MARCH 2022 (CYCLE 255) ACTIVE-DUTY AND FULL-TIME SUPPORT E-4 THROUGH E-6 PETTY OFFICER NAVY-WIDE ADVANCEMENT EXAMINATIONS

[Tony]

UNCLASSIFIED// 
ROUTINE 
R 171744Z NOV 21 MID600051192468U 
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC 
TO NAVADMIN 
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC 
BT 
UNCLAS 
 
NAVADMIN 260/21 
 
PASS TO OFFICE CODES: 
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// 
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// 
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/NOV// 
 
SUBJ/MARCH 2022 (CYCLE 255) ACTIVE-DUTY AND FULL-TIME SUPPORT E-4 THROUGH E-6 
PETTY OFFICER NAVY-WIDE ADVANCEMENT EXAMINATIONS// 
 
REF/A/DOC/BUPERS/19SEP18// 
REF/B/MSG/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/052044ZMAR13// 
REF/C/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/201449ZDEC18// 
REF/D/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/161157ZJUL20// 
REF/E/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/272057ZDEC18// 
 
NARR/REF A IS BUPERSINST 1430.16G, ADVANCEMENT MANUAL FOR ENLISTED PERSONNEL 
OF THE U.S. NAVY AND U.S. NAVY RESERVE.   
REF B IS ALNAV 015/13, PERSONNEL SECURITY INVESTIGATION SUBMISSION 
REQUIREMENTS. 
REF C IS NAVADMIN 312/18, ADVANCEMENT POLICY UPDATE.   
REF D IS NAVADMIN 201/20, PROFESSIONAL MILITARY KNOWLEDGE ELIGIBILITY EXAM 
REVISED BUSINESS RULES.   
REF E IS NAVADMIN 316/18, ENLISTED ADVANCEMENT WORKSHEET.// 
 
RMKS/1.  This NAVADMIN announces the guidance for the administration of the 
March 2022 (cycle 255) Navy-Wide Advancement Exam (NWAE) for advancement-in-
rate of Active Duty (AD) and Full-Time Support (FTS) Sailors to paygrades E-5 
and E-6 and the use of an alternative final multiple score (FMS) rank-order 
method, without an exam, for E-4 
advancement candidates. 
    a.  As a continued safety measure due to the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) 
outbreak, E-4 advancement candidates will not participate in an exam, but 
will be given the opportunity for advancement using an alternative FMS rank-
order method, without the inclusion of an exam score from a proctored 
exam.  E-5 and E-6 advancement candidates will be administered the NWAE 
utilizing testing windows vice single-day testing.  These expanded testing 
windows will allow for smaller groups of test takers to ensure adequate 
social distancing can be maintained between testers at testing facilities, 
while maintaining the high standards and continued culture of learning that 
drive our enlisted advancement system.  This is identical to the advancement 
policy used in the 2021 fall NWAE cycle, and is a change from reference (a). 
    b.  In addition to the requirements in this NAVADMIN and chapter 6 of 
reference (a), educational services officers (ESO) must follow the pre-exam 
preparation requirements in the exam verbatim, which can be found on the Navy 
Enlisted Advancement System (NEAS) website via MyNavy Portal (MNP) at  
https://www.mnp.navy.mil/group/advancement-and-promotion/command-information.  Select Command Advancement Tools, then NEAS Website. 
 
2.  Timeline 
    a.  31 January 2022:  Professional military knowledge - eligibility exam 
(PMK-EE) completion deadline. 
    b.  1-15 March 2022:  E-6 exam administration.  Enlisted advancement 
worksheets (EAW) will close one week after the exam date 
on the worksheet. 
    c.  16-31 March 2022:  E-5 exam administration.  EAWs will close one week 
after the exam date on the worksheet. 
    d.  31 March 2022:  E-4 exams are cancelled, but E-4 EAWs must still be 
fully completed by this date. 
 
