A. AR 600-20 (Army Command Policy), 15 April 2026.
B. Force Management Functional Area, DA Pam 600-3 (Commissioned Officer Professional Development and Career Management), 25 April 2024.
C. AR 608-75 (Exceptional Family Member Program), 27 January 2017.
D. AR 623-3 (Evaluation Reporting System), 14 February 2025.
E. DMPM, G1 Guidance on Conduct of Functional Area Key Nominative Billet Panels, 21 March 2021.
F. AR 600-8-29 (Officer Promotions), 9 September 2020.
G. AR 640-30 (Official Army Photographs), 6 December 2019.
H. AR 600-8-104 (Army Military Human Resource Records Management), 29 June 2023.
I. AR 600-8-22 (Military Awards), 11 May 2026.
J. AR 600-9 (The Army Body Composition Program), 16 July 2019.
1. This message will expire no later than (NLT) 30 May 2028 (and applies to Regular Army (RA) Active Component (AC) Promotable Majors or Lieutenant Colonels in the Functional Area 50 (FA50).
2. There are no major changes to the Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Key Nominative Billet (KNB) Process for FY27/28.
3. LTC KNB Selection and Slating Process Timeline:
– 22 JUN 26: EFMP pre-clearances submitted
– 1 JUL 26: Officer preference sheets emailed to eligible officers
– NLT 15 JUL 26: KNB deferrals and opt-outs due to HRC Talent Manager (TM)
– 15 JUL 26: Officer preference sheets due to HRC TM
– o/a 1 AUG 26: Executive Agent approves / denies KNB deferral requests
– 1 AUG 26: Officer Evaluation Report (OER) submission cut off
– 1 AUG 26: Officer file update cut off
– 12 AUG 26: LTC KNB FA50 panel convenes
– 13 AUG 26: LTC KNB FA50 panel recesses
– 1 SEP 26: Slating notification emails
– 15 SEP 26: Acceptance / Declination memos returned
– 26 SEP 26: KNB slate and alternate list published
4. FA50 LTC KNB Eligibility and Ineligibility Criteria.
a. Promotable Majors, or Lieutenant Colonels with a date of rank of August 2024 or more recent are eligible for slating. This population most closely corresponds to year groups 2008-2010.
b. Officers who pinned LTC prior to August 2024 are ineligible for slating. This most closely corresponds to year groups 2007 and senior.
c. Officers who have successfully completed Intermediate Level Education (ILE) prior to selection for KNB are eligible. Officers who have not completed ILE are ineligible for KNB.
d. Officers who previously served in an FA50 LTC KNB position for greater than 18 months or received constructive credit for KNB at the LTC level are ineligible.
e. Officers who previously declined with prejudice a LTC KNB position after having been selected as a principal or alternate are ineligible.
f. Officers who have submitted a retirement application to HRC or are pending a separation action are ineligible. A retirement application is considered “submitted” when a Voluntary Retirement Personnel Action Request (PAR) is submitted in the Integrated Personnel and Pay System – Army (IPPS-A), with an O-6 or higher endorsement, and has completed routing up to at least the officers assigned S-1 Pool.
g. Officers enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) must comply with AR 608-75 in order to be eligible. Officers with expired records must submit updates immediately to better increase their slating / assignment opportunities if selected. Officers with dependents enrolled in EFMP are required to review and update EFMP condition(s) every three years. Officers whose EFMP enrollments expire prior to December 2028 must complete re-enrollment to maximize suitability of KNB slating.
h. Soldiers with expired EFMP enrollments are ineligible and will be administratively removed from consideration and may compete in subsequent years provided they have updated their EFMP enrollment.
i. Officers who are under suspension of favorable personnel actions (flagged) at the time the panel convenes are ineligible.
j. Officers who are referred to a Medical Evaluation Board / Physical Evaluation Board at the time the panel convenes are ineligible.
k. Officers with approved “Opt-Out” requests from the FA50 KNB Selection and Slating panel which convened in September 2025 are ineligible in accordance with MILPER 25-218.
