JANUARY 2017 CYCLE 234 ACTIVE AND FULL TIME SUPPORT E7 NAVY- WIDE ADVANCEMENT EXAMINATION:

UNCLASSIFIED

ROUTINE

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NAVADMIN 185/16

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SUBJ/JANUARY 2017 CYCLE 234 ACTIVE AND FULL TIME SUPPORT E7 NAVY- WIDE 
ADVANCEMENT EXAMINATION//

REF/A/DOC/BUPERS/02NOV07//

REF/B/MSG/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/052044ZMAR13//

REF/C/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/061346ZAUG10//

REF/D/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/252221ZJUN10//

REF/E/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/131544ZDEC07//

REF/F/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/031846ZNOV15//

NARR/REF A IS BUPERSINST 1430.16F, ADVANCEMENT MANUAL FOR ENLISTED PERSONNEL 
OF U.S. NAVY AND U.S. NAVY RESERVE.  REF B IS ALNAV 015/13, PERSONNEL 
SECURITY INVESTIGATION SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS.
REF C IS NAVADMIN 259/10, NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE ALTERNATIVE FINAL MULTIPLE 
SCORE IMPLEMENTATION IN FY-11.  REF D IS NAVADMIN 215/10, PERFORMANCE 
EVALUATION AND ADVANCEMENT GUIDANCE FOR INDIVIDUAL AUGMENTEE SAILORS.  REF E 
IS NAVADMIN 336/07, ADMINISTRATION OF THE NAVY-WIDE ADVANCEMENT EXAM FOR 
SAILORS IN IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, AND THE HORN OF AFRICA.  REF F IS NAVADMIN 
261/15, ESTABLISHMENT OF SUBMARINE AND NUCLEAR SERVICE RATINGS.//

RMKS/1.  This NAVADMIN provides guidance for administration of the January 
2017 (Cycle 234) E-7 Navy-Wide Advancement Examination
(NWAE) for active and full-time support (FTS) Sailors only.
Information pertaining to selection board criteria will be promulgated via a 
future NAVADMIN.

2.  Timeline
    a.  19 January 2017:  Administration of exams for U.S. Navy active and 
FTS.
    b.  31 January 2017:  Individual augmentation (IA) evaluations used for 
time-in-rate (TIR) waivers must have an ending date by this date.

3.  Eligibility Criteria
    a.  Candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements outlined in 
chapter 2 of reference (a) prior to 19 January 2017 to be considered as a 
candidate.  Candidates who do not meet the eligibility requirements are 
ineligible for Cycle 234 NWAE and shall not be administered an advancement 
examination.
    b.  Terminal Eligibility Date for Cycle 234 used to compute the TIR is 1 
January 2018.  The minimum TIR date must be on or before l January 2015.
    c.  TIR requirements for Early Promote Sailors can be waived for one year 
with commanding officer or officer in charge approval.
    d.  High year tenure (HYT) date or approved HYT waiver must be effective 
1 September 2017 or later.
    e.  Commissioning Programs.  Candidates who have been selected for Seaman 
to Admiral, Medical Enlisted Commissioning Program and Medical Service Corps 
In-Service Procurement programs remain eligible for advancement 
consideration.  Selection to any other officer commissioning program renders 
candidates ineligible and those examinations must be invalidated by their 
commands.
    f.  Security Clearance.  Candidates in a rating requiring a security 
clearance must have a favorable investigation adjudication issued by the 
Department of Defense (DoD) Central Adjudication Facility or the commanding 
officers interim clearance must have been granted before 1 January 2017.  
Refer to reference (b) for additional guidance.  Once Sailors have a 
clearance they must maintain that clearance eligibility.  If for any reason a 
clearance is denied or revoked, an exam is not authorized until a new 
clearance is granted.  Rates 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, FT, GM, HT, IC, IS, IT, ITS, LN, MA, MC, MN, MT, ND, OS, QM, SB, SO, STG, 
STS, and YN, as well as all nuclear and submarine ratings.
    g.  Branch class (BRCL) and special program indicator (SPI)
code:  BRCL 32 with a blank SPI code is an invalid Navy accounting status.  
Commands should take action to have this corrected for Sailors reflecting no 
SPI code.  Sailors in this status will be invalidated.
    h.  Canvasser recruiter personnel with a BRCL of 32 and a SPI code of W 
(enlisted canvasser recruiter) are ineligible for advancement to E7 and are 
only authorized to take the NWAE for Limited Duty Officer purposes.
    i.  Naval Special Warfare (NSW) personnel.  In accordance with reference 
(c), the NSW alternative final multiple score will be used to determine 
selection board eligibility for Special Warfare Operator and Special Warfare 
Boat Operator ratings.
    j.  Candidates must meet special requirements (citizenship, security 
clearance, medical, etc.) for certain ratings as outlined in paragraph 204 of 
reference (a), prior to the regular exam date.
    k.  Evaluations used to compute performance mark average (PMA) must be 
inclusive of period 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2016.  For additional 
guidance on computing PMA, refer to chapter 3 of reference (a).  Refer to 
reference (d) for use of concurrent evaluations for specific IA/global 
support assignment tours for PMA computation and to establish eligibility for 
early promote TIR waivers.  Only E-6 evaluations are to be used for PMA 
computation.
If a Service Member does not have an evaluation during the period specified, 
prepare a special evaluation with 31 December 2016 in block 15.
    l.  Cryptologic Technician Interpretive (CTI) Sailors must achieve a 
minimum of L2/R2 on the Defense Language Proficiency Test in their primary 
language, as assigned by their commanding officer, at least once in current 
paygrade.
    m.  Sailors assigned to a Submarine source rating must be fully 
qualified, in accordance with Submarine Qualification Designation for 
Enlisted Members (MILPERSMAN 1220-040).

