There is a distinct difference between career field and competitive category. Because the line officer competitive category encompasses so many career fields, it tends to be confusing. A protocol officer would compete against a pilot, communications-computer systems officer, missile officer, etc., as long as they are all line officers but never against people in a different category, such as dentists. The bottom line is all line officers compete against all other line officers of the same rank, regardless of career field, within the line officer category. Another way of stating this is officers only compete against others of the same rank within the same competitive category.
Most reservists understand the position vacancy promotion system.
I appreciate this opportunity to clear things up. The myth concerning promotions was that all officers in a particular grade compete against each other, regardless of their competitive category or career field. In other words, captains who are doctors have to compete against captains who are lawyers for promotion to major. As you said in your letter, this statement is incorrect. It wasn t even true under the previous law.