Where the Army, Air Force, and Marines have “rank” to denote personnel in various paygrades, the Navy doesn’t have “rank”. The Navy has “rates” which is a combination of the person’s rating (job) and their paygrade. For example, the “rate” of an E-6 in the Navy depends on the person’s job. A person with the rating (job) of Sonar Technician (SG) in the Navy, in the paygrade of E-6 would be an “SG1” or “Sonar Technician First Class.” An E-5 with the rating (job) of Mess Specialist (MS), would have the rate of “MS2” or “Mess Specialist Second Class.”
The below chart shows the minimum requirements for Navy enlisted promotions in the pay grades of E-2 through E-4.
| Requirements | E-1 to E-2 | E-2 to E-3 | E-3 to E-4 |
| Time-in-Grade | 9 months | 9 months as E-2 | 6 months as E-3 |
| School | Boot Camp | None | A-School (for ratings with A-schools) |
| BUPERS Approval to Participate |
None
|
Required for Controlled Ratings | |
| PARS |
None
|
PARS Required
|
|
| Performance Test |
None
|
Selected ratings must complete applicable performance test before taking the Navy Service-Wide Advancement Exams. | |
| Leadership Training |
None
|
Petty Officer Indoctrination Course | |
| Enlisted Performance Evaluation | Used by Commanding Officer when giving promotion approval. | Counts as performance factor in Advancement Final Multiple for all E-4 through E-7 candidates. | |
| Obligated Service Requirements | There is no single set of obligated amount of service required to take Navy-wide advancement exams or to accept advancement to paygrade E-2 to E-6. | ||
| Examinations | Locally Prepared Testing | NETPDTC Exams | Navy-Wide Advancement Exams are required for all Petty Officer Paygrades |
| Non-Resident Career Course and RTM | None | Required for all E-3 and Petty Officer advancements unless waived due to completion of Navy School. Courses need only be completed once. | |
| Recommended by Commanding Officer | All Navy Advancements Require the Commanding Officer’s recommendation for advancement on current evaluation. | ||
The below chart shows the minimum requirements for Navy enlisted promotions in the pay grades of E-5 through E-9.
| Requirements | E-4 to E-5 | E-5 to E-6 | E-6 to E-7 | E-7 to E-8 | E-8 to E-9 |
| Time-in-Grade | 12 months as E-4 | 36 months as E-5 | 36 months as E-6 | 36 months as E-7 | 36 months as E-8 |
| School | NJS for rating LN2 | None | Navy School for ratings AGC, MUC, and RPC | None | None |
| BUPERS Approval to Participate |
None
|
||||
| PARS |
PARS Required
|
None
|
|||
| Performance Test | Selected ratings must complete applicable performance test before taking the Navy Service-Wide Advancement Exams. |
None
|
|||
| Leadership Training |
P02 Leadership Training Course Continuum
|
P01 Leadership Training Course Continuum |
CPO Indoctrination Course | CPO Leadership Training Course |
None
|
| Enlisted Performance Evaluation | Counts as performance factor in Advancement Final Multiple for all E-4 through E-7 candidates. | Considered by Promotion Board when making promotion decisions. | |||
| Obligated Service Requirements | There is no single set of obligated amount of service required to take Navy-wide advancement exams or to accept advancement to paygrade E-2 to E-6. | Must remain on active duty a minimum of two years to retire at the higher paygrade. | |||
| Examinations | Navy-Wide Advancement Exams are required for all Petty Officer Paygrades | Promotion to E-7 requires Navy-Wide Advancement Exam and selection by the Navy-Wide CPO Selection Board. Promotion to E-8 and E-9 is accomplish by Navy-Wide Promotion Selection Board, only. | |||
| Non-Resident Career Course and RTM | Required for all E-3 and Petty Officer advancements unless waived due to completion of Navy School. Courses need only be completed once. | Non-Resident Career Courses and recommended readings (See NAVEDTRA 10052). | |||
| Recommended by Commanding Officer | All Navy Advancements Require the Commanding Officer’s recommendation for advancement on current evaluation. | ||||