Army Special Selection Board

May 10, 2025

An Army Special Selection Board (SSB) is regulated by AR 600-8-29, available at this link. Special Selection Boards (SSBs), often confused with Special Selection Review Boards (SSRBs), are special promotion boards to consider Officers previously not promoted when HQDA determines that one or more of the following circumstances exist:

Administrative error, when an Officer was not considered from in or above the promotion zone by a regularly scheduled board because of an administrative error
Material unfairness, determined within the discretion of HRC. This could include a previous promotion look being contrary to law in a matter material to the division of the board, when a material error of fact or material administrative error was present during a promotion look or a lack of material information being available to a promotion board during a prior look.

An Army Special Selection Board (SSB) will specifically not be convened in the following circumstances:

When an Officer is pending removal from a promotion or recommended list and the removal action was not finalized by the SECARMY before the next selection board convened. In these cases, the Officer will be considered by the next regularly scheduled board and not a Special Selection Board
When an administrative error was immaterial OR when the officer, in exercising reasonable diligence, could have discovered and corrected the error in their My Board File or AMHRR
If the error was a missing award, below a Silver Star
If the error was a missing or outdated DA photograph
If the error was the Officer submitting a late letter to the President of the Promotion Board, or
If the error occurred during a below the zone promotion look

In order to request an Army Special Selection Board (SSB), the Officer in question should send a detailed memo, with supporting evidence, if applicable, to the Commanding General, U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Promotions Branch (AHRC-PDV-PS), 1600 Spearhead Division Avenue, Department 472, Fort Knox, KY 40122-5407 or us**********************@**my.mil. If HRC determines that a Special Selection Board (SSB) should be convened, they typically occur within 120 days of that decision. Correspondence with the SSB is not allowed.

An Army Special Selection Board (SSB) will consist of at least five officers in a higher grade than those being considered, with at least one office from each competitive category to be considered by the board. If a Special Selection Board (SSB) is appointed, the results will be emailed to the Officer at his/her official email address. If the Officer fails selection at a Special Selection Board (SSB), and was not previously considered during a regularly scheduled board, then he/she will be considered a promotion failure. If the Special Selection Board (SSB) relates to reconsideration to a previous look for promotion, then failure to be selected is not considered another promotion failure. If promoted by an SSB, then the Officer's date of rank will be the date of rank that he/she should have had if not for the error that resulted in non-promotion.

If an officer is pending the results of an Army Special Selection Board (SSB), but has a separation date for being passed over for promotion twice, then he/she will be separated unless the results of the SSB are approved before the separation date. If the SSB results are approved, and recommend promotion, but separation has already occurred, then the Officer in question can appeal to the ABCMR using a DD Form 149.

In order to determine if an Officer's My Board File contained any material errors, the Officer in question can request a copy of it by requesting it from HRC at the above mentioned address/email address. Requests for an Army Special Selection Board (SSB) must be submitted within 12-months after the board's results are released. If a request is submitted after this time period, it must be addressed to the ABCMR using a DD Form 149.

Common situations that can result in the appointment of a Special Selection Board (SSB):

Missing AERs (for a vital or important course) and OERs that are not uploaded to the Officer's My Board File, despite due diligence from the Officer in question
A GOMOR or Article 15 being removed from an Officer's AMHRR after action from the DASEB or ABCMR
An OER being removed from an Officer's AMHRR after action from the ASRB or ABCMR
An inaccurate or erroneous Summary of Credible Adverse Information being included in an Officer's My Board File, or
Failure to upload other important documents, like a letter to the President of the Promotion Board, to the Officer's My Board File

Any Officer who believes an Army Special Selection Board (SSB) should be appointed should consult with an experienced Military Lawyer before petitioning for one; this increases the chances for success, whether petitioning HRC or the ABCMR. While JAGs are available to assist, they are likely inexperienced and overworked. Attorney Barry has been successful in getting SSBs appointed.

This Article was written by Attorney Matthew Barry. Attorney Barry is highly rated by former clients and has a proven track record of success.

The Law Office of Matthew Barry represents Servicemembers and Veterans worldwide. He has offices on the East Coast, West Coast, and in the Central U.S.