Got Points? Your Final Multiple Score is the Key to Advancement

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PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) -- Sailors studying for the fall 2018 Navy-wide enlisted advancement examinations (Cycles 240 and 103) need to know that the exam is just one of several factors used to determine advancement to the next-higher paygrade.

The Final Multiple Score (FMS) determines if a E3-E5 Sailor will be advanced, and is a calculation that takes into account several elements, including Advancement Exam Score, Performance Mark Average and additional points for awards, education, previous exam performance and Individual Augmentee assignment.

“The FMS factors that have the greatest impact are their Advancement Examination results and Performance Mark Average,” said Naval Education and Training Professional Development Center (NETPDC) Command Master Chief James Berhalter.  “These two components account for over 80 percent of the total E4-E6 FMS, but since one or two points can make the difference in whether you get advanced or not, Sailors need to take advantage of all the points they have earned.”

To ensure that all eligible points are in the system, Sailors need to review and sign their Advancement Worksheet with their command's Educational Services Officer (ESO) prior to taking an advancement exam. The Advancement Worksheet should list and contain all the correct data necessary to accurately calculate each service member’s FMS.

Senior Chief Construction Electrician Nicholas Whitbeck, a military rating exam strategist at NETPDC, stressed that Sailors need to verify all the elements of their Advancement Worksheets, making sure they are accurate and up-to-date as soon as they are eligible for advancement.

“Sailors need to make sure that their personal awards are updated in Navy Standard Integrated Personnel System (NSIPS) and Navy Department Awards Web Service (NDAWS) and can do so with the help of their respective Administration Departments,” said Whitbeck. “This will ensure that their proper award points will be reflected on their worksheets for that exam cycle.  They must also ensure that all of the evaluations are listed on their worksheets to ensure that the proper PMA is reflected prior to the exam taking place.  This will help alleviate some of the stress of trying to update or correct their worksheets after the results are posted.”

Sailors seeking to better understand the FMS system can do so using the Navy’s FMS Calculator app. The app uses data entered by service members to calculate their projected FMS. The app also contains a tutorial that explains the calculations used to obtain the Final Multiple Score and historical FMS minimum advancement scores for each of the different ratings. The FMS Calculator app can be found by searching “FMS Calculator” on Google Play or in the Apple Store.

“I used FMS when I was an E5 getting ready for my advancement exam,” said Personnel Specialist 1st Class Orazai Aydogdiyev, Leading Petty Officer for Navy Recruiting Station Dothan, Alabama. “I wanted to strategically study for my exam, so by using the calculator, I was able to get the projected minimum score I needed on the exam to be competitive for promotion. The app accounts for all of your cycle, paygrade, evaluation scores, etc.; it compiles all of that for you. I encourage junior Sailors to use the FMS app to see how competitive they are and gauge their percentile standing according to their peers. It is an excellent exam strategy.”

A complete breakdown of the latest Navy Enlisted Advancement and FMS calculation details can be found at https://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/reference/instructions/BUPERSInstructions/Documents/1430.16F.pdf and NAVADMIN 114/14 .

For more information about the Navy Advancement Center and Navy Enlisted Advancement System, visit https://www.facebook.com/Navy-Advancement-Center-213190711299/ .

NETPDC, located on board NAS Pensacola's Saufley Field, provides products and services that enable and enhance education, training, career development, and personnel advancement throughout the Navy. Primary elements of the command include the Voluntary Education Department, the Navy Advancement Center, and the Resources Management Department.

Additional information about the Naval Education and Training Professional Development Center can be found via https://www.public.navy.mil/netc/netpdc/Default.aspx .