Occasionally, a need arises due to the occurrence of very specific circumstances that requires the convening of a Special Promotion Board. These circumstances are outlined in:

SECNAVINST 1420.1B

This instruction authorizes convening of a special board for an officer in or above the promotion zone when a regular board:

- fails to consider an eligible officer:
- acts contrary to law;
- involved a material, administrative, or factual error (significant enough to have caused the officer to fail selection); or
- lacked material information (again, significant enough to have been a cause for failure to select)

(Also Note: The instruction specifically states that a special board will not be convened for a below zone officer.)

Eligible officers must request a Special Board through SECNAV.

6 - 12 Months is the normal processing time to determine if a special board is warranted. However it can take longer depending on circumstances.

Submit requests (after reviewing the above instruction) for a Special Board in standard letter format to the Secretary of the Navy via Commander, Navy Personnel Command (PERS-80) at:

If approved for a special board by SECNAV, utilize this sample letter for sending correspondence to the Special Board President:  Sample Letter to the Board PresidentMailing address for a Letter to the Special Board: Special Board AddressOur phone number: Comm: (901) 874-4525   DSN: 882-4525