JANUARY 2022 CYCLE 254 ACTIVE DUTY AND FULL-TIME SUPPORT E-7 NAVY-WIDE ADVANCEMENT EXAMINATION:

UNCLASSIFIED// 
ROUTINE 
R 252053Z OCT 21 MID600051081427U 
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC 
TO NAVADMIN 
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC 
BT 
UNCLAS 
 
NAVADMIN 236/21 
 
PASS TO OFFICE CODES: 
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// 
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// 
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/OCT// 
 
SUBJ/JANUARY 2022 CYCLE 254 ACTIVE DUTY AND FULL-TIME SUPPORT E-7 NAVY-WIDE 
ADVANCEMENT EXAMINATION// 
 
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/N1/272057ZDEC18// 
REF/E/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/161157ZJUL20// 
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 316/18, ENLISTED ADVANCEMENT WORKSHEET.   
REF E IS NAVADMIN 201/20, PROFESSIONAL MILITARY KNOWLEDGE ELIGIBILITY EXAM 
REVISED BUSINESS RULES// 
 
RMKS/1.  This NAVADMIN announces the guidance for the administration 
of the January 2022 (cycle 254) E-7 Navy-wide advancement 
examination (NWAE) for Active-Duty and Full-Time Support Sailors. 
As a continued safety measure during the COVID-19 outbreak, exams 
will be administered utilizing a testing window from 17-28 January 
2022.  This testing window 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.  Information pertaining to selection board 
criteria will be promulgated in a future NAVADMIN. 
 
2.  Timeline 
    a.  30 November 2021:  Professional Military Knowledge - 
Eligibility Exam (PMK-EE) completion deadline. 
    b.  17-28 January 2022:  Administration of exams. 
    c.  31 January 2022:  Congressionally-designated combat zones 
and approved contingency operations areas (CDCZ/ACOA) evaluations 
used for time-in-rate (TIR) waivers must have an ending period by 
this date. 
 
3.  Eligibility requirements are found in chapter 2 of reference 
(a).  The following information is specific only to cycle 254: 
    a.  The terminal eligibility date used to compute TIR is 1 
January 2023. 
    b.  The minimum TIR date must be on or before 1 January 2020. 
    c.  TIR requirements for early promote Sailors can be waived by 
one year with commanding officer (CO)/officer-in-charge (OIC) 
approval, in line with paragraph 214.e. of reference (a). 
    d.  High-year tenure (HYT) date must be effective 1 September 
2022 or later.  All HYT waivers must be approved prior to 20 January 2022. 
    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 January 
2022.  If the CO/OIC of the candidate grants an interim clearance, 
DISS must be updated prior to 1 January 2022.  Candidates who do not 
meet the outlined criteria shall not be allowed to participate in 
the exam.  Candidates must maintain security clearance eligibility 
throughout the advancement cycle to be eligible for advancement. 
If, for any reason, a clearance is denied or revoked, an exam is not 
authorized until a new clearance is granted.  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 as well as all 
nuclear and submarine ratings.  Refer to references (a) and (b) for 
additional guidance. 
    f.  Naval Special Warfare (NSW) personnel.  In line with 
reference (a), the NSW alternative final multiple score will be used 
to determine selection board eligibility for special warfare 
operator and special warfare boat operator ratings. 
    g.  Reporting Senior Cumulative Average Performance Mark Average 
(RSCA PMA).  RSCA PMA must be computed as outlined in reference (c), 
using E-6 evaluations with the ending date that falls within the 
period of 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2021.  Refer to reference 
(c) and paragraph 308 of reference (a) for additional guidance. 
    h.  Enlisted Advancement Worksheet (EAW).  For guidance on 
establishing EAW user roles and completing worksheets, refer to 
reference (d).  EAW is mandatory for cycle 254 and will be the 
authority for RSCA PMA. 
    i.  PMK-EE is mandatory for candidates to participate in the 
cycle 254 advancement cycle and must be successfully completed once 
for the administration paygrade, in line with reference (e).  The 
completion deadline is 30 November 2021.  Candidates who have not 
completed PMK-EE for the E-7 paygrade requirement shall not be 
allowed to participate in the exam. 
 
