For the third consecutive year, the chance to make E-9 has inched up and this year's 14.8 percent chance to make master chief is the highest it's been in four years.
This year's nearly two percentage point increase is the result of rising quota numbers coupled with a dip in senior chiefs eligible for this year's board.
This year’s first active-duty enlisted selection board begins deliberations today and they’ll consider 3,418 eligible E-8s for 508 openings at the top level of the enlisted work force.
Last year, there were 3,580 eligibles competing for 474 openings and a 13.24 percent shot at moving up.
If there's any bad news, it's for the 46 senior chief's in the six ratings with no E-9 quotas this year. Last year there were 108 senior chiefs in five ratings with no quotas.
It's the first year that command senior chiefs will compete in their rating for master chief and a spot in the command master chief rating. Also new this year is the breakout of the the naval aircrewman ratings which are now competing for E-9 within their five sub-specialties after the elimination of the AW compression rating last year.
Check your chances:
E9 rating, AB-GS
E9 rating, HN-YN
Mark D. Faram is a former reporter for Navy Times. He was a senior writer covering personnel, cultural and historical issues. A nine-year active duty Navy veteran, Faram served from 1978 to 1987 as a Navy Diver and photographer.
