How do I apply for a special selection board?
Send in your request to the address listed below or send it to officerpromotions@usmc.mil.
Commandant of the Marine Corps (MMPB-10)
Headquarters, United States Marine Corps
Harry Lee Hall
17 Lejeune Road
Quantico, VA 22134-5104
Is there an example letter that I could use when I send my letter to the board?
A Sample Cover Letter can be located on the Resources and Documents tab on this page.
What are the criteria for requesting a Special Selection Board? (SSB)
Special Selection Boards are authorized under sections 628 and 14502 of title 10, U.S. Code, and SecNavInst 1401.1B. The SSB’s purpose is to provide relief to officers who believe they did not receive fair and equitable consideration before a regularly scheduled selection board.
An officer must be on the active-duty list, Reserve active-status list, retired or a former officer to be eligible for consideration. Officers on the inactive status list are not eligible for consideration by an SSB.
The officer must have been considered, or should have been considered, by a regularly scheduled selection board, and not selected
Officers have a duty to review their records periodically to ensure their records are complete and accurate. An officer’s request must detail the steps the officer took to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the official record prior to the convening of the board which considered, but failed to select, the officer.
The officer must demonstrate that the action of the board was contrary to law, involved material error of fact or involved material administrative error. For example:
–Contrary to Law – A board member sitting on back-to-back boards, which considered an officer for promotion to the same grade twice.
–Material Error of Fact – A fitness report in error considered by a board or a missing fitness report a board was not able to consider.
–Material Administrative Error – Failure of Headquarters Marine Corps to submit the record of an otherwise eligible officer to the promotion selection board.
What happens if my special selection board request is still pending and I'm selected by the next regular board?
You will have the choice of continuing the SSB process for the Secretary of the Navy to determine if a date of rank adjustment is warranted or petition the Board for Correction of Naval Records for a date of rank adjustment.
What is and how long is the process?
All requests, upon receipt, are staffed through necessary agencies for verification purposes. After staffing responses are received, requests are staffed through Staff Judge Advocate, Manpower Management, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Commandant of the Marine Corps, and Navy Judge Advocate General and finally to the Secretary of the Navy (SecNav) for a final decision.
SSB requests, barring extenuating circumstances, such as a heavy caseload, shall be processed to a decision by the SecNav within 180 days. A special selection board, barring extenuating circumstances, shall be convened and the results made known to the affected officer within 180 days after SecNav determines than an SSB is warranted.