As an O-4, equivalent to a major in other military services, these new members of the Navy’s officer corps will rank above lieutenant and below commander upon assuming their promotion in the spring of 2011. On their dress blue uniform, they will wear a two half-inch and one quarter-inch gold stripe insignia on their wrist and shoulder, designating their new rank.

The Navy’s officer corps, made up of line and staff officers, working in support of various categories, including the Medical Corps (MC), Medical Service Corps (MSC), Dental Corps (DC), Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG), Nurse Corps and Chaplain Corps have the same selection opportunity.

The selection process involves multiple factors, including the total number of officers authorized to be in the Navy as designated by Congress at the end of each fiscal year. The Secretary of the Navy then distributes this allotted number of officers amongst the corps categories.

The number of vacancies within each category determines who is in the ‘‘zone” for selection. To be selected for promotion from ‘‘in zone,” officers must have served a certain number of years, depending on their grade. Officer promotions are also based on promotion flow point — the average number of years commissioned officers have served when they’re promoted to the next grade. Promotion planners must also follow selection percentage guidelines.

These factors are all related to one another, and a change in one can impact another.

Needless to say, those who were selected for promotion take great pride in their promotion.

Lt. Brent Dennis, MSC, who works for NSA’s Operations Management, said this is a major accomplishment in his career.

‘‘For any MSC officer, this is really the first major look by a promotion board,” said Dennis. ‘‘It was a goal I set since getting commissioned in 2001. It was nice seeing my name on the list along with some friends and colleagues that I went to Officer Indoctrination School with, but at the same time [I knew] there were some good names missing from the list as well ... It’s a nice feeling and now I can push on for the next goal, O-5.”

Upon seeing his name on the list of selectees, Lt. Kevin Haveman, a third-year Periodontics resident in the Naval Postgraduate Dental School, said, ‘‘It brought a smile to my face and [was] an opportunity to reflect on the past several years. It is an honor that I can share with my family and something for which I am proud of.”

Haveman added, ‘‘Being selected for lieutenant commander means that over the past few years I have been recognized for my accomplishments and service to others.”

He and Lt. Joshua Henson, a second-year resident in Comprehensive Dentistry, shared similar sentiments. Planning to make the Navy a career, Henson added the new rank means greater responsibilities and more opportunities.

‘‘This is yet another stepping stone to making captain,” said Henson.

Lt. Justin Hawks, deputy Staff Judge Advocate at NSA Bethesda, is ‘‘deeply honored to be selected for lieutenant commander in the Navy JAG Corps,” he said. Hawks, who is also a discipline officer and special assistant U.S. attorney for the U.S. District Court, said his selection represents the culmination of the support and guidance he has received from his family, mentors and supervisors over the years.

‘‘Success doesn’t happen in a vacuum,” said Hawks. ‘‘I am so fortunate to be surrounded by people who inspire and encourage me on a daily basis. I am looking forward to pinning on lieutenant commander and embarking on this next phase of my Navy career.”