Any advice for getting waivered to E-4?

Here is the thing. CoC are used to the hard chargers. They get people come in from AIT or another duty station and they are looking to impress. Instead be consistent in your excellence. Work hard at your PT but set a goal ie 260. And never fall below that goal. Talk a little cocky trash with NCOes to keep the motivation. Learn to call cadence and ask to do that on company runs. Learn your job but also try to learn the other guys job as well. Make sure that your soldiering skills are impeccable. Be early to formations, never late. Make sure your barracks room is always squared away.

CoC keeps an eye on all newcomers and they notice the consistency more than the hard chargers but they do keep an eye on them and the duds.

As 1SG, I would have a meeting with my PSGs and discuss. Each PSG had someone they wanted. Sometimes they would agree it should be someone. When we couldn't agree and each pushed for their soldier, I would get their counseling folders to see what they have been counseled on and then award it based on that.

A couple of things:

Firstly, it's going to depend on your organization's allotment. How many waivers are available?

Secondly, you shouldn't have to guess at the requirements to obtain a waiver of promotion to Specialist, and it shouldn't be a subjective appointment. This should be an objective look at requirements met/ not met. So, ask! There is nothing wrong or untoward in questioning your first-line supervisor/ Squad Leader/ Platoon Sergeant on what you have to do, which milestones you need to reach. Our Company has a clear checklist that needs to be met in order to receive a waiver - 270 cumulative APFT score (no less than 80 in any event), all annual online training complete, MedPros current, etc. All Soldiers are aware of these prerequisites and conditions, and strive to meet/ Surpass them for their waiver!

Short of any prescribed requirements, Be All That You Can Be! Take online courses through ATRRS and accumulate promotion points; sign up for college and utilize your tuition assistance each year (most colleges offer 5/8/9/12-week term online courses; volunteer in your community and earn your Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM) (Check with your individual nit for guidelines); continually seek training possibilities (inside & outside your unit, local or abroad); ask about deployment opportunities. There are a myriad ways you can show yourself as a standout!

Good Luck!

Ok, old school here. Do you need waivers to get promoted in the Army? What is the waiver for. I remember back in the day, you'd get called up in front of the formation or to the 1SG office and him and your Platoon Sergeant punched the stripes into your skin. You wouldn't even know that you were going to get promoted until it happened. E5 and above is a different story.

Here is the things about promotions either your working for it from day one or you are scrambling last minute to look good for it. Just be the best military version of yourself. Do what needs to be done and do it right the first time. Don’t change yourself just because a promotion time is around the corner because it shows. Just because you show up and preform during that window doesn’t out way your normal every day actions and activities. On the darker side favorites and politics will factor in so don’t get to discouraged when those things rear their ugly head, but with hard work and solid performance those factors should be negligible.