadline. In line with
reference (c), PMK-EE remains mandatory once per paygrade for all E5 through E-7 candidates to be eligible for NWAE cycle
participation, including Early Promote (EP) and limited duty officer
candidates. Refer to reference (d) regarding special exceptions for
new accessions.
 b. 31 January 2026: Enlisted Leader Development (ELD) course
completion deadline (as applicable). In line with reference (e),
ELD Intermediate Leader Development Course (ILDC) and Advanced
Leader Development Course (ALDC) completion is mandatory for all E6
and E7 candidates, respectively, to be eligible for NWAE cycle
participation. ELD course completion is not mandatory for E5
candidates.
 c. 1-28 February 2026: Exam administration.
 d. 28 February 2026: EAW completion due date.
4. Cycle 118 specific eligibility requirements:
 a. Terminal Eligibility Date (TED):
 (1) E7 - 1 January 2027
 (2) E5 and E6 - 1 July 2026
 b. Minimum Time-in-Rate (TIR):
 (1) E7 - On or before 1 January 2024
 (2) E6 - 1 July 2023
 (3) E5 - 1 July 2025
 c. E6 and E7 candidate TIR requirements for EP can be waived by
one year with Commanding Officer (CO)/Officer-In-Charge (OIC)
approval. An EAW must be created manually for all who receive EP
waiver. EP candidates are still bound by the same PMK-EE and ELD
deadlines as regular TIR candidates.
 d. High-Year Tenure (HYT) and HYT Plus. In line with reference
(f), HYT Plus Pilot indefinite extension has concluded for SELRES
Sailors effective 30 September 2025. Sailors may still serve past
established HYT length of service gates, but must submit standard
individual waiver requests.
 e. Candidates with an approved request for voluntary transfer
to retire or Fleet reserve prior to mandated HYT are not eligible to
advance.
 f. Security/Interim security clearance (if required). Ratings
requiring a security clearance are AC, AE, AG, AO, AT, AWF, AWO,
AWR, AWS, AZ, CTI, CTR, CTT, CWT, EOD, ET, ETV, FC, FCA, GM, HT, IC,
IS, IT, ITR, ITN, LN, MA, MC, MMA, MN, ND, OS, QM, SB, SO, STG, STS,
and YN. All NWAE candidates must have applicable adjudication (Top
Secret or Secret) or interim clearance prior to 1 February 2026. If
clearance is revoked, an exam is not authorized until discrepancy is
corrected. An eligibility determination of "No Determination Made"
constitutes an unfavorable adjudication.
 g. Performance Mark Average (PMA) and Reporting Seniors
Cumulative Average (RSCA) PMA. Compute PMA for E5 candidates and
RSCA PMA for E6 and E7 candidates in line with references (a) and
(g). Use all applicable evaluations in current paygrade with an
ending date that falls within following periods:
 (1) E5 candidates - 1 February 2025 to 31 January 2026
 (2) E6 candidates - 1 February 2023 to 31 January 2026
 (3) E7 candidates - 1 February 2023 to 31 December 2025
 h. Use of EAW is mandatory, in line with reference (b).
 i. PMK-EE remains a general eligibility requirement for all
Sailors (regardless of EP TIR waiver status) in line with reference
(c). Waivers are normally not approved without extraordinary
circumstances.
 j. ELD course completion is a required prerequisite for taking
an E6 or E7 NWAE in line with reference (e). E6 candidates must
complete the ILDC and E7 candidates must complete the ALDC prior to
taking the NWAE. Special Warfare Operator (SO) and Special Boat
Operator (SB) Sailors must complete the Naval Special Warfare (NSW)
Leading Petty Officer (LPO), or Naval Special Warfare Development
Group (NSWDG) LPO courses in lieu of ALDC.
5. Exam Ordering:
 a. In line with reference (a), NWAE ordering dates and TIR
listings are on the Navy Enlisted Advancement System (NEAS) website:
https://neas.ncdc.navy.mil/. Select Exam and Ordering Date Chart.
 b. Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) examinations not
included on initial TIR list must be ordered from
NETPDC_Crytologic_Products@us.navy.mil. Order examinations in line
with reference (a).
 c. Non-SCI examination orders not included on the initial TIR
list must be ordered on the NEAS website using the advancement
candidate's Department of Defense Identification (DOD ID) Number.
