Promotion Board Opt-Out Opportunity Act of 2017

To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize officers to opt out of promotion board consideration for promotion. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Promotion Board Opt-Out Opportunity Act of 2017 2. Authority for officers to opt-out of promotion board consideration (a) Active-Duty list officers Section 619 of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (6) An officer excluded under subsection (e). ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (e) Authority To permit officers To opt out of selection board consideration The Secretary of Defense may authorize the Secretary of a military department to provide that an officer under the jurisdiction of that Secretary may, upon the officer's request and with the approval of the Secretary concerned, be excluded from consideration by a selection board convened under section 611(a) of this title to consider officers for promotion to the next higher grade. The Secretary concerned may only approve such a request if— (1) the basis for the request is to allow an officer to complete a broadening assignment, advanced education, another assignment of significant value to the Department of Defense, or a career progression requirement delayed by the assignment of education; (2) the Secretary concerned determines the exclusion from consideration is in the best interest of the military department concerned; and (3) the officer has not previously failed of selection for promotion to the grade for which the officer requests the exclusion from consideration. . (b) Reserve active-Status list officers Section 14301 of such title is amended— (1) in subsection (c)— (A) in the subsection heading, by striking previously selected officers not eligible certain officers not (B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (6) An officer excluded under subsection (j). ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (j) Authority To permit officers To opt out of selection board consideration The Secretary of Defense may authorize the Secretary of a military department to provide that an officer under the jurisdiction of that Secretary may, upon the officer's request and with the approval of the Secretary concerned, be excluded from consideration by a selection board convened under section 14101(a) of this title to consider officers for promotion to the next higher grade. The Secretary concerned may only approve such a request if— (1) the basis for the request is to allow an officer to complete a broadening assignment, advanced education, another assignment of significant value to the Department of Defense, or a career progression requirement delayed by the assignment or education; (2) the Secretary concerned determines the exclusion from consideration is in the best interest of the military department concerned; and (3) the officer has not previously failed of selection for promotion to the grade for which the officer requests the exclusion from consideration. .

Summary: Promotion Board Opt-Out Opportunity Act of 2017 This bill authorizes the Department of Defense (DOD) to permit an active duty officer or a reserve active-status list officer to request exclusion from consideration by a selection board for promotion to the next higher grade. A military department may approve such a request only if: (1) the basis for the request is to allow an officer to complete a broadening assignment, advanced education, another assignment of significant value to DOD, or a career progression requirement delayed by the assignment or education; (2) the military department concerned determines that such exclusion is in its best interest; and (3) the officer has not previously failed to be selected for promotion to the grade for which such exclusion is requested.