AUTHORITY FOR OFFICERS TO OPT OUT OF PROMOTION BOARD CONSIDERATION.

SEC. 505. 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:132 STAT. 1743 “(6) An officer excluded under subsection (e).”; and(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:“(e) Authority To Allow Officers To Opt Out of Selection Board Consideration.—(1) The Secretary of a military department may provide that an officer under the jurisdiction of the Secretary may, upon the officer’s request and with the approval of the Secretary, 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.“(2) The Secretary concerned may only approve a request under paragraph (1) if—“(A) 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, or a career progression requirement delayed by the assignment or education;“(B) the Secretary determines the exclusion from consideration is in the best interest of the military department concerned; and“(C) 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” and inserting “Certain Officers Not”; and(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 Allow Officers To Opt Out of Selection Board Consideration.—(1) The Secretary of a military department may provide that an officer under the jurisdiction of the Secretary may, upon the officer’s request and with the approval of the Secretary, 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.“(2) The Secretary concerned may only approve a request under paragraph (1) if—“(A) 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, or a career progression requirement delayed by the assignment or education;“(B) the Secretary determines the exclusion from consideration is in the best interest of the military department concerned; and“(C) the officer has not previously failed of selection for promotion to the grade for which the officer requests the exclusion from consideration.”.