4.  Exam Ordering.  Order exams in line with chapter 4 of reference (a). 
    a.  Deploying commands and candidates departing to CDCZ/ACOA can 
order exams up to 6 months prior to the scheduled exam date.  Refer 
to chapter 4 and paragraph 614 of reference (a) for additional guidance. 
    b.  Regular Exams: 
        (1) Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) Exams. 
Cryptologic Technician-Interpretive (CTI)/Cryptologic Technician- 
Network /Cryptologic Technician-Collection SCI exam ordering dates 
can be found on the Navy Enlisted Advancement System (NEAS) website 
via MyNavy Portal at https://www.mnp.navy.mil/group/advancement-and- 
promotion/command-information.  Select command advancement tools, 
then NEAS website.  Educational Services Officers (ESOs) must verify 
initial active TIR eligibility lists on the NEAS website for exam 
ordering.  Supplemental SCI exams are ordered via preferred message- 
formatted e-mail to sfly_cryptologic.products@navy.mil or naval 
message following the guidelines in chapter 4 of reference (a). 
Refer to NEAS website for additional TIR SCI exam ordering 
timelines. 
        (2) Non-SCI Exams.  Exam ordering dates can be found on the 
NEAS website via MyNavy Portal 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 through 31 
October 2021. 
            (b) Supplemental TIR lists will be available from 1 
November 2021 to 28 November 2021. 
        (3) Exams ordered after the TIR lists have closed shall be 
ordered using preferred message-formatted e-mail to 
sfly_n321_exam_order@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 January 2022. 
        (2) Naval Education and Training Professional Development 
Center (NETPDC N321) is the approval authority for all substitute 
exams. 
        (3) Substitute exams may be administered with regular exam 
administration or in line with reference (a), paragraph 606. 
    d.  ESOs must verify exam orders at the *View Previous Exam 
Orders* link via the NEAS website within 7-10 days of placing the 
order.  If exam order discrepancies are noted, contact the Fleet 
Services Branch NETPDC (N321), as listed on the NEAS website in the 
NETPDC (N321) point of contact table. 
    e.  Policy on deviations from scheduled exam administration 
dates is outlined in paragraph 605 of reference (a). 
    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 
        (3) MU: 
            Group 1  Premier Band 
            Group 2  Fleet Band 
 
5.  Exam Administration and Answer Sheet Returns 
    a.  AD/FTS E-7 exams will be administered using a testing window 
from 17-28 January 2022.  This testing window will allow for smaller 
groups of test takers to ensure that adequate social distancing can 
be maintained between testers at testing facilities.  Administration 
for all substitute exams will follow guidelines in reference (a). 
    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.  For exam administration and answer sheet return 
instructions, refer to chapter 6 of reference (a).  Do not 
administer cycle 254 examinations prior to 17 January 2022 unless 
specifically authorized by Navy Personnel Command, Enlisted Career 
Administration (PERS-8031). 
    e.  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. 
    f.  If an exam is administered in error, the command must 
request to invalidate in line with paragraph 610 of reference (a). 
    g.  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 MyNavy Portal at 
https://www.mnp.navy.mi/group/advancement-and-promotion%2Fcommand- 
information.  Select command advancement tools, then exam toteboard. 
Answer sheets that are in error will not be counted until they are 
processed successfully. 
 
6.  Discrepancy Correction 
    a.  A detailed discrepancy list can be found on the NEAS 
website.  For guidance on discrepancy correction requirements, refer 
to reference (d) and chapters 3 and 7 of reference (a). 
    b.  Post-exam administration discrepancy correction 
correspondence with NETPDC (N321) is to be submitted using the EAW 
post-exam administration comments function outlined in reference 
(d).  All corrections must have a CO/OIC letter and all required 
supporting documentation included as attachments. 
    c.  Selection Board Eligibility Waivers 
        (1) CDCZ/ACOA Candidates.  As an additional enclosure to 
cycle 254 Letter of Transmittal, commands with CDCZ/ACOA candidates 
should submit a list of Selection Board Eligible Candidates by 
activity as an additional enclosure with cycle 254 E-7 Letter of 
Transmittal.  This is a change to paragraph 614.f.(5) of reference 
(a). 
        (2) Non-CDCZ/ACOA Candidates.  Submit Exception to Policy 
for selection board eligibility waiver directly to Enlisted Plans 
and Policy Branch (OPNAV N132C) at nxag_n132c@navy.mil, in line 
with paragraph 104 of reference (a).  This is a change to paragraph 
614.f.(5) of reference (a). 
 
7.  NWAE Results.  Selection board eligibility results will be 
provided via Bureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS) on-line to 
authorized command representatives prior to release of profile 
sheets.  See chapter 7 of reference (a) for additional information 
on selection board eligibility and advancement results. 
 
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@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@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@navy.mil. 
    d.  Exam 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 
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UNCLASSIFIED//