Now is the time for command triads to start planning on how to use their Command Advancement Program (CAP) quotas to advance their top Sailors when CAP season begins July 1.

Here are four things commanding officers (CO) should know about CAP:

1. CAP provides COs with the authority to advance their best Sailors in recognition of their superior performance in paygrades E3, E4 and E5. As the chief of naval personnel has said on many occasions, don't wait for the exam if the Sailor is ready and eligible, CAP them.

2. NAVADMIN 245/14 lists the quotas for CAP and NRMAP for eligible commands and can be found on the NPC website at http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/reference/messages/Documents/NAVADMINS/NAV2014/NAV14245.txt.

3. CAP season aligns with the Navywide advancement examination cycle to maximize current and future advancement opportunities and encourages COs to set CAP performance standards and select their best Sailors.

4. CAP season runs between July 1 and Sept. 30. Once Sailors are selected PERS-8 will validate the selection and the CAP is then official. This added step ensures commands have the requisite CAP quotas and Sailors meet program requirements.

For more news from Chief of Naval Personnel, visit www.navy.mil/.