Is ELD required to promote from E4 to E5 in the Navy Reserves?

2025-07-25T14:12:31-04:00

Hello all, my advancement exam is next month and they told me that I do not need to have ELD completed for an E5 promotion but they called today and said I might not be eligible for promotion because of it. I have conflicting information. Can anyone help me out? Thank you

Response by COL Randall C. made Jul 25 at 2025 2:53 PM

2025-07-25T14:53:13-04:00

Updated: Mistakenly posted a response for promotion to E6, not E5.

According to the Navy's Enlisted Career Advancement website*, ELD is NOT required for E5.

A more authoritative source is NAVADMIN 032/25* (para 4e) which states, that while ILDC completion is mandatory for E6, "ELD course completion is not mandatory for E-5 candidates."
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* Navy's Enlisted Career Advancement website - https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Career-Management/Community-Management/Enlisted-Career-Admin/Advancement/
Hmm.... NAVADMIN
* NAVADMIN 032/25 - https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Messages/NAVADMIN/NAV2025/NAV25032.pdf

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Having the requisite Enlisted Leader Development completed in order to take the test is a requirement starting this year.

According to NAVADMIN 237/23*, "beginning in the calendar year 2025, ELD completion will be a prerequisite to take the Navy-wide advancement exam for E-6 and E-7 ..."

Specifically, for E6 the ELD needed is the Advanced Leader Development Course (ALDC).

This change has been in the works for a number of years as it was announced it was coming back in November 2021 (NAVADMIN 254/21*).
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NAVADMIN 237/23 - https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Messages/NAVADMIN/NAV2023/NAV23237.txt
NAVADMIN 254/21 - https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Messages/NAVADMIN/NAV2021/NAV21254.txt

Advancement