Posted on May 24, 2014
SPC Multichannel Transmission Systems Operator/Maintainer
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Posted in these groups: Star PromotionsCareer Planner
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SPC Christopher Smith
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Complete SSD1 as soon as possible, volunteer for as many boards as possible, study your basic soldier skills and unit history, volunteer for the details that no one wants to do. Learn not only your job but that of your team leader and squad leader. During down time do correspondence courses, max your pt test, max your range score. Ask for schools (cbrn defense, fork lift, bus driver, etc). After your first year use TA for civilian ed and complete your degree as soon as possible. Do well at WLC when you go as a SPC.

Just remember, getting promoted is great, but don't spend your whole military career chasing rank. That does not help you develop into a good leader.
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SPC Multichannel Transmission Systems Operator/Maintainer
SPC (Join to see)
>1 y
I've been doing all these things. Looks like I'm on the right track! Thanks for the tips.
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SPC Christopher Smith
SPC Christopher Smith
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As long as you are doing those few things you will be alright. I'm assuming you are intel since you are in a Signal battalion. With the draw down, and less deployments in the pipeline, points are going to get harder and harder to come by. You might not make rank as quickly as those before you, but keep your head up, and just keep pushing forward.
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SPC Multichannel Transmission Systems Operator/Maintainer
SPC (Join to see)
>1 y
Im actually signal. 25Q. but will do!
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SFC Military Police
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Here are some questions for you to ponder.
Why do I want to get promoted faster?
Have I EARNED the promotion or will it just be given to me?
Do I feel that I am ready for the increased responsibility at that level?
Do I just want more pay and the ability to tell others what to do?

These are just a few of the questions you need to ask yourself because far too often people are promoted based on some of the things others have suggested such as SSD courses, correspondence courses, etc...
Once you are promoted you are expected to have a certain level of knowledge that younger soldiers will seek and leaders will depend on, do you feel you have that? As the wars and deployments come to an end the wartime promotion rates will drop significantly and many of those promoted too quickly merely based on wartime vacancies will be filling our ranks. Many have the tactical knowledge but lack the technical knowledge needed to lead and mentor soldiers.
Pick up a copy of an NCOER and read the back and rate yourself in those areas, then go back and answer those questions again.
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GySgt (Other / Not listed)
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For Marines...
Run your heart out until you can run 3 miles in less than 18 minutes
Do 20 pull ups
Max out your sit ups
Shoot like a sniper
Do your required PME plus 7 MCI
Look good and take charge
Demonstrate the leadership principles and traits
Volunteer for everything
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Best ways to get promoted faster?
SFC Station Commander
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PFC Holland, wanting to get promoted is a great goal, and I commend you for that goal. Make sure that you are wanting a promotion for the right reasons. Don't try to rush it, there are numerous people who have rushed their promotions and became stuck at a certain rank and because of that ended up retiring after being the same rank for 5-10 years. My suggestion to you is that you learn everything that you can, and do everything that is right, then when it is your time it will come. From the comments that I have read, you are already on the right track, keep it up.
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SFC Observer Coach Trainer
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There are so many things that go into getting promoted in the military. There are straight cut regulatory guidance on timelines and processes but then there are also many parts left to timing and opportunity as it becomes available to you that greatly affect your promotions the further you go. If you don’t have as much choice in the positions that you want to serve in then you may be at a loss compared to your peers who were able to select their desired positions based on their opportunity. Four big topics to discus are education, schools and courses, records (SRB), and the board. Here is a pretty good series you can read on the Soldier’s Spot. There is guidance for all NCO ranks there. https://www.soldiersspot.com/post/part-1-education-how-to-get-promoted-to-sfc-in-the-army
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SFC Observer Coach Trainer
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There are so many things that go into getting promoted in the military. There are straight cut regulatory guidance on timelines and processes but then there are also many parts left to timing and opportunity as it becomes available to you that greatly affect your promotions the further you go. If you don’t have as much choice in the positions that you want to serve in then you may be at a loss compared to your peers who were able to select their desired positions based on their opportunity. Four big topics to discus are education, schools and courses, records (SRB), and the board you can read more on the Soldier’s Spot. There is guidance for all NCO ranks there. https://www.soldiersspot.com/post/part-1-education-how-to-get-promoted-to-sfc-in-the-army
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2LT Student
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PFC Holland, here is the key lesson that I learned from the greatest NCO's and Officers that have mentored me thus far: Don't worry about the promotions.

Focus your energy on learning your job and mastering your craft because your team will depend on you to do your job and that you do your job well. When you excel, immediately train those to your left and right so that the peers in your section are able to perform on your level. Do it with the understanding that their successes will directly impact the success of your section and platoon as a whole. Your goal should be about assisting in making your section an asset, not a liability.

Contribute ideas, not complaints and always be willing to learn from your mistakes; during your career you ARE going to fail more than once, what will matter is how you bounce back from those failures. Do you shrink and give up or will you improvise, adapt and overcome? Don't ever let discipline be an issue in or out of uniform. There will always be opportunities to learn regardless of rank, so always keep an open mind and never stop striving for knowledge. Finally, always listen to your NCO's- they want you to succeed, especially since you will be in their shoes one day.

Do the right things for the right reasons and the promotions will come by themselves.

Best of luck.
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SPC Multichannel Transmission Systems Operator/Maintainer
SPC (Join to see)
>1 y
Thank you, Sir! I greatly appreciate your advice and will use it to become a better soldier and person as well!
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SSG Ed Mikus
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be better than your peers, seek mentor-ship from leaders you wish to emulate, and have everything complete that makes you eligible for the next grade (SSD's, schools, enough promotion points ext)
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