By RICHARD HALLORAN

For two hot months this summer, one Army general, four lieutenant generals and 16 major generals sat in a cramped, darkened room at the Military Personnel Center near the Pentagon poring over the records of 2,600 colonels.

At issue was the selection of 64 new brigadier generals. In the military service, the leap from colonel in the Army, Marine Corps and Air Force to brigadier general, or from captain to commodore in the Navy, is by far the most competitive of all promotions.

Moreover, when colonels or captains take off eagles and put on stars, their lives change. They assume immensely more authority and are held to higher standards of responsibility; their careers and status soar.

Thus the careful screening in that room, where the lights were dimmed while the microfilmed records were being studied. Each of the generals, sleeves rolled up, some smoking, read through every colonel's file of 40 or more efficiency reports, annual health records and letters of commendation or criticism. On a Scale of 6 to 1

Each general then graded each colonel on a scale of 6 to 1. A 6 meant the colonel ''absolutely'' should be promoted, while 5 was for those ''clearly above contemporaries'' and 4 meant a ''solid performer.'' A 3 meant basically qualified, while a 2 meant the colonel had ''too many weaknesses,'' and a 1 meant the colonel should ''absolutely not'' be promoted.

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The ratings were fed into a computer to establish an order of merit. Then the generals sat around a table to argue. Selecting the top half of the colonels for promotion was easy; it was the bottom half that was scrutinized in agonizing detail.

That done, copies of a tentative list were given to the Criminal Investigation Command, which made sure none of the nominees were facing charges in a civilian court, and to the Army's Inspector General, which checked Army files for adverse reports.

Said an officer familiar with the process, ''You don't want to pick as a potential division commander some guy who's up on porno charges before a civilian court.''

Finally, after the approval of the Chief of Staff, Gen. John A. Wickham Jr., and the Secretary of the Army, John O. Marsh Jr., the list of colonels to be promoted was submitted by President Reagan to the Senate on Oct. 1. Three days later the Senate approved the list. The Oldest and the Youngest

The oldest to be promoted this year is Col. Marvin G. O'Connell, who is 52 years old, has served for 29 years and is chief of staff at the National Defense University in Washington, the top educational institution in the military service.

The youngest, Col. Jerry C. Harrison, who will be 43 next month, has served for 21 years and commands the artillery in the Second Infantry Division in South Korea. Col. Rudolph Ostovich 3d, who is a month older, has also served for 21 years and commands the 11th Aviation Group in West Germany.

Closer to the median is Col. Henry M. Hagwood Jr., who will turn 47 later this month and has served for 24 years, the average length of service for this crop of brigadier generals. He commands the Field Artillery Training Center at Fort Sill in Oklahoma. A Ruthless Process

The weeding out of officers as they near the top is ruthless. In the Army today, an officer who has a normal career reaches lieutentant colonel within 20 years. At last count the Army had 10,707 lieutenant colonels, but only 4,700 of them will be promoted to colonel to serve for five more years.

After that, a mere 200 colonels will ever make it to brigadier general. Once having reached brigadier general, however, about 140 will eventually become major generals. Beyond that, only a few will be selected for three- or four-star general.

The process this year began when General Wickham named a selection board of generals led by Robert W. Sennewald, Commanding General of Army forces within the United States.

General Wickham gave General Sennewald a letter of instruction specifying the number of brigadier generals to be selected and for which branch, such as infantry, field artillery or military police, or for which specialty, such as personnel, logistics or public affairs.

On July 17 the board began screening records, with particular attention to the efficiency reports made each year or whenever an officer or his superior changed assignments. ''One bad efficiency report is not going to affect you,'' said a knowledgeable officer. ''But three or four . . .'' Assignments and Looks

Army officers say weight is often given to the difficulty of a colonel's assignments throughout his career. A colonel who has taken on tough jobs, such as division chief of staff, will more likely be given higher ratings than a colonel who stayed behind a desk.

The board also pays close attention to photographs of the colonels, to see whether appearance fits with physical records. ''Looks have something to do with it,'' one officer said. Another scoffed, ''Sometimes they just pick pretty boys.''

Less important is what is known as ''loose paper,'' which includes decorations and commendations. A colonel may write to the board, but that letter is usually confined to drawing a late piece of information to the board's attention. It is considered bad form to blow one's own horn, and letters of recommendation or phone calls to the board are not permitted. Scorecards Are Coded

The scorecard on each colonel is coded so no general on the board will know the ratings given by the other generals. So long as each general is consistent, the system is considered fair. Few 6's are given and a 1 requires the rater to give an reason.

Once an order of merit among the colonels comes out of the computer, putting three dozen top colonels into brigadier general slots is swift. If the instructions call for 13 field artillery brigadier generals, the first six or seven are taken right off the list.

Then the horse-trading begins. The generals who are personally acquainted with a particular colonel argue for or against him. A colonel in armor who may be down the list as a tanker but who has experience in a specialty such as personnel management that needs a general may get the nod. Sometimes votes are taken, with the decision going to the Chief of Staff if the board is evenly split.

After the Senate has approved the promotions, the Army begins to assign the colonels to positions calling for brigadier generals. But some get caught in the Army's complex budget proceedings. These new generals will be ''frocked,'' putting on their stars and having the authority of a brigadier general but not getting paid for it until the Army has enough money.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4001328&forum_id=2#36239451)

here is an interesting wiki on the West Point class with the highest % of generals

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_class_the_stars_fell_on

the one thing the article doesn't go into is how much being from one of the academies helps you.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4001328&forum_id=2#36278440)