IWC Reserve Community detailer (this is for RL officers only, not URL or Staff). The number of slots each year on the board is for all intents and purposes only bringing in fresh 1835 Ensigns to compensate for attrition; in addition to this, 29% of 1835s at the O4 and above level are not selected for paid billets and are forced into various VTUs around the country (as of FY2016). If you're an O4 and unwilling to travel across the country for a paid billet, it is highly probable that you will end up in a VTU. What does all this mean for new applicants? Record low acceptance rates with extraordinarily high levels of competition. I've met a few recent selectees on the board that went this year and they are by far and away unbelievably over-qualified and even make the selectees from FYs 2014, 2015, and 2016 seem comparably unqualified. I'm glad i'm not an applicant in this current hiring climate.