Do you have any advice on going from E4 to E5?

Make a list of details that needs to happen then ask the platoon sergeant if it's ok for you to take charge of that task/detail and when it's complete go to the platoon sergeant and advise it done and ask him/her to inspect. Advise them that you would like more responsibility.

Army uses a system known as Time in Service, TIS, and Time in Grade, or TIG, to determine when promotions should occur. Provided that the soldier routinely performs his/her assigned tasks competently and without the need for continuous supervision, the time in service an E-4 needs to move to E-5 is 36 months, with at least eight months time in grade as an E-4. Additionally, E-5 candidates meet before a promotion board at 34 months, with six months TIG.Sergeants, or E-5s, are directly accountable for the soldiers beneath them in ways fundamental to Army life.

E-5s counsel and mentor privates, specialists and corporals, instructing them on the finer points of appearance, career development and personal accountability. Sergeants are professional NCOs, typically placed in squad or team leader positions. E-5 is the stepping stone to staff sergeant, a rank that takes on increasing responsibilities for the NCOs beneath it. At this point, the personal conduct and career development of those beneath her/his is considered a direct reflection upon his/her leadership abilities. You really should let your C/O in on the NCO's habit otherwise its only going to continue till they get busted out of shear luck, or let the chaplain know- they are known for pulling strings all the way up the ladder.

HEY!!! Being a leader isnt about who sees what, or who listens to who cause I have rank. HELL NO it aint about that, its about care and concern. Thats why we are the Chain of Concern and not the Chain of Command. If you are doing the right things (from what you say here), yet what do your Soldier/ Leader Counseling say? Are your leaders doing their job in counseling you? Are you asking that you be counseled? Guidence, etc.

Look leadership will come with time, but what’s the real reason you want to lead; just to tell Soldiers what to do. Do you actually care for their wellbeing? Are you displaying the heart of a leader or do you just wish to make that next grade?

Can you actually train those Soldiers to fire a weapon, PMCS a vehicle, zero a M68, an ACOG and a M249 or what ver your job needs are? Know the right places to take a newly married Soldier that’s 19 years old, with an 18 year old wife and preganat. Set them up with the right Army programs sd that they can eat, have a roof, wear clothes, whom to call when you all train so and so forth.
What does the BOSS program do/provide?
Is your own PT up to par, meaning that you are at least 270 or above? Can you lead a PRT session? If you can truly look yourself in the face, in a mirror and BE BRUTALLY honest with yourself and say YES or NO too yourself. Any one of those things will become clear to your leaders and then you POP amongst your peers, therefore an easy pick for ANY promotion board. Possibly from the advice from the company first sergeant to your platoon sergeant. If you are that good even he’ll notice. If not then get off your ass and get that way. Next thing you know. Your standing in front of the CSM and all the Co 1SG answering questions and well on your way.

Good Luck!!

SFC B

First and foremost, during your quarterly counseling sessions, ask what you could do to improve. Then do those things. Also, as pointed out before, you need to be motivated ALL the time. Most of the time isn't good enough. Whether or not you are truly motivated for the task at hand, it needs to appear that you are. Beyond this, take as much responsibility as your position allows, just be sure not to step on a leader's toes. Moreover, ask your team/squad leader to assign you more responsibility, if you are absolutely sure you are ready for it. Taking on more responsibility than your grade allows is a sink or swim scenario, it either allows you to shine if you are doing the job correctly or fail miserably. If you fail there is a good chance that you will not be promoted while with that company. If you are excelling in your newfound responsibilities, given that you are allowed to take them, and are not allowed to board within a year, AND there are positions available, you need to talk to your senior leadership.

First of all learn and live by the NCO creed... Read and understand all the leadership FMs you can. All those E 4 buddies you had they are not your friends any more ... Grow your soldiers to take your place always remember you can be replace ... Since your an E5 now you need to learn how to be and grow into an E6... Grow your Soldiers to take the NCO Corps back with tradition honor and respect... By all means make sure you and everyone that is in your squad fire team or section knows there job one level down and two levels up... Other than that have fun and enjoy the moments, never take things personal it is business

SPC O'Quinn,
Let me start by asking you a question. Are you being counseled on where you stand when it comes to professional growth and your potential to move to the next rank? If not, then that's where the problem starts and ends. The truth is if you were being counseled correctly we wouldn't be having this discussion right now. Because all your question would be answered during that counseling session and if there not you have the right to use the open door policy to find an answer to your situation. But before you do anything like that, get with your NCO tell him or her you need to be counseled on you potential for further responsibility and promotion, its just that simple. If they brush you off let them know respectfully that you would like to talk to your 1SG.

As long as you have had no disciplinary issues, do your job, pass your APFT, HT and WT you should be good. Now if there are others more squared away than you and they go to and win boards regularly, 300 APFT Score, Expert at the range etc... then obviously, they will get promoted first because there doing more than just their JOB. But in the long run its your career take control of it. Start by letting your NCOs know that they owe you an explanation officially for why your not a team leader, so a road map can be drawn up from start to finish of everything you need to do to have that team leader position and P status.
Good luck!

Ask the NCO who takes over your work to annotate what it is you have already done so that you receive your recognition.

Keep pushing, don't forget to keep studying. Do your job. Understand that there are only so many NCO slots available. It'll come.

This should be discussed with your Squad Leader during counseling.You have to set a short and long term goals and you need to ask your SL what are his/her expectations and what you need to do to be recommended to attend a promotion board. You should also work on areas that you have primary control of (civilian education, correspondence courses, PT score) while you are waiting to be recommended. With your question in regards to where you stand in your company, ask your Squad Leader, any NCO that you trust(not the one you are cool with) the same question. Just be prepared to hear the answer and work on your weaknesses and capitalize on your strengths. I hope this helps.

Look- to be brutally honest- becoming an NCO is a state of mind. You have to exercise restraint, tact and bearing. I don't see a whole lot of that here. You do need to be careful when posting this stuff online, in case your CoC sees it. We've all dealt with frustrations, waiting to get promoted, etc etc. There's a lot of good solid advice like maxing out correspondence courses, civilian education, PT, and all that good stuff. That's the first step. The second step is to be indispensable. Demonstrate leadership skills. Not getting lip isn't a foolproof indication of a good leader. Great leaders make something out of next to nothing. If you've only been an E-4 for a year or less, be easy. If you have a chance to go to WLC, take it. Look for Soldier of the Year opportunities or details (recruiting/retention help, admin support) to reinforce you are the Soldier they need to keep in the age of downsizing.