Subordinates May Soon Influence Officer Promotions in Pilot Program

Under a five-year pilot program in the fiscal year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, junior officers, and enlisted troops may soon be able to have a say in how their leaders promote them. The House passed the bill, which was pushed by Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), a former Marine Corps field officer. It now needs to be approved by the Senate before it becomes law.

The program would add private feedback from coworkers and superiors to the boards that choose and certify people for the O-5 and O-6 ranks. In the Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, these positions include lieutenant colonels and colonels. In the Navy, they are commanders and captains. These positions often mark the start of essential leadership duties.

A congressional aide for Moulton said, "This is a manageable start to making leadership and accountability better." At first, the pilot will focus on specific job areas, like infantry, supplies, and combat operations, where leadership has a direct effect on life and death.

Supporters say that using feedback from subordinates is in line with best practices in the business sector and gives a more complete picture of how well a leader is doing.

If the program works, it could be expanded to lower ranks. This would change how military leadership is judged and promoted, putting more weight on trust and responsibility from those directly under command.

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