How do promotions work in the military?

kairo · May 29, 2007

Can someone fill me in how it works?

Lets say you enlist in the army (or whatever) Do you have to complete certain skills? Accomplish some assigned objective? Or do you just put in your time and it happens automatically.

How do you get from E-1 to E-4 (or whatever).

Do you get bonus points for medals that speed up earned rank?

Plate · May 29, 2007

It really depends on the branch of service. As far as the Army goes E1 - E4 is pretty much automatic once you hit the required TIG/TIS (time in service/time in grade) current regulations allow up to one waiver of TIG/TIS. It's not 100% automatic though, it generally is for good soldiers but those who show up late, don't shave, can't perform their required duties up to standard can be denied their promotion at the discretion of their CO and will be counseled as to why they weren't promoted as they should have been. Soldiers also must not be flagged or barred to re-enlist at the time of the promotion which means you must pass your APFT (fitness test) and height/weight or body fat calc. At least that's how it's supposed to work, doesn't always go that way in practice. E5 and above is based on a points system that varies whether you are Active Duty, Reservve, National Guard, MOS, etc. Points for medals and awards really don't factor in until you get into E5 and above in the Army.

schitzangiggles · May 29, 2007

You get down on one knee and kiss every *** that is put infront of you. If you have great technique, you will board better/faster and thus get promoted.

Plate · May 29, 2007

schitzangiggles said:
You get down on one knee and kiss every *** that is put infront of you. If you have great technique, you will board better/faster and thus get promoted.

Having breasts doesn't hurt in today's Army either. Not a sexist remark, just reflecting the current climate in the military.

LandRover · May 29, 2007

Do man boobs count?

Plate · May 29, 2007

LandRover said:
Do man boobs count?

Not if it was up to me, but hey who knows who will be on the board, anything is possible. After all we can't ask and they can't tell.

LandRover · May 29, 2007

Plate said:
After all we can't ask and they can't tell.

Trust me. They can tell. :laugh:

PJL · May 29, 2007

Remember, some soldiers make beds neater and shine shoes brighter than others. But basically, if you have a window treatment near your bunk that matches the decor in your footlocker, they know.

Plate · May 29, 2007

The irony is most stand out like a **** in a punch bowl, but that's how it goes.

Grape Ape · May 29, 2007

Navy e-1 to e-3 is the same you get it after a certain time if you have been a good sailor. To make e-4 and above you take an exam. Your score on the exam, time in grade time in rate, awards and evals all count as part of the final score. They then determine how many they need to advance and set if they need 12 then the 12th highest score is the last to advance. They give points up to a certain amount to the people who passed the exam but did not advance. When I was in to go from e-5 to e-6 they only advanced 3 of 218 and even worse odds a few times. All of your extra points had to be maxed out evals had to be 4.0 across the board and you about had to ace the test to advance.

laybackman · May 30, 2007

I was in the US ARMY ~ a ton of years ago and one factor could limit your rank limit potential. If you were trained in and was filling an MOS slot that had a limit of an E-4 rank you could not get promoted past E-4 while in that slot. BUT you could be an E-2 or E-3 and fill it. You had to move on to a position that had a higher rating. Then there had to be an open slot for you, and you had to have the schooling for that slot, or be recommended for that slot based upon your given abilities. When you got into NCO country politics could be a factor even in times like now with a military police action in place. You needed to pass a board exam and interview ( ahhh the politics of the interview rearing it's ugly head).

grovesj2 · May 30, 2007

Grape Ape said:
Navy e-1 to e-3 is the same you get it after a certain time if you have been a good sailor. To make e-4 and above you take an exam. Your score on the exam, time in grade time in rate, awards and evals all count as part of the final score. They then determine how many they need to advance and set if they need 12 then the 12th highest score is the last to advance. They give points up to a certain amount to the people who passed the exam but did not advance. When I was in to go from e-5 to e-6 they only advanced 3 of 218 and even worse odds a few times. All of your extra points had to be maxed out evals had to be 4.0 across the board and you about had to ace the test to advance.

Hes got it pretty much right for the Navy. One thing to keep in mind is not all rates have that low of an advancement percentage. Most e-5 to e-6 advancement is usually around 10% - 15%.

shunt · May 30, 2007

Also being in the Regular service as opposed to the Reserves or National Guard used to make a difference. They don't have as many promotion slots.

If you're squared away and good at your MOS the promotions will come.

talonegress · May 30, 2007

E-1 thru E-4 in the AF is all on your TIG/TIS too. To get E-5 and up it's all testing and a points system. You get points for what you got on your EPR's, awards/medals, two part test (PFE, AF history and such and test of your job knowledge). They set a cutoff point score...everybody above it gets promote, below better luck next year. I test for Staff Sergeant(E-5) this year.

War Eagle · May 30, 2007

I think you trade in box tops or something.

Poor Boy · May 30, 2007

Grape Ape said:
Navy e-1 to e-3 is the same you get it after a certain time if you have been a good sailor. To make e-4 and above you take an exam. Your score on the exam, time in grade time in rate, awards and evals all count as part of the final score. They then determine how many they need to advance and set if they need 12 then the 12th highest score is the last to advance. They give points up to a certain amount to the people who passed the exam but did not advance. When I was in to go from e-5 to e-6 they only advanced 3 of 218 and even worse odds a few times. All of your extra points had to be maxed out evals had to be 4.0 across the board and you about had to ace the test to advance.

and e7 is all of that crap, plus a selection board after you pass the test.

73456 · May 30, 2007

Ive been in the AF for 10.5 years Im an E-5. Im not a slow burner but not a fast burner either kinda average...
Talked to a girl joined the Army 5 months ago when she hits Iraqi dirt she will be an E-5 ... Took me 5 YEARS to get E-5..
But then again the only sand Ive ever seen is from the beaches with a beer in my hand working 16 days a month..

talonegress · May 30, 2007

That's one thing that sucks about the AF they want us to believe we're on the same level as all of the other branches promotion wise and we're not. Takes way to long to get rank in the AF compared to the Army.

73456 · May 30, 2007

But we dont lose it as easily as other branches though

talonegress · May 30, 2007

That is true...you have to do some major **** like DUI or something to lose rank.

How do promotions work in the military?

kairo

Plate

schitzangiggles

Plate

LandRover

Plate

LandRover

PJL

Plate

Grape Ape

laybackman

grovesj2

shunt

talonegress

War Eagle

Poor Boy

73456

talonegress

73456

talonegress

Top Contributors this Month

Recommended Communities