How can a SWO(N) officer earn BTZ promotion at O-4, O-5, and/or O-6?

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bgreat

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Although I'm an incoming midshipman, I want to learn how I can earn below the zone promotion once the board convenes. What does it depend on?

I am a very competitive person (not cutthroat --> very willing to help others to make whatever team I'm a part of the best) and I am building a desire to not only be the best officer/midshipman, but to be a part of the best platoon/squad/battalion/etc (build a winning culture).
 
Performance, performance, performance, can’t agree more.

A bit of luck.

Below-zone selection is not necessarily the golden ticket. Promotions at regular time produce the majority of officers headed to major command and potentially flag or general officer rank.

And above all, needs of the Navy, always. You could be a multi-time below zone promo pick, hot-running, brilliant captain, but your shoreside expertise is strategic planning, and right when you come up for flag board consideration, the Navy decides it has enough admirals in that area in the succession planning pipeline, so they pick an equally hot-running captain for flag rank who is a budget wizard, because they need to grow a few of those at flag rank.

You have control of just one of those things. Performance in the job assigned, in the here and now.

Your first competitive promotion board is for O-4, some years down the road. You have years of performance opportunities ahead. Your O-2 and O-3 promotions are a matter of performing satisfactorily, making your warfare qual gateways on time, passing the PRT, and having the CO’s recommendation for promotion.

One of my senior mentors once told me, “Promotions are not a reward for past performance but a vote of confidence by the Navy in your continuing usefulness.”
 
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As everyone mentioned performance is the key. But, there are other things too as Capt MJ mentioned qualifications. 0-4 and above will require a Master’s degree and professional military education completion. It is also about following the correct career path. What you want to do vs what is best for your career balanced with needs of the Navy, what’s best for the family etc. has to be considered. Each community has its own ‘best path.’ Even within a community it can vary. To be a Destroyer CO vs an Amphib CO can have slight differences. Each step of the ladder you will get visibility to a level or two above and start to know what is needed for em each rung you climb.
 
bgreat said:
Although I'm an incoming midshipman, I want to learn how I can earn below the zone promotion once the board convenes. What does it depend on?

I am a very competitive person (not cutthroat --> very willing to help others to make whatever team I'm a part of the best) and I am building a desire to not only be the best officer/midshipman, but to be a part of the best platoon/squad/battalion/etc (build a winning culture).
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Troll
 
severn said:
Troll
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I do not see an appointment posted on the USNA appointment list, but I may have skimmed over it in 2 passes. 🤔. Very unusual for someone headed to USNA to be that aware of below zone promotiona starting at O-4.
 
Looking at your post history, you have said you plan on attending USNA, you are incoming MIDN, you are attending USNA, etc. Which is it? Additionally, while it is great to have aspirations, be careful when you say "future Nuke SWO." "Aspiring Nuke SWO" is fine, but I'd hold off on saying "future" until you get selected for it though.
 
Capt MJ said:
I do not see an appointment posted on the USNA appointment list, but I may have skimmed over it ina 2 passes. 🤔. Very unusual for someonerw headed to USNA to be that aware of below zone promotiona starting at O-4.
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My DS, '26, only read this stuff from leadership books. If this person is so advanced from his Admiral / General parent,
Then why ask a question here.
 
At first, I was hesitant about revealing too much about myself (SA Forums said to avoid giving personally-identifying information), so I said "I plan" or "I am attending." Later, after getting used to the website, I realized that saying that I'm an incoming MIDN is common and not personally-identifying. Hence, I now say I'm an "incoming MIDN."

I'm just a curious aspiring officer who also has done a lot of research on Navy Nuke Officer careers. I'm sorry I come across as a "troll" but I hope my explanation cleared up everything. Again, I'm just someone who comes up with lots of questions and is looking for answers.
 
Got it. I can only assume you are an incoming plebe. Commendable that you're asking this. To cover your question requires 900 pages. I showed my DS my "go to" book since I was a 2LT. I didn't say read it. He took it with him. Look in Amazon... Lots of leadership books about John McCain.
 
Also consider the why. Why is it that you want early promotion? Is recognition by a board the most important thing? Perhaps it is, but I've met people who promoted BTZ who I wouldn't follow into a bar if they said they were paying. I've also met some who I'd be more than happy to follow into combat...some BTZ and some passed over.

Either way, you need to do well and do the things the service wants. Beyond that level of detail, you don't really need to worry about as a mid/cadet.
 
I might be at fault here, I pointed out community briefs and zone consideration in another discussion on whether it's feasible to make 8 years in the Navy. Bored high school graduate spinning gears digging through black-and-white while waiting for I-Day, I get it. On the bright side, the kind of questioning attitude and attention to detail the nuke community wants.

