The Navy released the calendar year (CY) 2019 Meritorious Advancement Program (MAP) plan, Feb. 8, in NAVADMIN 031/19, announcing the transition from one to two MAP seasons and increasing quotas in a continuing effort to empower command triads to recognize their most highly-talented Sailors through immediate advancement.

The move to two seasons which overlap the Navy-wide advancement exam cycles is designed to incentivize selection of the most deserving Sailors – without regard for how they might fare on the exam.

MAP is one of Navy’s continuing efforts to foster more merit-driven career outcomes as part of the modernization of personnel systems and processes under Sailor 2025.

“The Meritorious Advancement Program is important because it empowers command triads to identify and advance the best experienced and proficient Sailors from within their commands,” said Capt. Angela Katson, branch head of Enlisted Force Shaping Plans and Policies. “And they will make those decisions based on Sailors’ demonstrated performance and ability.”

The two MAP seasons will align with the Spring and Fall Navy Wide Advancement Exam (NWAE) cycles.  Season One will begin 1 March 2019 and end 30 April 2019.  Season Two will begin 1 September 2019 and end 31 October 2019.  Approximately 10 percent of the CY-19 quotas will be assigned for each season, however business rules and quota allocations will be evaluated after the first season. 

MAP functions in conjunction with the Navy’s established advancement system and is open to all Active, Full Time Support and Canvasser Recruiter Sailors who meet advancement eligibility requirements. 

“The total advancement opportunity for paygrades E4 through E6 includes both MAP and the Navy Wide Advancement Exam,” said Katson.  

Following feedback from the deckplates and command leadership teams, MAP will account for approximately 20 percent of all E4 through E6 advancements for 2019. 

“It is important to note that the primary focus remains to recognize the most deserving Sailors, therefore commands are encouraged to exercise their best judgment and return quotas as appropriate,” said Katson.  “Returning quotas will not impact allocation of future year quotas.”

The NAVADMIN also announced the Feb. 25, 2019 deadline for commanding officers to request a quota for a controlled rate to the Budget Submitting Office (BSO)/Echelon II command.

The following rates, by component, are controlled for CY-19 Season One (i.e., BSO/Echelon II approval is required for Sailors to be advanced through MAP into the rates listed):

(1) Active Component:  AWO1, CTI1, RP1, SH1, YNS1, AWF2 and AWV2.

(2) Full Time Support: AME1, AS1, AT1, AZ1, CS1, ET1, IT1, NCR1, AS2, EM2 and CS2.

The NAVADMIN also announced that there will be no redistribution of unused MAP quotas to the BSOs during Season One.  Unused quotas will be returned to OPNAV N132 on 1 May 2019 and factored into the 2019 Spring Cycle 243 NWAE.  This change was based on the fact that over 95 percent of the MAP quotas for 2018 were used and this change will eliminate an administrative burden for commands.

Modifications to MAP are the result of the close partnership between Navy leadership and the MAP strategic working group, comprised of senior enlisted leaders across the Fleet.  The strategic working group assessed lessons learned from fiscal year 2018 and Sailor feedback to ensure command triads are provided even greater opportunity and flexibility.

The effective date of advancement is based on the date of the MAP Certification Letter (MCL), but it will be no earlier than 1 March 2019.  The time in rate for E4-E6 MAP candidates will be 1 January 2019.  The time in rate for E2 and E3 MAP candidates who advance between the 1st and the 16th day of the month will be the first day of the month in which they are advanced.  The time in rate for E2 and E3 MAP candidates who advance between the 17th day of the month and the last day of the month will be the first day of the following month.  Commands are encouraged to begin their MAP selection process and submit their MCL as early as possible to ensure Sailors are advanced and paid expeditiously.  

Sailors can only be advanced one paygrade.  Additionally, Sailors can only be meritoriously advanced once during CY-19 MAP seasons (i.e. a Sailor meritoriously advanced in Season One cannot be meritoriously advanced in Season Two).

Sailors in a frocked status are not eligible for advancement to the next higher paygrade until effectively advanced (i.e., a frocked E5 cannot be meritoriously advanced to E6).  However, COs are authorized and encouraged to MAP frocked Sailors who were selected for advancement from the Fall 2018, Cycle 240, NWAE provided they have not reached their effective pay date (i.e., a frocked E5 can be meritoriously advanced to E5).  Refer to the profile sheet of the member for effective pay date.

Sailors must have the following TIR in paygrades E1 through E5 for MAP advancement eligibility:

E6: 1 January 2018

E6 (Nuclear-trained Sailors): 1 January 2017

E5 and below: No TIR requirement

COs may select an E6 MAP candidate with no-TIR through BSO/Echelon II endorsement.  The command must submit the BSO/Echelon II endorsement with the MCL.

Professional Apprenticeship Career Track (PACT) Sailors remain eligible for MAP advancement, provided the Sailor has an approved quota for rating designation (i.e., approved quota in Career Waypoints (C-WAY)) via the NWAE or rating entry designation.

MAP advancement is not authorized for PACT Sailors with designation approval for A-School required ratings.

Navy Recruiting Districts (NRD) are authorized to use one AC/FTS MAP quota per NRD for reserve Sailors filling Canvasser Recruiter billets.  Additionally, Navy Recruiting Command established the Recruiter of the Quarter (ROQ) MAP which authorizes the use of 12 MAP quotas throughout the year in conjunction with the ROQ program. ROQ MAP eligibility requirements differ from all other Sailor of the Quarter or advancement programs.

For more information on MAP visit https://www.mnp.navy.mil/group/advancement-and-promotion/a-enlisted-advancement-resources-and-links and select the *Websites* tab in the blue banner.

Sailor 2025 is the Navy’s program to improve and modernize personnel management and training systems to more effectively recruit, develop, manage, reward, and retain the force of tomorrow.  It is focused on empowering Sailors, updating policies, procedures, and operating systems, and providing the right training at the right time in the right way to ensure Sailors are ready for the Fleet.

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