4.  Exam Ordering
    a.  Deploying commands can order exams up to six months prior to the 
scheduled exam date.  Exams required prior to the TIR list opening are 
ordered via message or in the preferred message format via e-mail to 
sfly_n321_exam_order@navy.mil following the guidelines in chapter 4 and 
figure 4-1 of reference (a).  Specify in the subject line the order request 
is for early exams.  Ensure a point of contact (POC) is included in the 
message.  Refer to reference (e) for IA Sailors who are pending deployment 
to, or are deployed to and operating in a congressionally designated combat 
zone and approved contingency operations area.
    b.  CTI/CTN/CTR sensitive compartmented information (SCI) exam ordering 
dates can be found on the Navy Enlisted Advancement System
(NEAS) website at https://prod.neas.netc.navy.mil.
        (1) Educational services officers (ESO) must verify TIR eligibility 
lists on NEAS Web for initial exam ordering.
        (2) Additional exams are ordered via message or in message format via 
e-mail to sfly_cryptologic.products@navy.mil following the guidelines in 
chapter 4 of reference (a).  Commands must include their DoD activity address 
code account number, POC, and the number of exams required.  Commands 
requesting the forwarding of exams should include the forwarding command as 
an info addressee on the message.  The deadline for additional orders is 30 
September 2016.
The deadline for substitute SCI exam orders is 31 January 2017.
    c.  Exam ordering for non-SCI exams begins on 4 September 2016.
ESOs must verify TIR eligibility lists on NEAS Web during the following time 
periods:
        (1) Initial TIR lists will be open for review and editing until 6 
November 2016.
        (2) Eligible candidates that were not added to the initial TIR list 
can be added to a supplemental TIR list.  Additional TIR lists will be 
available 7 November 2016 until 4 December 2016.
        (3) Additional regular exams required after the TIR list has closed 
will be considered; otherwise, substitute exams will be sent.
Exams ordered after the TIR list has closed shall be ordered via message or 
in the preferred message format via e-mail to 
sfly_n321_exam_order@navy.mil following the guidelines in chapter
4 of reference (a).  Ensure a POC is included in the message.
    d.  Substitute exams must be kept to a minimum and require justification 
as stipulated in chapter 4 of reference (a).  Naval Education and Training 
Professional Development Center (NETPDC) is the approval authority for all 
substitute exams.  The deadline for non-SCI substitute examination ordering 
is 10 February 2017.
    e.  ESO must verify the examination order at the View Previous Exam 
Orders link via NEAS Web within 14 days of placing the order.
If discrepancies are noted, contact the Exam Administrations Branch (NETPDC 
(N321)).

