Throwback Thursday Classic Post – FY17 CAPT Board Convening Order Deconstructed
(Because the convening orders change very little from year to year, this post is still relevant today. Enjoy.)
The FY17 Staff Corps O6 Board Convening Order was released after conclusion of the board. The best news was that the promotion opportunity for Medical Corps was 70%, up from 50% last year, which was an all-time low. Aside from that, though, if you read through the convening order, it basically tells you how to get promoted to Captain. I’ve read through it and pulled out quotes that you can turn into actionable items. Enjoy:
“Their personal and professional attributes include…physical fitness…”
ACTION ITEM: Workout and never allow yourself to fail a PFA.
“…successful performance and leadership in combat conditions demonstrate exceptional promotion potential and should be given special consideration.”
“The board may give favorable consideration to those officers who have displayed superior performance while serving in IA (Individual Augmentee)/GSA (Global Support Agreement)/OCO (Overseas Contingency Operations)/APH (Afghanistan-Pakistan Hands) assignments that are extraordinarily arduous or which involve significantly heightened personal risk.”
“Success in these assignments [joint duty assignment billets] should be given special consideration…”
“Navy Medicine needs leaders with knowledge and experience in a variety of settings including operational medicine, joint medical operations, and current peacetime health care delivery initiatives.”
“Navy Medicine greatly values joint experience…”
“You must ensure that Navy Medicine’s future leaders possess the broad knowledge necessary to support the operating forces and are acknowledged leaders within their operational…specialties.”
“The officers selected must have demonstrated exceptional managerial skill and professional competence in executive and staff roles both in support of the fleet and Marine Corps and within the naval shore establishment.”
“…you should select those officers who have served in a broad spectrum of assignments requiring expertise in diverse functional areas.”
“…those you select will be placed almost assuredly in positions that require broad military and medical perspectives beyond the Department of the Navy.”
“Best and fully qualified officers for the rank of captain, will be those who have demonstrated experience and expertise across the spectrum of military treatment facilities, operational platforms in support of the fleet or the Marine Corps, and the intersection with the strategic and tactical issues in provision of military healthcare through experience in headquarters or other associated DoD agencies.”
ACTION ITEM: Deploy, preferably in a combat or joint environment, if available. PCS when you can, and take a variety of assignments, including senior operational positions and positions with other services.
“The board shall give favorable consideration to those officers with relevant graduate education…and Navy and Joint Professional Military Education (JPME).”
“The Navy values completion of graduate education and development of a subspecialty. Degrees from the Naval Postgraduate School, the Naval War College and equivalent Service institutions, and civilian education programs…are desirable.”
“Navy Medicine greatly values…formal education to include JPME I.”
“The Navy values completion of graduate education and development within and officer’s subspecialty.”
ACTION ITEM: Get a masters degree, do a fellowship, or do JPME I and/or II.
“The Navy values competitive scholarships and fellowships, examples of which include: Olmsted Scholar, Marshall Scholar, Rhodes Scholar, White House Fellowship, SECDEF Corporate Fellowship, and Federal Executive Fellowships (e.g., Politico-Military and Cyber).”
ACTION ITEM: Consider applying for one of these scholarships or fellowships.
“Duty or service in combined or other staff positions at the senior levels of government should also be considered favorably.”
ACTION ITEM: Don’t be afraid to take positions in senior levels of government organizations when they are available.
“You shall give consideration to an officer’s clinical and scientific proficiency as a health professional to at least as great an extent as you give to that officer’s administrative and management skills. Strong consideration should be given to board certification when a board certification exists for the specialty.”
ACTION ITEM: Get and stay board certified.
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