15,588 to advance to E-4, E-5, E-6 - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

15,588 to advance to E-4, E-5, E-6

Next week, 15,588 very happy active-duty sailors will celebrate Thanksgiving Day, as well as give thanks for having earned advancement to the next paygrade.

The 93,371 active-duty sailors who passed the advancement exams for E-4, E-5 and E-6 had a 16.69 percent chance to advance, up slightly from 16.42 percent in May, but down from 19.86 percent in fall 2009.

Although quotas increased by 1,081 compared with the spring total, the numbers of test passers rose by 4,656, keeping competition tight.

With retention at historic highs, officials say advancement chances will not get much better until the economy improves and more sailors begin to leave the ranks.