3.  Eligibility requirements are found in chapter 2 of reference (a).   
The following information is specific only to cycle 255: 
    a.  The terminal eligibility date used to compute time-in-rate 
(TIR) is 1 July 2022. 
    b.  The minimum TIR date must be on or before: 
        E-6 - 1 July 2019 
        E-5 - 1 July 2021 
        E-4 - 1 January 2022 
    c.  E-6 candidate TIR requirements for early promote (EP) 
Sailors can be waived by one year with the commanding officer 
(CO)/officer-in-charge (OIC) approval, in line with paragraph 214.e. 
of reference (a).  Cycle 255 EAW must be manually created for all E-6 EP TIR 
waiver authorized candidates. 
    d.  High-year tenure (HYT) date must be effective 1 July 2022 or 
later.  All HYT waivers must be approved prior to 1 March 2022 to be able to 
participate in cycle 255. 
    e.  Candidates in a rating requiring a security clearance must have a 
favorable investigation adjudication by the Department of Defense 
Consolidated Adjudication Facility reflected properly in the Defense 
Information System for Security (DISS) prior to 1 March 2022.  If the CO/OIC 
of the candidate grants an interim clearance, it must be entered in DISS 
prior to 1 March 2022.  Candidates must maintain security clearance 
eligibility throughout the advancement cycle to be eligible for 
advancement.  If, for any reason, a clearance is denied, revoked, or not 
reflected in DISS, an exam is not authorized and commands will not allow 
candidates to take the exam until the discrepancy is corrected or a new 
clearance is granted and is properly reflected in the EAW of the candidate. 
Ratings requiring a security clearance are:  AC, AE, AG, AO, ATI, 
ATO, AWF, AWO, AWR, AWS, AWV, AZ, CTI, CTM, CTN, CTR, CTT, EOD, ET, 
FC, FCA, GM, HT, IC, IS, IT, LN, MA, MC, MN, ND, OS, QM, SB, SO, 
STG, YN and all nuclear and submarine ratings.  Refer to references 
(a) and (b) for additional guidance. 
    f.  Candidates for advancement to E-4 and E-5 must compute performance 
mark average (PMA) using all applicable evaluations in the current paygrade 
of the candidate with an ending date that falls within the following time 
periods: 
        E-4 - 1 June 2021 to 28 February 2022 
        E-5 - 1 December 2020 to 28 February 2022 
    g.  Candidates for advancement to E-6 must compute the reporting senior 
cumulative average (RSCA) PMA, as outlined in reference (c), using all 
applicable evaluations in the current paygrade of the candidate with the 
ending date that falls within the time period: 
        E-6 - 1 March 2019 to 28 February 2022. 
    h.  Refer to reference (c) and paragraph 308.b. of reference (a) for 
additional guidance on RSCA PMA and PMA, including guidance on establishing 
PMA for new accessions who have graduated from A-school and do not have a 
current evaluation. 
    i.  PMK-EE is mandatory for cycle 255 candidates competing for 
advancement, even if no NWAE is being administered, and must be successfully 
completed once for the administration paygrade.  The PMK-EE completion 
deadline is 31 January 2022, in accordance with reference (d).  No Sailor 
competing for advancement shall be permitted to participate in the 
advancement cycle without having a completed PMK-EE for the administration 
paygrade. 
    j.  For guidance on establishing EAW user roles and completing 
worksheets, refer to reference (e).  EAW is mandatory for cycle 255 and will 
be the authority for PMA, RSCA PMA, and awards. 
    k.  Commands must accurately validate, complete and finalize all EAWs in 
the Navy Standard Integrated Personnel System in a timely manner.  E-4 EAW 
accuracy is critical since NEAS will be reprogrammed to use finalized E-4 
EAWs rather than the candidate exam answer sheets to create E-4 candidate 
records.  The success of this process will be dependent upon the accurate 
completion of E-4 EAWs to establish advancement cycle participation.  Cycle 
255 E-4 EAWs must be completed by 31 March 2022. 
 
4.  Exam Ordering.  Order exams in line with chapter 4 of reference (a). 
    a.  Deploying commands and candidates departing to Congressionally-
Designated Combat Zones and Approved Contingency Operations Areas (CDCZ/ACOA) 
can order exams up to six months prior to the scheduled exam date.  For 
additional guidance, refer to chapter 4 and paragraph 614 of reference (a). 
    b.  Regular Exams: 
        (1) Sensitive compartmented information (SCI) Exams. Cryptologic 
technician interpretive (CTI)/cryptologic technician network 
(CTN)/cryptologic technician collection (CTR) SCI exam ordering dates can be 
found on the NEAS website via MNP at 
https://www.mnp.navy.mil/group/advancement-and-promotion/command-information.  

Select Command Advancement Tools, then NEAS Website. 
ESOs must verify initial Active TIR eligibility lists on the NEAS 
website for exam ordering.  Supplemental TIR SCI exams are ordered 
via message formatted e-mail to sfly_cryptologic.products(at)navy.mil or 
naval message following the guidelines in chapter 4 of reference (a).  The 
deadline for ordering additional TIR SCI exams is 4 January 2022. 
        (2) Non-SCI Exams.  Exam ordering dates can be found on the 
NEAS website via MNP at https://www.mnp.navy.mil/group/advancement-and-promotion/command-information.  

