Does E-4 Promotable status give me more opportunity to pcs?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 19:03:08 -0500

Good evening, this is SPC MOON. I have been in fort hood 2 years and I am really desperate to pcs to other installation (korea highly preferable) for variety reasons. However, my branch manager keep saying she cannot pcs me until I spend 3 years in fort hood. I am told If I get my Promotable status I might get more chance to pcs since it will categorize me in different bracket. I was wondering if this is true.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2020 8:06 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 20:06:35 -0500

I'm not sure who you're talking to but it sounds like you're getting conflicting info from "them." First you say you've been "told" that if you are promotable it's easier to PCS then below you say you're trying not to get promoted because you were "told" it's harder to PCS if you pick up SGT.

If branch said that you are at Ft Hood for 3 years, then you likely have another year at Hood. Getting promoted really shouldn't matter all that much, I suppose it depends on your MOS.

I would just not talk to the people you're talking to because they sound like they don't know wtf they're talking about. Your branch manager already told you that you can't PCS for another year. So you suck it up for another year and when it's closer to the end of your 3 years, you should hear from branch. They do have the new enlisted marketplace - I'm not sure if that's just for NCOs or all enlisted but when you're a year from PCS, you should get a link to the marketplace and you can prioritize the available duty stations on where you want to go. Then branch takes that and slots people based on their preferences. It's something that just started.

Response by MSG William Wold made Dec 17 at 2020 8:56 PM

MSG William Wold — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 20:56:04 -0500

Possibly the promotion to fill a slot but just being promotable, should you transfer, could take you off the list

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2020 9:21 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 21:21:16 -0500

Closest you could shoot for is an interpost transfer to another unit on Fort Hood. Or maybe assess for SFAB. Either way would be a win.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2020 11:11 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 23:11:40 -0500

No it doesn't work like that at all. You can reenlist for a duty station of choice when you're in your reenlistment window or PCS at three years on station. You're an initial term Soldier so unless you have a long initial enlistment like 5 years, your branch manager can't PCS you until you reenlist and are no longer an Initial term Soldier

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2020 7:09 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 07:09:32 -0500

It wouldn’t give you more of a chance, but you have more opportunities seeing how you could fill a 10 or 20 level position.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Dec 18 at 2020 8:46 AM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 08:46:01 -0500

SPC Private RallyPoint Member , things:

1. Pay close attention to SFC Private RallyPoint Member's advice.

2. Do not based promotion attendance on your possibilities of future PCS.

If making a career of the military is your goal, then make peace with that one little Army Value of Self-Less Service. Yes, we all want to have control of our career and manage our duty stations/assignments. That is a known fact and the leadership is well aware of it and try to accommodate as much as possibly; while attending the service's mission requirements.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Dec 18 at 2020 10:34 AM

SSG Brian G. — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 10:34:10 -0500

Ok, first off, your rank or promotable status has NOTHING to do with if you can more, when or how fast you move. Period. Second, stop listening to them, whoever they are because they are like barracks lawyers and plainly and clearly just ignorant.

The way it works is roughly this: An initial soldier enlists for 2 to 6 years. You then then reach your first duty station and spend your time there until you either reach your re-enlistment window or your 3 year PCS window. At your window you can reenlist and choose a duty station you would like to go to be are not guaranteed that station, or you PCS to a new station at 3 years. Your rank has NOTHING to do with whether you PCS, how fast or how often you PCS.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2020 5:13 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 17:13:02 -0500