NAPLES, Italy — With an inspector general’s investigation into a leak of the Navy’s annual senior chief petty officer advancement results still ongoing, those eligible for promotion are left waiting and wondering.
The promotion results were to be released last week, but an unofficial copy of the list — complete with the more than 1,700 sailors’ Social Security numbers — was e-mailed out before the board wrapped up May 6.
One copy of the 20-page list, obtained by Stars and Stripes, was dated “June 5” and had been forwarded through at least two different commands in Hawaii before being sent to Naples early last week.
The unofficial list, deemed “early and inaccurate” by the Navy’s Chief of Naval Personnel spokesman Cmdr. Ron Hill late last week, sparked the investigation.
Chief petty officers in Naples, whether they’ve seen the list or not, seem to be waiting patiently for the investigation to conclude and the results to be released.
“I’ve heard about it, I’ve read about it,” said Chief Petty Officer Sean Wright of Naval Support Activity Naples. “Me, personally, I want them to do the right thing and have the right people advance.
“If they have to do the board over, do the board over,” he said. “I just want it to be fair.”
Chief Petty Officer Joe Brinda of the Naval Air Mediterranean Repair Activity hasn’t seen the unofficial list and isn’t too concerned about when the official version will be released. “Nobody’s really stressing about it,” he said. “I’m not. Obviously it would be better if it was quicker, but it’s obvious something went wrong and they’re trying to fix it.”
The delayed promotion results have, however, affected some chiefs trying to get permanent change of station orders.
At least one chief who is eligible to request transfer orders is waiting until the official list comes out before calling his detailer. Lists of available transfer orders are based on a sailor’s rank so if selected for promotion, he’ll have a different list to choose from.
CNP spokeswoman Sharon Anderson said that the Navy will still offer orders to chief petty officers while the investigation continues.
However, if the sailor accepts orders and is later notified that he was selected to be promoted, the Navy could cancel those orders and issue a new set, possibly in a different location than the original orders.
Though the Navy’s chiefs are still waiting for their advancement results, those up for promotion to petty officers 3rd, 2nd and 1st Class don’t have to worry. Anderson said those results, which are due out soon, will be released as scheduled, although no date was given.
