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Petty Officer First Class

Navy Chief Petty Officer

E-7 Senior Noncommissioned Officer, U.S. Navy
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Senior Chief Petty Officer

Navy Ranks » Chief Petty Officer Rank • CPO Pay • CPO Rank History • Promotion Information

How to get promoted to Chief Petty Officer Navy Promotion to E-7 Chief Petty Officer

A Chief Petty Officer is a Senior Noncommissioned Officer in the United States Navy at DoD paygrade E-7. This page describes how the Navy determines who is eligible for the promotion list to Chief Petty Officer.

Promotion to Chief Petty Officer involves all the same previous requirements -- high exam scores, schools, awards, Collateral Duties, good performance evaluations -- but this time, the package is sent to a special selection board consisting of other Chiefs. They determine who has the right leadership qualities to be inducted into their fold. E-6s must have spent a minimum of 36 months to be eligible for Chief, and they cannot be promoted through a "CAP". They must also complete an indoctrination course known as "CPO 365".

Once promotions are announced, 1st Class Petty Officers become known as "CPO Selectees" and go through another round of indoctrination lead by Chiefs. These six weeks of training are physically and emotionally grueling, culminating in "Chiefs' Night", after which the selectees are ceremoniously and publicly promoted, and are gained into the fold.

Want to learn more? Read about the Navy's Chief Petty Officer rank on Military-Ranks.org.