By Chief Mass Communication Specialist (SW) Maria Yager, Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs

MILLINGTON, Tenn. – While most Sailors selected for Chief Petty Officer were inducted last summer one Sailor from Navy Personnel Command joined the Chief’s ranks Feb. 20 after a special selection board reviewed her record.

“I’m excited and relieved. The process worked,” said Chief Yeoman (SW/AW) Endy Gutierrez, after being frocked to chief. Gutierrez, who recently reported to NPC as a special programs detailer, was supposed to be considered for Chief during the last regular selection board. Due to an administrative error, Gutierrez’s record was not reviewed.

“She (Gutierrez) got left behind from deployment with the ISIC (immediate superior in command) to take the advancement exam before she transferred here to NPC. She took the exam and thought everything was good to go. When the board-eligible list came out she found out her exam didn’t get forwarded,” said Lt. Todd Oakes, Gutierrez’s supervisor.  

Gutierrez took and passed a substitute exam. When the list of FY-09 CPO selectees was released, Gutierrez looked for her results on Bupers Online.

“She was listed as N/A (not applicable) which was odd. It should have said either select or non-select,” added Oakes.

After some investigating Gutierrez’s chain of command discovered her record was not reviewed by the board.

“The second exam, when entered in the system got cancelled out because they finally found the first exam that didn’t get forwarded.  But the first exam was cancelled in the system. So basically, they have no record of her passing the exam and becoming board eligible. So we requested a special board,” said Oakes.

According to BUPERSINST 1430.16F, special enlisted selection boards consider individuals who were not properly considered through the normal selection board process due to circumstances beyond their control.

Eighteen candidates were considered for an active-duty and reserve E7, E8 and E9 special enlisted selection board which convened Jan. 5 at NPC. Gutierrez was among three from that special group of candidates selected for chief.

Special boards are normally held annually, or as required, to consider any member who was eligible but not properly considered by the last regular board. Those members will be compared to their competitive group from the last regular selection board.

The special boards compare the record of each eligible candidate with a sampling of records of both selected and non-selected candidates from the regular board in the same  rating and pay grade. 

“It is has been a long year. It has been a little frustrating, but the wait has paid off,” said Gutierrez, who then thanked her chain of command for their support.

For more information on selection boards visit the NPC Web site.