This list is then sent to the service secretary and the Joint Chiefs for review before it can be sent to the President, through the Secretary of Defense, for consideration. The President nominates officers to be promoted from this list with the advice of the Secretary of Defense, the service secretary, and if applicable, the service's chief of staff or commandant. The President may nominate any eligible officer who is not on the recommended list if it serves in the interest of the nation, but this is uncommon.
This process involves transmission to the service secretary and Joint Chiefs for evaluation before being forwarded to the President via the Secretary of Defense for deliberation. The President selects officers from this list with advice from the Secretary of Defense, the service secretary, and possibly the service's top officer or commander. In exceptional circumstances, the President may choose an eligible officer not on the suggested list if it serves the nation's interests.