A. AR 600-20 (Army Command Policy), 24 July 2020.
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 June 2019.
E. DMPM, G1 Guidance on Conduct of Functional Area Key Nominative Billet Panels, 21 March 2021.
F. AR 600-8-29 (Officer Promotions), 09 September 2020.
G. AR 640-30 (Official Army Photographs), 06 December 2019.
H. AR 600-8-104 (Army Military Human Resource Records Management), 29 June 2023.
I. AR 600-8-22 (Military Awards), 19 January 2024.
J. AR 600-9 (The Army Body Composition Program), 16 July 2019.
1. Expiration. This message will expire NLT 22 May 2026.
2. Major Changes to Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Key Nominative Billet (KNB) Process.
a. The FA50 LTC KNB panel will assess all available LTC candidates except those with approved deferrals and those who decline consideration (opt-out).
b. IAW the revised Force Management (FA50) Functional Area chapter of DA PAM 600-3, dated 25 APR 24, “A proponent designated Key Nominative Billet (KNB) assignment is the only branch qualifying assignment at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. An officer must have completed 18-months in a KNB assignment to be considered functionally qualified at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.”
c. FA50 LTC KNB selection and slating will occur during one panel. The timeline is outlined below.
3. LTC KNB Selection and Slating Process Timeline:
– MAY 24: KNB MILPER Published
– 01 JUN 24: EFMP pre-clearances submitted
– 01 JUL 24: Officer preference site opens in AIM 2.0
– NLT 15 JUL 24: KNB deferrals/opt-out requests due to HRC CM
– 19 JUL 24: Officer preference site closes in AIM 2.0
– o/a 01 AUG 24: G-8 FD approves /denies KNB deferral/opt-out requests
– 05 AUG 24: OER submission cut off
– 05 AUG 24: Officer file update cut off
– 04 SEP 24: LTC KNB FA50 panel commences
– 05 SEP 24: LTC KNB FA50 panel recesses
– 11 SEP 24: Slating notification emails
– 18 SEP 24: Acceptance / Declination memos returned
– 27 SEP 24: KNB slate and alternate list published
4. FA50 LTC KNB Eligibility. Officers who meet the following criteria will be considered:
a. (FY25 Slating) Promotable Majors, or Lieutenant Colonels with a date of rank of AUG 21 or later (more recent). This population most closely corresponds to year groups 2005-2008.
b. (FY26 Slating) Promotable Majors, or Lieutenant Colonels with a date of rank of AUG 22 or later (more recent). This population most closely corresponds to year groups 2006-2008.
c. Officers have successfully completed Intermediate Level Education (ILE) prior to selection for KNB.
d. Officers cannot have previously served in an FA50 KNB position or received constructive credit for KNB at the LTC level.
e. Officers must not have previously declined with prejudice a LTC KNB position after having been selected as a principal or alternate.
f. Officers must not have submitted a retirement application to HRC or be pending a separation action. A retirement application is considered “submitted” when it is received by HRC, Officer Retirement and Separations Office (AHRC-FSF-OS) in IPPS-A.
g. Officers enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) must comply with AR 608-75. Officers with expired records must submit updates NLT 14 JUN 24 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 DEC 26 should complete re-enrollment to maximize suitability of KNB slating. Soldiers with expired EFMP enrollments will be administratively removed from consideration and may compete in subsequent years provided they have updated their EFMP enrollment.
h. Officers must not be under suspension of favorable personnel actions (flagged) at the time the panel convenes.
i. Officers must not currently be referred to a Medical Evaluation Board / Physical Evaluation Board.
5. LTC KNB Pre-Selection Deferral and Declination (Opt-Out) Process.
a. All officers who meet the eligibility criteria in Para. 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 JDAL Billet) or PCS Policy (Less than 12 months’ time on station or 24 months OCONUS) as of 01 JUL 25 will automatically be removed from FY25 KNB consideration. Officers with FY25 Policy Deferrals will be considered for slating in FY26 provided they meet the above eligibility criteria. Officers who believe they are eligible for a policy deferral should contact the FA50 Career Manager (CM) 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 CM upon request. Deferral requests must be returned to the FA50 CM IAW with the timeline in Para. 3. Deferrals will be reviewed by the FA50 Proponent Office with final approval or denial by the FA50 Executive Agent (G-8, FD). 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 CM upon request. Declination requests must be returned to the FA50 CM 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, FD). 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 CM and the FA50 CM submits “CSL/KNB-KB” stamps to the HRC Command Management Branch for placement on a selectee’s STP/ORB. The FA50 CM begins RFO production ICW the 25-02 movement cycle RFO production.
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 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 CM, 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 through the Assignment Interactive Module (AIM) 2.0. AIM Preferencing will be completed 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 01 JUN 25 to 01 AUG 25 (FY25 KNB).
| Unit | Location | Position |
| 1st Army | Rock Island, IL | Chief, Force Management Branch |
b. Projected fill is on or about 01 JUN 26 to 01 AUG 26 (FY26 KNB).
| Unit | Location | Position |
| AFC | Austin, TX | Programs Branch Chief |
| ARCENT | Shaw AFB, SC | Chief, Force Integration |
| ARCYBER | Fort Eisenhower, GA | Chief, Requirements and Modernization Division |
| FORSCOM | Fort Liberty, NC | Modernization Team Chief |
| USAREUR-AF | Wiesbaden, GE | Chief, Force Structure Element |
| USARPAC | Fort Shafter, HI | Chief, Force Structure Element |
| I Corps | JBLM, WA | Chief, Force Management |
| III Corps | Fort Cavasos, TX | 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 CM 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 CM NLT 05 AUG 24.
b. Upon publication of this MILPER available candidates may prepare Officer Evaluation Reports (OER) for submission with a recommended thru date NLT 05 AUG 24. OERs submitted after 05 AUG 24 may not be included in the officers 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 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 CM NLT 05 AUG 24.
g. Officer Record Briefs (ORBs) will be utilized by the LTC KNB Selection and Slating Panel with caveats as appropriate IAW MILPER 23-367 or later policy or guidance if published. If a newer Officer Record Brief or equivalent Soldier summary is created prior to the LTC KNB Panel convening, all eligible officers will be notified in writing.
9. Major Changes to LTC Post-KNB Process.
a. FA50 LTC post-KNB vacancies will be filled by eligible post-KNB officers through a marketplace. Officers within the 25-02 movement cycle will compete for post-KNB slating within the AIM 2.0 Marketplace.
b. The FA50 LTC post-KNB construct ensures that the most critical FA50 positions across the Army are prioritized for fill 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.
c. 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 25-02 ATAP Marketplace.
d. 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 through 01 JUL 24, LTC Damonica C. Sumpter, commercial (703) 545-1807, DSN (312) 229-1807 or email @ damonica.c.sumpter.mil@army.mil.
b. FA50 Proponent Officer after 01 JUL 24, LTC C. Keith, Graham, commercial (703) 545-1807, DSN (312) 229-1807 or email @ clarence.k.graham.mil@army.mil.
c. FA50 Career Manager, MAJ Adam S. Zerr, commercial (502) 613-6681, DSN (312) 983-6681 or email @ adam.s.zerr.mil@army.mil.
d. Evaluations Branch POC (issue resolution) at either commercial (502) 613-9019, DSN 983-9019 or usarmy.knox.hrc.mbx.tagd-eval-policy@army.mil.