Select Command Advancement Tools, then NEAS 
Website.  ESOs must verify TIR eligibility lists on the NEAS website during 
the following time periods: 
            (a) Initial TIR lists will be available: 
                E-6 - 26 November 2021 to 19 December 2021 
                E-5 - 26 November 2021 to 5 January 2022 
            (b) Supplemental TIR lists will be available: 
                E-6 - 20 December 2021 to 30 January 2022 
                E-5 - 6 January 2022 to 7 February 2022 
        (3) Exams ordered after the TIR lists have closed shall be ordered 
using message formatted e-mail to sfly_N321_exam_order(at)navy.mil or naval 
message following guidelines in chapter 4 of reference (a).  Ensure a point 
of contact is included in the submitted e-mail or message.  Orders submitted 
after supplemental TIR list closure will result in a substitute exam being 
sent. 
    c.  Substitute Exams: 
        (1) The deadline for ordering both SCI and non-SCI substitute exams 
is 31 March 2022. 
        (2) Naval Education and Training Professional Development Center 
(NETPDC (N321)) is the approval authority for all substitute exams. 
        (3) Recent graduates of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program training 
pipeline who are on transfer leave enroute to their first at-sea assignment 
during the E-5 examination dates will have substitute examinations ordered 
for them by their ultimate duty station, if dates permit exam ordering before 
the published deadline. 
        (4) Substitute examinations may be administered with regular exam 
administration or in line with paragraph 606 of reference (a). 
    d.  ESOs must verify examination orders at the *View Previous Exam 
Orders* link via the NEAS website within 7 to 10 days of placing the 
order.  If exam order discrepancies are noted, contact the Fleet Services 
Branch NETPDC (N321) as listed on the NEAS website on the NETPDC (N321) Point 
of Contact Table. 
    e.  Exceptions to policy for exam orders will continue to be submitted in 
line with paragraph 104 of reference (a) and must include endorsement by the 
commands immediate superior in command. Submit message formatted e-mail 
exception to policy directly to Enlisted Plans and Policy Branch (OPNAV 
N132C) at NXAG_N132C(at)navy.mil, to include any supporting documentation. 
    f.  Candidates in the following ratings are separated into the following 
competitive groups: 
        (1) CTI 
            Group 1  Middle East/North Africa 
            Group 2  East/Far East 
            Group 3  Latin/South America 
            Group 4  Eastern Europe 
        (2) EMN, ETN, and MMN 
            Group 1  Submarine 
            Group 2  Surface 
            Group 3  Training 
 
5.  Exam Administration and Answer Sheet Returns 
    a.  Administration windows for AD and FTS E-5 and E-6 exams. 
These exams will be administered utilizing testing windows in the month of 
March 2022.  E-6 exams will take place from 1 through 15 March 2022 and E-5 
exams will take place from 16 through 31 March 2022.  Every effort should be 
made to spread the administration of the exams evenly throughout the exam 
administration period, in order to minimize the number of exam-takers at any 
one administration and ensure maximum social distancing.  Administration for 
all substitute exams will follow guidelines in references (a) and (c). 
    b.  All commands should develop a plan to meet COVID-19 
mitigations.  Every effort should be made to ensure appropriate COVID-19 
mitigation measures are in place, to include, but not limited to, face 
coverings, adequate social distancing, available hand sanitizer, medical 
(questionnaire) screenings and temperature checks. 
    c.  To the maximum extent practicable, exams for the same ratings should 
be administered on the same day.  Sailors are directed not to discuss exam 
content after taking an exam to ensure no advancement candidate is 
disadvantaged in the advancement process.  Unauthorized disclosure of exam 
content may result in administrative and/or disciplinary action. 
    d.  Following the administration of exams, it is critical that ESOs 
expeditiously mail in E-5 and E-6 answer sheet packages to NETPDC (N321).  Do 
not hold exams until the end of the testing window.  Prompt return of answer 
sheets will help ensure results are released in a timely manner. 
    e.  For exam administration and answer sheet return instructions refer to 
chapter 6 of reference (a). 
    f.  ESOs must check the exam toteboard on the NEAS website often to 
ensure answer sheets have been received and processed.  The toteboard can be 
accessed via MNP at 
https://www.mnp.navy.mil/group/advancement-and-promotion/command-information.  

Select Command Advancement Tools, then Exam Toteboard. 
Erroneous answer sheets will not be counted until they are processed 
successfully. 
 
6.  Discrepancy correction 
    a.  A detailed discrepancy list can be found at the NEAS website via 
MNP.  For guidance on discrepancy correction requirements, refer to chapters 
3 and 7 of reference (a) and reference (e). 
    b.  Post-exam administration discrepancy correction correspondence with 
NETPDC (N321) is to be submitted using the EAW post-exam administration 
comments (PAC) function, refer to reference (e).  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 indicating the degree type and date of completion. 
    c.  For guidance on E-4 through E-6 candidates with missed exams due to 
assignment in CDCZ/ACOA, refer to chapter 6 of reference (a). Missed exam 
cycle EAW is required to be completed by selecting *Missed Cycle / Individual 
Augmentee* entry in the *EAW Special Circumstances* data entry field. 
 
