Special  Fitness  Reports Special reports of fitness maybe submitted on officers whenever they conduct themselves in any of  the  following  manners: 1. 2. 3. 4. Distinguish themselves in battle Perform  an  outstanding  act  of  valor  or devotion  to  duty Display  extraordinary  courage,  ability,  or resource  in  time  of  peril  or  great  respon- sibility Are guilty of serious misconduct or marked inefficiency Adverse Reports Adverse matter is not placed in the records of officers without their knowledge. A fitness report containing adverse matter is referred officially in writing  to  the  officer  on  which  the  report  is being submitted. If desired, the officer may then make an official statement in reply. If the officer desires  to  make  no  statement,  that  choice  must be stated officially in writing. The statement (or nonstatement)  is  endorsed  by  the  reporting  senior and  forwarded  to  the  Chief  of  Naval  Personnel together  with  the  fitness  report.  When  the  adverse report is not returned within a reasonable time, the reporting senior must prepare an explanation of  the  circumstances.  A  signed  duplicate  report is then sent with the explanation to the Chief of Naval  Personnel.  The  officer  being  reported  is informed  when  that  is  done. Submission of Report When  the  report  of  fitness  is  completed,  the regular  reporting  senior  forwards  it  directly  to  the Chief  of  Naval  Personnel. Any  reports  concerning  the  actions  or  per- formance  of  the  officer  during  a  transit  period between stations are addressed to the superior to whom  the  officer  is  reporting  for  duty.  The superior  normally  attaches  these  reports  to  the next  regular  report  of  fitness.  When  the  nature of such reports requires early action by the Chief of  Naval  Personnel,  they  are  forwarded  to  him immediately. The  reports  of  fitness  of  officers  are  con- sidered  and  treated  as  private  and  official.  The reports  are  forwarded  in  double  envelopes.  If classified  information  is  mentioned  in  a  fitness report, the instructions issued in the Department of  the  Navy  Information  and  Personnel  Security Program  Regulation  apply. Officers  may,  upon  request,  obtain  copies  of the  five  most  recent  reports  in  their  record.  A written  request  may  be  submitted  directly  to BUPERS. PROFESSIONAL  DEVELOPMENT PATH In  the  assignment  of  officer  personnel,  the Navy  is  influenced  by  the  needs  of  the  service,  the current composition of the officer corps, and the professional  development  of  each  officer.  Every effort is made to place officers in billets of their choice, while the service needs and the person’s qualifications  are  also  considered. A  service  need  is  simply  the  day-to-day  re- quirement  of  Navy  activities  for  specific  grades with  certain  talents.  Professional  development  has a dual nature. First, in ordering officers to varied types of duties and schools, the Navy furthers its own mission of preparing these officers for future command   responsibilities.   Second,   the   Navy performs  a  genuine  service  for  these  officers  by filling  out  their  experience  and  thus  increasing their  promotional  prospects.  The  desires  of  the officers are also considered because they have an obvious  bearing  on  morale.  Marital  and  depen- dent  status,  geographical  and  fleet  preference, school  requests,  and  other  personal  considerations play an important part in the final determination of  duty  assignment. We  will  limit  this  discussion  of  assignments to  rotational  patterns  of  the  unrestricted  line (surface, submarine, aviation) and supply. These patterns, as well as those not mentioned, contain a common element. They should provide officers the opportunity to gain the proficiency to handle the  responsibilities  and  challenges  of  command. Officers  can  only  gain  that  proficiency  through a  concentrated  and  continuing  effort  to  develop their knowledge and experience. Both the officers and their succession of detailing officers must be aware   of   that   element.   With   few   exceptions, orders  involving  a  permanent  change  of  station for officers are originated by the Chief of Naval Personnel. The Naval Military Personnel Manual (MILPERSMAN)   contains  basic  policy  pertain- ing  to  officer  rotation.  This  policy  concerns  the varied  types  of  duty  assignments  required  for officers  to  develop  their  capabilities  and  to  achieve a  fulfilling  career.  Deviations  from  basic  policy are  provided  as  needed  to  meet  problems  that 3-11