Can my unit refuse to pin me even though I have already met all of the requirements?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 18:47:14 -0500

I made the list for e-5 on December 1st of this year. I already attended and graduated BLC as well, thus I have obviously already attended and passed the promotion board. My ERB already states that I am a SGT as of DEC 1st. However due to a recent surgery, I was out on the day I picked up automatically and therefore have not been pinned yet. I will be out for an entire month. While I am not flagged for anything and as stated above, have met all the requirements to get pinned.....can my unit refuse to pin me due to being a a temporary profile due to having surgery? Or do they pretty much have to pin me because I've already met all the requirements? No one has said anything about not pinning me once i return for convalescent leave, I'm just asking out of curiosity.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 10 at 2019 7:19 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 19:19:56 -0500

Look for promotion orders in your HRC portal. If you see them, go ahead and communicate with your unit and schedule a time for the leadership or whomever you wish to pin you. Congratulations by the way! Most importantly, I wish you a speedy recovery!

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 10 at 2019 7:37 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 19:37:20 -0500

Pin yourself. I picked up 5 on PCS leave, showed up with stripes sewn on. Confused the unit who thought they were getting a SPC, but they changed the paperwork and drove on.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Dec 10 at 2019 7:51 PM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 19:51:46 -0500

Its all about orders! Have they been published by HRC?

Then, a short call with your first line supervisor might be of interest to you.

Response by 1SG Dennis Hicks made Dec 10 at 2019 8:35 PM

1SG Dennis Hicks — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 20:35:07 -0500

I would wait until I returned to my unit since many leaders want to do it right have family present , take pictures etc to make the event memorable. Also I would keep contact with my unit to see what they want to do. As a wise old MSG once told me as long as you are getting the pay be happy.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Dec 10 at 2019 9:03 PM

SSG Brian G. — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 21:03:23 -0500

As long as you have the orders promoting you to E-5 it does not matter what your unit wants, thinks or does. It is all about the orders. As long as your E-4 is posted and reflected in the system AND you have orders in hand that state you are now promoted to E-5 effective this date, then you are an E-5.

Pinning by your unit is a formality. A nice formality but still a formality that means nothing more than pride.

Response by Cpl Chris Stroud made Dec 11 at 2019 12:09 AM

Cpl Chris Stroud — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 00:09:09 -0500

You got all the paperwork from Army HQ saying you've been promoted, right? You mean you haven't had the formation and the formal pinning from your CO? Screw it, if they're not gonna do it, just do it yourself. I picked up Corporal while I was on terminal leave (biiiiiiiig bad story to this, tl;dr) and to make it "official" the CO and the 1st Sgt did a simple pin in the Captain's office, shook my hand, congratulated me, and sent me out the door.

It blew not getting the recognition of the unit, and the gauntlet, and the rest of the pageantry that goes with a promo but it was legit all the same. HQMC anointed me, the rest is window dressing.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2019 1:18 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 01:18:51 -0500

I would hold off and make the effort to communicate with you leadership about being pinned once you return to duty. I understand the first time you get your stripes is a big deal, but it also a big deal to your unit and family. Most units want to ensure the soldier is properly “noticed” for their advancement and will hold a ceremony of sorts to commemorate this, in only happens one time if you do it right.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Dec 11 at 2019 5:36 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 05:36:40 -0500

Contact your 1SG and ask if you can be pinned at morning formation the day you return. Do not pin yourself unless he tells you to. While it would technically not be wrong, being pinned in front of your unit sets the precedent, showing that the commander and the Army have Faith in your ability to lead. Thank you for your service.

Response by CH (CPT) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2019 9:53 AM

CH (CPT) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 09:53:16 -0500

1) Don't listen to those telling you to pin yourself. Only do that as a last resort if something strange prevents you from being pinned by that unit. Those telling you to do it are inferring from your question that the unit is refusing....which you later say isn't the case. 2) Why would you wonder? They aren't going to refuse to pin you. You promoted. But they aren't going to pin you on con leave. They will wait until you're back and do it publicly.

Response by SPC Stewart Smith made Dec 11 at 2019 2:17 PM

SPC Stewart Smith — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 14:17:47 -0500

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2019 2:26 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 14:26:05 -0500

You are deserving of wearing the rank and should be treated as such. A delay in your pinning ceremony should not be a thing. You should be pinned at soonest possible time.

The one thing I will say is that reenlistment, promotions, award ceremonies are more for your soldier than for you. It’s supposed to almost validate your hard work, dedication etc. to your soldiers to instill more confidence and appreciation for what you do for them and your unit.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2019 8:42 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 20:42:44 -0500

Really this breaks down to a personal profit/loss assessment. If you are getting paid as E5 on the 15th then, congratulations you're a Sergeant. Being pinned by your leadership is, 1: a show of pride and confidence in you, 2: an example to your peers of what hard work and dedication looks like and the increased responsibility it brings, and 3: a "We did good." For your senior leadership to pat themselves on the back for. If you are in a unit that isn't interested in all three of the aforementioned items then pin yourself and move on. I was in the same unit, same company, same squad for 5 years and 4 promotions, and never had a moment where my senior leadership was interested in any of the three points I mentioned.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2019 10:16 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 22:16:44 -0500

To me it’s a no brainer! You’re joining the ranks of the NCO. This is a BIG deal not just about a pay check. You need to be inducted into the NCO Corps the proper way! To just bring your OCPs and ASUs to the cleaners and have them sow your ranks on, to me, is just not the way I was raised in the U.S. Army! You only join the NCO Corps once, make it memorable!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 12 at 2019 5:02 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 17:02:14 -0500

I arrived to my unit 1 Nov My orders were processed and back dated to 9 Oct but I wasn’t pinned until 20something Nov when we were having a SES at a field exercise. Some of us say call me what you like as long as my pay is correct. If your ERB is update you can use that to update your CAC. If you’ve addressed your concerns with your NCO support channel and chain of command and they are still refusing to allow you to wear the proper rank you may also seek assistance from IG.