Currently slotted as an E5, will I get promoted into my same slot?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Mar 2021 22:44:32 -0500

I am an E4 in the Reserves anticipating being on the upcoming PPRL. If I am currently in an E5 slot on my UMR, will I be automatically slotted into that position or is there still a possibility of being externally promoted to another unit?

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Mar 7 at 2021 10:48 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Sun, 07 Mar 2021 22:48:12 -0500

SPC Private RallyPoint Member Have you completed all of your PM schooling?

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 7 at 2021 11:45 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Mar 2021 23:45:25 -0500

You should. How it works in the guard is that once you have been selected, and accepted a promotion slot, that slot is yours.

If you're an E4 and have signed the papers and formally accepted the E5 slot, that slot is yours. You should have been pinned a CPL and you just have to go to BLC if you have not already.

If you are just informally filling an E5 slot unofficial due to shortages, then no nothing is guaranteed

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2021 12:32 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 00:32:08 -0500

I have heard otherwise from credible retention sources. In the USAR you would only promote into your current slot if you were magically slotted into it by an impartial board. The promotion process chooses where you end up when you are (P) and slot you. That may or may not be where you are now. Also, part of your promotion packet you should have chosen your commuting distance willing to accept a promotion. Those highly motivated draw a large circle from home of record, those wanting to stay close regardless of promotion draw a narrow circle.

Now, it's not uncommon that after the fact the promoted soldier is brought back into their original unit. It's a common consideration between USAR units. I was retained by my unit when was promoted to SGT and I have pulled strings in both directions as a company commander on the Jr NCO promotion slotting fall out.

I'm going to be bold enough to say the chances are low you are slotted into your current billet, but it probably isn't a big deal to get you transferred back.

I recommend you line up your ducks and get your current unit to start and fill out a DA4651 to keep you once you know who your new unit is going to be. So just fill out your current unit info (with S1 help) as the gaining unit with your company commander's signature and then all you'd need is your new units CO signature as the losing unit.

If you do NOTHING, you most certainly will drop off the UMR and sign-in roster, and your current unit will not be able to action anything on your behalf at all.

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DISCLOSURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

See folks............. this is why it's important to have a good working relationship with your Chain of Command and fellow soldiers.

If the poster is not the only soldier in the slot in the UMR it's going to take some administrative moving of bodies to open the vacancy (suspect it's not a big deal otherwise an MOSQ E5 would already be there).

For a CoC annoyed by a soldier (not saying it's the poster at all, just mentioning a hypothetical) this would be their OUT to get ride of them, and slow to move on transferring back to the current unit.

For a CoC with a strongly tied interest in keeping the soldier the AGR's would already be on the phone with the support of the 1SG to 1SG talks between units to try and make the transfer effective BEFORE the next BA so the soldier doesn't even have to fuss with an RST or attend a BA with the other unit at all.

I can tell you the commanders will probably be entirely cool with it, but they are not the ones pressing he keys on the keyboards to make it actually happen. Realistically they are only going to apply their CAC and S1's will execute it. The soldiers and staff motivated to keep or lose a soldier are going to be the ones that either benefit from or caused them problems.

Response by SFC Kenneth Hunnell made Mar 8 at 2021 2:15 AM

SFC Kenneth Hunnell — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 02:15:14 -0500

Nothing is automatic, if you are actually slotted on the UMR the chances are good that you get promoted into that position.
I am assuming that you have completed BLC and have been boarded, if you have completed all requirements then the chances are good that you stay in your current unit. As you go to next rank, the chances of staying at current unit diminishes

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2021 3:32 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 03:32:11 -0500

It sounds like an incumbent promotion.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2021 7:22 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 07:22:43 -0500

It is not automatic by any stretch of the imagination. There are a lot of considerations: your MOS, other units with vacant slots for that grade/MOS within your commuting distance as established on your elections and preferences, etc.

I was sitting in an E6 position when I got promoted to E6 and they still promoted me into a different unit. Even if you get promoted out, your promotion order will state that you owe that new unit 12 months of service. You can request a transfer earlier, but it's up to that commander whether or not to let you keep your rank. So, worst case scenario (assuming you are wanting to stay in your current unit), do your 12 months and then request to transfer back.

Good luck.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2021 8:22 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 08:22:57 -0500

While nothing is guaranteed, most likely if you are the one your unit wants in that slot, you will be promoted into that slot. In the reserves, I have not seen too much movement out of a unit for promotion, to E-5, unless you have no slot and want to be promoted most likely you would have to move, or if there are several waiting for said slot then there could be some movement. Now once you get past E-5, you may or may not have to move to get promoted, I have seen some people make it from E-4 to E-7 and stay in the same unit the entire time, others not so lucky.

Response by SSG Steven Borders made Mar 8 at 2021 3:43 PM

SSG Steven Borders — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 15:43:46 -0500

So, I was sitting in an E6 slot with my company and my ARA moved others out so I would get promoted into that slot. Which it did work, but I also put on my promotion packet that I did not want to go past 50 miles. I have also done the same for some of the troops that I am an SAA for on my civilian side. With much luck I have had them all promoted into the slot I had them in on the UMR. I can't say this is a for sure deal as others have pointed out. This is just my experience and others may differ.