Cougar Company Promotion Requirements
To be promoted, there are a number of steps you must successful accomplish. This page is designed to walk you through the promotion process step by step, so that you know what you need to study and prepare for. If you want to track your progress towards promotion, get together with your Platoon MPO or a Cadet Staff Officer and they can show you on the current computer spreadsheet where you stand on your requirements. Here are the requirements to promote:
1. Time In Grade Requirement: This is the number of months you must have your current rank or rate before you are eligible to take any test for your next rake or rate. Only the months of September through June count towards time in grade (school months only, not summer).
| To be promoted to this rate / rank: | You must have this many months in grade: |
| Cadet Seaman Apprentice | 1 |
| Cadet Seaman | 2 |
| Cadet Petty Officer Third Class or above | 3 |
2. Academic Examination: Every Cadet must pass an academic examination to be eligible for promotion. There are 5 tests that cover specific knowledge areas, and a sixth test made up of random questions from the first 5. The questions on each of these tests comes from the Naval Science textbooks and the Cadet Field Manual. Practice exams and study quizzes are available via the promotion study link on our main web page. Here are the specific Academic Test Requirements by rate / rank:
|
To be promoted to this rate / rank: |
You must take this Academic Examination: |
| Cadet Seaman Apprentice | Examination 1 |
| Cadet Seaman | Examination 2 |
| Cadet Petty Officer Third Class | Examination 3 |
| Cadet Petty Officer Second Class | Examination 4 |
| Cadet Petty Officer First Class | Examination 5 |
| Cadet Chief Petty Officer or above | Examination 6 |
The table below shows the areas tested for each examination listed above:
| Academic Examination # | Topics covered in this examination: |
| Examination 1 | Military Time, Chain of Command, General Orders of a Sentry |
| Examination 2 | Wearing of Uniform & Accessories, Navy & NJROTC Rates & Ranks |
| Examination 3 | Close Order Drill Knowledge |
| Examination 4 | Leadership Knowledge |
| Examination 5 | NJROTC Organization |
| Examination 6 | Random selection of questions from the topics listed above. |
3. Close Order Drill Practical Evaluation: To be promoted from Cadet Seaman through the rate of Cadet Chief Petty Officer, each Cadet must demonstrate proficiency in various aspects of close order drill. The table below shows the required Practical Examination number of each rate:
| To be promoted to this rate: | You must pass this Drill Practical Examination: |
| Cadet Seaman | 1 |
| Cadet Petty Officer Third Class | 2 |
| Cadet Petty Officer Second Class | 3 |
| Cadet Petty Officer First Class | 4 |
| Cadet Chief Petty Officer | 5 |
| Cadet Ensign | 6 |
The table below shows the areas tested for each examination listed above:
| Practical Drill Examination #: | Areas Tested: |
| 1 | Demonstrate the ability to perform basic stationary movements. |
| 2 | Basic Close Order Drill with a Drill Rifle (Armed Drill) |
| 3 | Leading a squad through a standard set of movements while showing correct military bearing, command voice and giving the movements on the proper foot. |
| 4 | Leading a platoon through a standard set of movements as above. |
| 5 | Form a platoon for inspection. |
| 6 | Demonstrate a correct movements for the sword manual, including "Eyes, Right" on the march. |
4. Good Conduct: In addition to the requirements listed above, each Cadet must maintain minimum standards of acceptable conduct both within the NJROTC classroom and within the school. This will be determined by the SNSI and NSI for each Cadet.
5. Good Personal / Uniform Appearance: In addition to the requirements listed above, each Cadet must maintain minimum standards of personal appearance and uniform appearance. This will be determined by the SNSI and NSI for each Cadet.
6. Minimum Hours of Unit / Community Service: To be promoted to any rank or rate, there is a minimum number of required Community Service and/or Unit Service Hours. These hours are not cumulative, and must have been earned during the time the Cadet is in his/her current rate or rank. Community Service and Unit Service hours can be combined for this requirement. For example, if the requirement is 10 hours, it could be 4 hours of Community Service and 6 hours of Unit Service. The table below lists the requirements by rate / rank:
| To be promoted to this rate: |
You must earn this number of hours of Community and/or Unit Service: |
| Cadet Seaman Apprentice | 5 |
| Cadet Seaman | 5 |
| Cadet Petty Officer Third Class | 10 |
| Cadet Petty Officer Second Class | 10 |
| Cadet Petty Officer First Class | 10 |
| Cadet Chief Petty Officer | 10 |
| Cadet Ensign and above | 5 |
7. Recommendation by Chain of Command: The last requirement for promotion is a positive recommendation by the Cadet's Platoon Commander, the Company Commander, the Naval Science Instructor and the Senior Naval Science Instructor. When the last of these requirements is completed, the Cadet will be promoted with a new date of rank effective that day.
Click HERE to go back to the Cougar Company Homepage