I'm about arming folks with knowledge and believe wholeheartedly the Navy does JOs a disservice by failing to provide career information in formal training, but yeah it's too early to be thinking about this. Additionally, it's not really the kind of thing even a current LT would worry about. There's so many uncontrollable factors it might as well be random.
 
High achievers may sometimes be frustrated to see civilian counterparts rising quickly up the ranks in the corporate world but I strongly believe minimum time in grade requirements are one of the strengths of the military promotion system. There is much to be learnt at junior grades and you are actually getting priceless professional and personal development. There is a risk however that frustration can turn into resentment and it is important to understand and accept what you are signing up for.
 
One thing not mentioned… or maybe I missed it… you can do everything amazing. But maybe the force is cut. We never know the future manpower numbers. The other more likely… your career is one 18 year old’s dumb move away from an issue. Part of being a leader. We lead, train, do our best. But it happens.
 
I looked at OP’s post history, seeing their current threads posted. I hope they stick around and let forum users know how things go for them, along the way.

Poster seems very targeted, focused, and certain. When I’m interviewing, I’m more receptive to someone ‘open to the journey’, flexible, adaptive. Those traits are important to a successful USNA journey (and probably post commissionjng, although I don’t have experience with that). NEEDS OF THE NAVY is a big thing! For example, the #1 usna OOM Midshipman doesn’t necessarily get their #1 service selection request. In flights school, as I understand, there is a unique airframe assignment methodology that requires a bit of luck.

So I’m fascinated with how this will play out for someone like OP. I hope they update us, it will be a valuable bit of info for readers!

Good luck!!
 
justdoit19 said:
I looked at OP’s post history, seeing their current threads posted. I hope they stick around and let forum users know how things go for them, along the way.

Poster seems very targeted, focused, and certain. When I’m interviewing, I’m more receptive to someone ‘open to the journey’, flexible, adaptive. Those traits are important to a successful USNA journey (and probably post commissionjng, although I don’t have experience with that). NEEDS OF THE NAVY is a big thing! For example, the #1 usna OOM Midshipman doesn’t necessarily get their #1 service selection request. In flights school, as I understand, there is a unique airframe assignment methodology that requires a bit of luck.

So I’m fascinated with how this will play out for someone like OP. I hope they update us, it will be a valuable bit of info for readers!

Good luck!!
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Thanks! I will keep everyone in the forum updated on my USNA journey and future naval career. Hopefully, I can be a good resource for this forum.
 
NavyHoops said:
One thing not mentioned… or maybe I missed it… you can do everything amazing. But maybe the force is cut. We never know the future manpower numbers. The other more likely… your career is one 18 year old’s dumb move away from an issue. Part of being a leader. We lead, train, do our best. But it happens.
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Or have the misfortune to work for a bozo who doesn't concern himself with things like fitness reports that are meaningful and accurate, plays favorites, or is just a clown.
 
Or Life Happens, you have a child with someone, and the child has special needs or the spouse/partner becomes ill or leaves or passes away, and active duty service becomes incompatible with family life. Or the military member is diagnosed with a condition requiring involuntary medical separation or a career shift.

It’s good to have plans. It’s good to be flexible at the same time.
 
bgreat said:
Thanks! I will keep everyone in the forum updated on my USNA journey and future naval career. Hopefully, I can be a good resource for this forum.
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You will! As you go throughout your career, you will always be able to be a mentor and a mentee. Even just a short time out of Plebe Summer, you can be a resource for parents and candidates asking about Plebe Summer and Plebe Year. You can say what has been working and what hasn't been working. As you accumulate more "been there, done that, got the t-shirt/patch/insignia/ribbon/etc." experiences, your ability grows even more!

The biggest thing is to remember that there is always someone above in the military unless your the POTUS. Always seek out mentorship like you are now. Just remember part of being a good leader is giving back and remembering where you came from. Because even when you just became MIDN 4/C @bgreat, someone who is just like appointee @bgreat will be entering in the class behind you.
 
#1 is take care of your soldiers. Become proficient at your job, show an interest in them personally and professionally and you will be just fine.

USMCGrunt said:
Or have the misfortune to work for a bozo who doesn't concern himself with things like fitness reports that are meaningful and accurate, plays favorites, or is just a clown.
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This exact statement is one of the really tough things about the military. In corporate America you can move companies and keep on climbing, but in the military it can haunt your entire career. Luckily I didn't have it happen to me, but I saw it happen to others and it was disheartening.
 
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