5. LTC KNB Pre-Selection Deferral and Declination (Opt-Out) Process.
a. All officers who meet the eligibility criteria in paragraph 4 will be considered for KNB selection.
b. Officers with policy deferrals to include, but not limited to, Joint Policy (Less than 22 months in a Joint Duty Assignment List (JDAL) Billet) or Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Policy (Less than 12 months’ time on station or 24 months OCONUS) as of 1 July 2028 will automatically be removed from FY28 KNB consideration. Officers with FY27 Policy Deferrals will be considered for slating in FY28 provided they meet the above eligibility criteria. Officers who believe they are eligible for a policy deferral should contact the FA50 TM to confirm their eligibility.
c. Officers may request discretionary deferrals by submitting a Memorandum for Record endorsed by the first O-6, GS-15, or higher in the officer’s rating chain. The template for deferral requests will be provided by the FA50 TM upon request. Deferral requests must be returned to the FA50 TM in accordance with (IAW) the timeline in paragraph 3. Deferrals will be reviewed by the FA50 Proponent’s Office with final approval or denial by the FA50 Executive Agent (G-8, Capabilities Directorate). Officers will be notified in writing of their deferral approval or denial. Officers with approved deferrals will lose one year of eligibility but may compete for LTC KNB in future years.
d. Officers may request to decline consideration (opt-out) for KNB by submitting a Memorandum for Record endorsed by the first O-6, GS-15, or higher in the officers rating chain. The template for declination requests will be provided by the FA50 TM upon request. Declination requests must be returned to the FA50 TM IAW with the timeline in Para. 3. Declinations will be reviewed by the FA50 Proponent’s Office with final approval or denial by the FA50 Executive Agent (G-8, CD). Officers will be notified in writing of their opt-out approval or denial. Officers with approved opt-out requests are ineligible to compete for KNB in future years.
6. LTC KNB Slating Process.
a. Following selection, the panel will slate LTC KNB principal selects to available positions based on knowledge, skills, behaviors (KSBs), and officer preferences. Guidance for slating will be captured in the panel MOI which is approved by the FA50 Executive Agent. Following initial slating the FA50 LTC KNB Slate is forwarded to the FA50 Executive Agent for validation and approval. LTC KNB acceptance/declination memos are sent out to slated principals after slate approval. Slated officers return memos to the FA50 TM and the FA50 TM submits “CSL/KNB-KB” stamps to the HRC Command Management Division for placement on a selectee’s Soldier Talent Profile (STP). The FA50 TM begins orders production ICW the 28-02 movement cycle timeline.
b. Following the return of all acceptance/declination memos the FA50 Proponent’s Office will publish the list of slated principals and alternates in alphabetical order.
c. Soldiers who decline a slated KNB position are given a “declination with prejudice” designation and a declination stamp is added to their STP. This designation is identifiable during all future boards and panels. Soldiers who decline a slated KNB are not able to participate in future KNB panels at their current rank.
d. If a principal select declines a slated KNB an alternate will be activated based upon Order of Merit List (OML) and KSBs and provided a LTC KNB acceptance/declination memo. Declination of a slated KNB position following alternate activation will result in a declination with prejudice designation and declination stamp.
e. Should a selectee accept a KNB and then be unable to fill the billet due to unforeseen circumstances outside of their control (emergent medical concerns, unanticipated changes when clearing family travel, etc.) the officer may apply for a compassionate deferral and will not be given a declination with prejudice designation, and an alternate will be activated. Compassionate deferrals will be submitted to the HRC TM, reviewed by the FA50 proponent office, and approved by the FA50 Executive Agent.
f. FA50 LTC KNB tour lengths are 24 months unless curtailed or extended by the FA50 Executive Agent.
g. All officers must submit preferences via email to the FA50 Talent Manager, MAJ Michael Topping, michael.j.topping.mil@army.mil in accordance with the above timeline. Soldiers with EFMP and MACP assignment considerations should preference positions that are suitable within their respective considerations.
