Director of Administration and Management
DFi
ADMINISTRATIVE
INSTRUCTION
NUMBER 33
December 17, 2015
Incorporating Change 2, March 20, 2023
HRD, WHS
SUBJECT: Merit Promotion Plan
References: See Enclosure 1
1. PURPOSE. This administrative instruction (AI):
a. Reissues AI 33 (Reference (a)) in accordance with the authority in DoD Directive 5110.04
(Reference (b)) and DoD Instruction 5025.01 (Reference (c)).
b. Implements policy, assigns responsibilities, and provides procedures for selection of
employees covered by the merit promotion requirements of Part 335 of Title 5, Code of Federal
Regulations (Reference (d)).
2. APPLICABILITY. This AI:
a. Applies to:
(1) OSD and those Defense Agencies, DoD Field Activities, and other components of the
DoD that receive human resource services from Washington Headquarters Services (WHS).
(2) All competitive service positions at General Schedule 15 or equivalent (e.g., NH-IV,
AD-15) and below, to include wage grade positions that require a competitive selection as
defined in Part 335 of Reference (d). It may be used by selecting officials, if appropriate, for
excepted service positions. Bargaining unit positions may be subject to provisions of a
negotiated agreement.
(3) Positions filled by:
(a) Competitive promotion.
(b) Performance-based promotion.
