For which E6 promotional pathway is a special evaluation usually required?

The concept of meritorious advancement is specifically designed to recognize and reward outstanding service, performance, and leadership among enlisted personnel at various ranks. In this pathway, candidates are evaluated not just on their qualifications but significantly on their exceptional achievements and contributions to their unit or command.

A special evaluation usually accompanies this process, highlighting the individual's remarkable performance that justifies their promotion ahead of others who may also be qualified but have not demonstrated the same level of excellence. This special evaluation is crucial as it provides documented evidence of the exceptional attributes that support the candidate's case for advancement. It is tailored to showcase the significant impact the individual has made, thus separating them from standard evaluations typically submitted for regular advancement or other pathways.

In contrast, regular advancement typically relies on standard evaluations and meeting specific time-in-service or time-in-rate requirements without the additional emphasis on exceptional performance. Reduction in force deals with downsizing and does not pertain to promotional pathways. Direct commissioning is a process for bringing individuals into the Navy at higher ranks based on specialized skills or professional qualifications, rather than traditional evaluation methods used for advancement.