5.  General Examination Information
    a.  Examinations will be administered per chapter 6 of reference (a).  Do 
not administer Cycle 234 examinations prior to 19 January
2017 unless specifically authorized by Enlisted Career Administration (PERS-
812).
    b.  Refer to reference (e) regarding examination options for Sailors who 
are pending deployment to, or are deployed to and operating in a 
Congressionally designated combat zone.  Commands must submit the command 
letter of transmittal in accordance with reference (a).  The in-theatre 
selection board eligibility waiver is not an automatic process.
    c.  Authorized materials during examination administration, only those 
materials specifically identified and listed in chapter 6 of reference (a), 
this NAVADMIN and the general examination verbatim instructions are 
authorized for use during examination administration.
    d.  Navy Counselor (Recruiter) (NCCR) examinations.  Administer NCCR 
examinations to the Navy counselor (NC) holding the 2186 Navy Enlisted 
Classification.  Administer Navy career counselor
(counselor) examinations to all other NCs.
    e.  Aviation Electronics Technician examinations.  Administer Aviation 
Electronics Technician (Intermediate) examinations for intermediate 
maintenance personnel and Aviation Electronics Technician (Organizational) 
examinations for organizational maintenance personnel.  Personnel will 
continue to be tested via two separate examinations, but will be merged 
together for advancement purposes.
    f.  Air Traffic Controllers must possess a valid air traffic control 
specialist certificate (FAA 7220-1) and meet requirements established in the 
manual of the medical department.
    g.  Nuclear Electronics Technician (ETN), Nuclear Electricians Mate 
(EMN), and Nuclear Machinists Mate (MMN) examinations:
        (1) ETN, EMN, and MMN candidates will take nuclear-specific rating 
examinations.
        (2) Nuclear Surface and Submarine candidates will take the same 
examination.
    h.  Separate exams are given for the Electronics Technician, Electronics 
Technician (Communications), Electronics Technician (Navigation).  Separate 
exams are also given for Machinists Mate, Machinists Mate (Auxiliary), and 
Machinists Mate (Weapons).  Refer to reference (f) for the establishment of 
new submarine and nuclear service ratings.
    i.  If an exam is administered in error, the command must request to 
invalidate in accordance with reference (a), paragraph 610.

6.  Competing Groups.  USN candidates in the following ratings are separated 
into the following competing groups:
    a.  CS, LS, and YN
        GROUP 1 - Submarine
        GROUP 2 - All others
    b.  CTI
        GROUP 1 - Middle East/North Africa
        GROUP 2 - East/Far East
        GROUP 3 - Latin/South America
        GROUP 4 - Eastern Europe
    c.  EMN, ETN, and MMN
        GROUP 1 - Submarine
        GROUP 2 - Surface
    d.  FC
        GROUP 1 - Non-AEGIS
        GROUP 2 - AEGIS
    e.  MU
        GROUP 1 - Premier Band
        GROUP 2 - Fleet Band

7.  Exam Administration and Answer Sheet Return
    a.  For exam administration and answer sheet return instructions, refer 
to the exam verbatim at https://prod.neas.netc.navy.mil.
    b.  ESOs must check the exam tote board on NEAS Web at 
https://prod.neas.netc.navy.mil/Public/Toteboard.aspx often to ensure answer 
sheets have been received and processed.
    c.  Substitute examinations must be administered within seven days of 
receipt.
    d.  A detailed discrepancy list will be maintained on NEAS Web.
Refer to reference (a), chapter 7 for guidance on correcting discrepancies.

8.  Examination Results
    a.  Results will be provided via BUPERS On-Line to authorized command 
representatives prior to the release of the profile sheets.
    b.  Commands must verify their Exam Status Verification Report and submit 
a message to NETPDC, info Eligibility and Promotions Branch (PERS-802), 
requesting invalidation for candidates no longer eligible or no longer 
recommended for advancement.  Withdrawal of advancement must be documented 
per reference (a), paragraph 721b.
    c.  Individual Sailors may view/download their profile sheet at 
https://prod.neas.netc.navy.mil/NEASRpts/Individual.aspx.

9.  Additional information regarding this cycle will be posted on NEAS Web.

10.  Points of Contact
    a.  Navy Personnel Command Customer Service Center: 866-U-ASK- NPC or via 
e-mail at uasknpc@navy.mil.
    b.  SCI exam questions and orders:  850-473-5874/5867/DSN 753 or via e-
mail at sfly_cryptologic.products@navy.mil.
    c.  Exam orders, records, and discrepancies:  850-473-6148/DSN
753 or via e-mail at sfly_n321_exam_order@navy.mil, or 
sfly_n321_discrepanc@navy.mil.

11.  For further information (reference (a), exam verbatim, and other related 
documents) visit NEAS Web at https://prod.neas.netc.navy.mil.

12.  This message will remain in effect until canceled or superseded, 
whichever occurs first.

13.  Released by Vice Admiral R. P. Burke, N1.//

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