On the initial TIR list, please select "Do Not Order" for each
member who had an exam ordered in the Early Ordering window.
 d. Educational Services Officers (ESOs) should verify exam
order placement within 7-10 days of ordering at "View Previous Exam
Orders" link via the NEAS website, and should contact Naval
Education and Training Professional Development Center, Fleet
Services Branch (NETPDC N321) as needed for examination order
inquiries and issues.
 e. Reference (a) contains information for ordering exams for
Sailors in Congressionally Designated Combat Zones and Approved
Contingency Operations Areas (CDCZ/ACOA) or recalled reservists.
Exams will be ordered by the Active-Duty command Unit Identification
Code (UIC) where the Sailor is assigned.
6. Exam administration and Answer Sheets Returns. Administer exams
and return answer sheets in line with chapter 6 of reference (a).
An exam tote board on the NEAS website displays current status of
received answer sheets.
 a. When an exam is not used during the normally scheduled exam
administration, do not destroy the exam prior to 1 April 2026 as the
exam may be used for an authorized late exam administration prior to
this date.
 b. All SELRES late exam administration requests will be emailed
to Navy Reserve Force ESOs at CNRFC_Reserve_Forces_ESO@us.navy.mil,
carbon copy to Immediate Superior in Command (ISIC) ESO. Requests
shall include command name, UIC, number of Sailors affected, reason,
and date of exam. The Navy Reserve Force ESOs will request
authorization to administer late exams from NETPDC N321.
7. Forwarding Answer Sheets. Reference (a), paragraph 611a. has
been changed to the following Official Mail Manager (OMM)
Consolidated Mail Facility (CMF) address:
 OMM CMF PENSACOLA
 ATTN: NETPDC N321
 210 WEST AVE SUITE A
 NAS PENSACOLA FL 32508
8. Discrepancy Correction:
 a. A detailed discrepancy list can be found on the NEAS
website.
 b. Post-exam administration discrepancy correction
correspondence with NETPDC (N321) is to be submitted using the EAW
PAC function, refer to reference (b). All corrections must have a
CO/OIC letter and all required supporting documentation included as
attachments. Education point corrections require a submission of
the Joint Service Transcript (JST) indicating the degree type and
date of completion.
 c. For guidance on E5 and E6 candidates with missed exams due
to CDCZ/ACOA, refer to reference (a).
 d. Selection board eligibility waivers should be conducted in
line with reference (a). Modifications are as follows:
 (1) CDCZ/ACOA Candidates. Submit a list of selection board
eligible candidates by activity in addition to E7 letter of
transmittal, along with an "Individual Augmentee Waiver Granted"
entry in "EAW Special Circumstances".
 (2) Non-CDCZ/ACOA Candidates. Submit request for exception
to policy for selection board eligibility waiver in line with
reference (a).
9. NWAE results:
 a. E7 candidates: Will be posted via BUPERS Online and profile
sheets.
 b. E5 and E6 candidates: Will be available via profile sheets.
10. All additional information for this cycle is posted on the
MyNavy HR advancements site, located at
https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Career-Management/CommunityManagement/Enlisted-Career-Admin/Advancement/ and the
NEAS website.
11. Points of contact:
 a. General or PMK-EE Mobile questions: MyNavy Career Center
(MNCC) 1-833-330-MNCC (1-833-330-6622), or askmncc@navy.mil.
 b. PMK-EE completion score questions: ntmps.support@navy.mil.
 c. NEAS registration inquiries: (850)473-6150/DSN 753,
usn.pensacola.netpdc.mbx.netpdc-n321-neasuser-accounts@us.navy.mil.
 d. SCI orders and inquiries: (850) 473-5867/DSN 753,
NETPDC_Crytologic_Products@us.navy.mil.
 e. Non-SCI orders and inquiries: (850) 473-6150/DSN 753,
usn.pensacola.netpdc.mbx.netpdc-n321-exam-orders@us.navy.mil.
 f. NWAE examination records or discrepancies: EAW PAC
submissions.
 g. Pre/post examination administration inquiries: (850) 473-
6148/DSN 753, usn.pensacola.netpdc.mbx.netpdc-n321-
discrepancies@us.navy.mil.
 h. Navy Reserve Force ESOs:
CNRFC_Reserve_Forces_ESO@us.navy.mil.
12. This NAVADMIN will remain in effect until superseded or
canceled, whichever occurs first.
13. Released by Vice Admiral Jeffrey J. Czerewko, N1.//