7. LTC KNB Available Positions
a. Projected fill is on or about 1 June 2027 to 1 August 2029 (FY27 KNB).
| Unit | Location | Position |
|---|---|---|
| USARWHC | Fort Bragg, NC | Force Management Chief |
| CAC | Fort Leavenworth, KS | Chief, Force Management |
b. Projected fill is on or about 1 June 2028 to 1 August 2030 (FY28 KNB).
| Unit | Location | Position |
|---|---|---|
| ARCENT | Shaw AFB, SC | Chief, Force Integration |
| USARWHC | Fort Bragg, NC | Force Structure Sync. Officer |
| USARPAC | Fort Shafter, HI | Chief, Force Integration |
| III Corps | Fort Hood, TX | Chief, Force Management |
| HQDA G-3/5/7 | Pentagon, DC | DAMO FMF (ARSTRUC) |
| 8th Army | Camp Humphreys SK | Chief, Force Management |
8. LTC KNB Administrative Information
a. All officers under consideration may submit correspondence to the President of the Panel. Contact the FA50 TM prior to a decision to submit correspondence to the panel. Officers seeking to submit correspondence to the President of the Panel will submit to the FA50 TM NLT 1 August 2026.
b. Upon publication of this MILPER, available candidates may prepare Officer Evaluation Reports (OER) for submission with a recommended thru date NLT 1 August 2026. OERs submitted after August 2025 may not be included in the officer’s file for the KNB panel. Complete the record OERs are not authorized solely for the purpose of this KNB panel. Unprocessed copies of OERs, resident AERs, or evaluation appeals that have not yet been adjudicated by HRC should not be sent as enclosures or other correspondence and will not be considered by the panel.
c. All OERs will be placed in the Performance folder of the official Army Military Human Resource Record (AMHRR) file IAW AR 623-3, paragraph 1-12. It is each officer’s responsibility to ensure all OERs are in their official AMHRR by reviewing their file for correctness and completeness.
d. Officers may review their files by following the Interactive Personnel Electronic Records Management System (iPERMS) link: https://iperms.hrc.army.mil/.
e. For resolution of duplicate, inverted, misfiled, masking documents, or request for corrections, submit a board correction form to usarmy.knox.hrc.mbx.iperms-board-support@army.mil. Correctly filed authorized documents will not be removed.
f. Officers seeking to make updates to their personnel files should work with their local S-1/MPD to complete updates. Those officers that are unable to complete updates locally should contact the HRC TM NLT 1 August 2026.
g. The KNB Panel will utilize the Army Selection Board System (ASBS) 2.0 for reviewing officer’s files, https://asbs.hrc.army.mil/.
9. There are no major changes to LTC Post-KNB Process. Officers within the 27-02 or 28-02 movement cycle will compete for post-KNB slating within the IPPS-A Marketplace.
a. The FA50 LTC post-KNB construct ensures that the most critical FA50 positions across the Army are prioritized for being filled by the most qualified and experienced FA50 LTCs. Additionally, the LTC post-KNB construct provides closely managed opportunities for talent management of officers who have successfully completed a LTC KNB position.
b. Prior to the market opening, post-KNB positions will be validated by the FA50 Proponent Office and Executive Agent. The FA50 Proponents office will conduct a review prior to the mid-market review (MMR). The FA50 Executive Agent will conduct validation of the market slate following the post-market review (PMR) but prior to the final slate approval by the HRC, CG. The FA50 LTC Post-KNB market will operate under the same timelines and policy constraints as the 27-02 or 28-02 ATAP Marketplace.
c. IAW the 25 APR 24 Force Management (FA50) Chapter of DA PAM 600-3 subsection, “LTC Positions at Joint Organizations should be filled by Post – Key Nominative Billet (KNB) officers in the rank LTC.” All other Post KNB positions will be validated by the FA50 Proponent Office and validated through the ATAP Market Conference Process.
10. Points of Contact:
a. FA50 Proponent Officer, LTC C. Keith, Graham, commercial (703)-545-1807 or email at clarence.k.graham.mil@army.mil.
b. FA50 Talent Manager, MAJ Michael J. Topping, commercial (502) 852-5083 or email at michael.j.topping.mil@army.mil.
c. Evaluations Branch POC (issue resolution) at either commercial (502) 613-9019, DSN 983-9019 or usarmy.knox.hrc.mbx.tagd-eval-policy@army.mil