Navy FITREP (NAVPERS 1610/2) Guide

The Navy FITREP is the performance evaluation form for commissioned officers (O1–O6) and warrant officers. Unlike the enlisted EVAL, the FITREP is more heavily narrative-driven and places greater emphasis on comparative statements and promotion advocacy.

The form covers a rating period, assesses the officer across multiple performance categories, and culminates in a promotion recommendation from the Reporting Senior. The RS's comparative ranking of the officer within their rated population is the single most important element of the FITREP.

While the EVAL and FITREP share structural similarities, officer FITREPs are evaluated differently at selection boards. FITREPs carry more weight on the RS's narrative quality, the comparative ranking within the RS's population, and the strength of the promotion advocacy statement.

Officer selection boards are highly competitive and holistic. The FITREP is read alongside education records, command/major assignment history, and other career markers. A strong FITREP in a weak career position is less competitive than a comparable FITREP in a strong career position.

The FITREP uses the same EP/MP/P/Prog/SP recommendation structure as the EVAL. Early Promote (EP) is the strongest and most competitive recommendation for officer selection boards. Must Promote (MP) is competitive at junior grades but insufficient for senior boards.

For O-5 and O-6 selection, EP recommendations — especially from senior RSs with tight EP profiles — are essentially required to be competitive. An officer with a pattern of MP recommendations at O-4 is unlikely to be selected for O-5 unless the rest of the record is exceptional.

EP is quota-controlled. Your RS has a limited percentage of EPs to award. If you receive MP and believe your record merits EP, request a pre-FITREP counseling to understand the RS's rationale — before the report is finalized.

The Navy selection board process incorporates the Reporting Senior's cumulative average — their historical average trait score for all officers they've rated — as context for interpreting your individual scores. This relative value calibration means your raw scores are less important than where you fall within your RS's profile.

An officer with a 4.0 trait average from an RS whose average is 3.7 is performing better relative to their RS's expectations than an officer with a 4.2 from an RS whose average is 4.3. Understanding your RS's profile is essential to understanding the true strength of your FITREP.

A FITREP endorsed by a flag officer (O-7 or above) carries significantly more weight than one endorsed by an O-6. This is especially true for O-5 and O-6 selection boards, where flag endorsements signal that the officer has operated in senior environments and earned recognition from those with broader perspective.

Not every officer will have flag endorsements — they're available only when serving in billets that have flag officers in the reporting chain. When available, a thoughtful flag endorsement with specific comparative language and a promotion recommendation is one of the most valuable items in an officer's file.