7.  NWAE Results.  Refer to chapter 7 of reference (a). 
 
8.  Any additional information regarding this cycle will be posted on the 
NEAS website. 
 
9.  Points of Contact 
    a.  MyNavy Career Center (MNCC) is available 24/7 by phone at 1- 
833-330-MNCC (1-833-330-6622) or via e-mail at askmncc(at)navy.mil. 
    b.  SCI exam questions and orders can be reached at (850) 473- 
5867/DSN 753 or via e-mail at sfly_cryptologic.products(at)navy.mil. 
    c.  Non-SCI exam questions and orders can be reached at 
(850)473-6148/DSN 753 or via e-mail at 
sfly_N321_exam_order(at)navy.mil. 
    d.  NWAE records and discrepancies can be reached at (850) 473- 
6148/DSN 753 or via the EAW PAC function. 
 
10.  For further NEAS information, to include exam verbatim and 
other related documents, visit MNP at 
https://www.mnp.navy.mil/group/advancement-and-promotion/command-information. 
 
11.  This NAVADMIN will remain in effect until superseded or canceled, 
whichever occurs first. 
 
12.  Released by Vice Admiral John B. Nowell, Jr, N1.// 
 
BT 
#0001 
NNNN 
UNCLASSIFIED//

[Tony]

Active Spring 2022 E-4 through E-6 Advancement Exams Announced– What You Need to Know

17 November 2021
From MC1 Mark D. Faram, Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs
The Navy released dates and details for the Active Duty and Reserve Full-Time Support (FTS) Navy-Wide Advancement Exam Cycle 255 in NAVADMIN 260/21on Nov. 17.

COVID-19 precautions will again play a central role in how commands test their Sailors. These details along with key dates and milestones for Sailors and Commands are in the message.

This means that all active and FTS E-4 advancement exams are again canceled. All qualified E-3’s will be selected for advancement using the alternate rank order final multiple process to determine who advances without the exam score.

This new advancement procedure has been in effect since COVID-19 precautions began in early 2020. Navy personnel officials say that Fleet feedback from previous rank-order E-4 advancements has been positive, with no negative performance reported from those advanced this way.

As has been procedure the past few cycles, all E-5 and E-6 exams will be given during set testing windows. The E-6 window is March 1 through 15. E-5 exams will follow between March 16 through 30.

“These expanded testing windows will allow for smaller groups of test-takers to ensure adequate social distancing can be maintained between testers at testing facilities while maintaining the high standards and continued culture of learning that drive our enlisted advancement system,” wrote Vice Adm. John B. Nowell, Jr., the chief of personnel in each message.

Leading up to the exams, Sailors must complete their Professional Military Knowledge Eligibility Exams (PMK-EE) by Jan. 31.

The PMK-EE deadline applies to all Sailors regardless of whether they are sitting for an exam or not. Sailors who have already met this military knowledge testing requirement on previous cycles do not have to retake this exam as it is only required once at each paygrade level.

Because the Naval Education Training and Professional Development Center (NETPDC) will not receive E-4 exam answer sheets, commands must scrub the records of their advancement eligible E-3 Sailors to ensure all E-4 Enlisted Advancement Worksheets (EAWs) in the Navy Standard Integrated Personnel System are accurate and up to date.

The EAWs deadline Cycle 255 active and FTS Sailors March 31.

Commands should make every effort to spread the administration of the exams evenly throughout each window. This practice minimizes the number of exam-takers on a given day and helps maintain maximum physical distancing.

Commands are also strongly encouraged to test all candidates for a given rating and paygrade at the same time to maintain exam integrity.

Once exams are given, ESO’s are encouraged to expeditiously mail in answer sheet packages to NETPDC and not hold any taken exams until the end of the testing window, ensuring prompt processing of exams.

No dates have yet been set for the release any advancement results as this will depend heavily on accurate worksheets being submitted upfront and the prompt return of answer sheets once exams are taken.

Additional eligibility details and deadlines for each cycle are available in NAVADMIN 260/21 along with key points of contact.

[Tony]

Does anyone have any intel on the quotas. I'm getting bombarded with that question.

[ericisbetter]

Just got word that tentative results release are as follows:

SELRES: Thursday 2JUN22 to Triad, and Friday 3JUN22 to all hands.

AD: Thursday 16JUN22 to Triad, and Friday 17JUN22 to all hands

*this is subject to change however

[Maverick2802]

As of Friday, 10JUN, results will be at the Triad level on 23JUN and public on 24JUN. Quotas are still tba.