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(U.S. Navy)

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WASHINGTON — The Navy will restart selection, promotion, and continuation boards July 1 after they were halted in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, the service announced.

“Our overriding commitment is that no sailor will be disadvantaged by the delay in boards,” Rear Adm. Jeff Hughes, the commander of Navy Personnel Command, said in a statement. “Although the boards were postponed, those who are selected for promotion can expect to be assigned the original date of rank and receive any back pay and allowances they’re warranted.”

The decision to postpone them was meant to prevent sailors from having to travel to Millington, Tenn., to sit on these boards, and to limit the number of sailors who would be working closely to one another, according to the Navy.

As part of the plan to restart the boards, the Navy has implemented mitigation precautions in order to minimize the health risks related to the coronavirus to personnel, according to the statement. These measures including adjusting the layout of board rooms to adhere to social distancing, additional cleaning of rooms, and daily temperature readings, according to the Navy.

The Navy has also conducted administrative selection boards online during the pause and is working to continue to do that, according to the statement.

kenney.caitlin@stripes.com Twitter: @caitlinmkenney

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