A close scrutiny is being made of
the list of selections made by the
Navy staff corps selection boards, as
the recommendations of these boards
will affect in a large measure the
practical application of the equaliza
tion of promotion law. As pointed
out in the Navy Department last
week, real selection will do a great
deal to relieve the feeling of discon
tent which may be shared by the bet
ter qualified staff officers when it is
realized that position on the lineal list
is not the governing factor in selec
tion for promotion. Special .emphasis
i$ placed on section 10 of the equali
zation act, which prescribes that if
the running mate of a staff officer be
promoted and such staff officer be
considered by a selection board but
fails to be selected, he shall have as
signed a new running mate. In this
provision, a sharp distinction Is drawn
between the word ‘‘considered” and
the term “passed over.." Officers eligi
ble for selection by a board are re
garded as having been considered by
that board. If the junior officers on
the list of those eligible are not reconi
mended they will be assigned new
running mates with consequent loss
of precedence and date of commission
if subsequently selected for advance
ment. Thus it can be seen that the
greatest possible consideration must
lie given by the selection boards to
all officers eligible for selection.
