Posted on May 9, 2019
Does my previous enlisted service count towards officer promotion?
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I am currently a medical student training on active duty at USUHS with almost ten years of service in the Army. After reading through some internet information, I still have a lingering question that I hope you can help me with: Does my previous enlisted service count towards officer promotion?
I understand that my time as a student does not count, but does my ten years as enlisted count towards officer promotion? Are there any other factors for promoting other than TIS and TIG?
Thank you for your time.
I understand that my time as a student does not count, but does my ten years as enlisted count towards officer promotion? Are there any other factors for promoting other than TIS and TIG?
Thank you for your time.
Prior Service
Officer
Promotions
Medical
Edited 5 y ago
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 14
I sat on several officer and enlisted promotion and selection boards during my time in the army and YES, service as an enlisted member does count once you are commissioned. While your actual enlisted efficiency reports were not viewed on officer boards, your service was noted and prior service and enlisted rank, military schools and awards do count in the overall view of each board member. Prior service and rank indicates maturity and dedication. Some of the finest officers in the service were prior enlisted.
CSM Mark Wilsdon
Perfection!
Your enlisted time won't count towards officer promotion. Officers go through centralized promotion boards as a group, and those groups are based on when you were promoted to your current grade as an officer. Those centralized promotion boards look at your overall record to determine who gets promoted (civilian education, previous assignment history, military schooling, officer evaluation reports, awards, etc.). Your record will show that you were previously enlisted, and it will also show any awards earned while you were enlisted (and any deployments you may have done), but that's really about it.
LTC Kevin B.
Capt Scott Carlson - Enlisted service counts towards pay, but it doesn't count (at least not directly) towards promotion, which was the primary focus of the question. Accomplishments during someone's enlisted time certainly make them a stronger candidate for promotion as an officer, but the officer promotion boards don't receive explicit, objective guidance that directs them to use enlisted accomplishments (especially enlisted time in service or time in grade) for officer promotion.
CSM Mark Wilsdon
LTC Kevin B. - and sometimes one doesn't know the right question. I knew what he meant, but he didn't get the enlisted point of view...a good balance was struck, accurate Officer Promotion answers for the Branch MC.
CPT (Join to see)
LTC Kevin B. Just so I am understanding this correctly, because I have heard conflicting answers: Two CPT's that got promoted the same year would NOT get looked at in different years, even if one CPT had 7 years enlisted TIS and the other had no prior enlisted service?
LTC Kevin B.
CPT (Join to see) - Essentially, that's correct. There's a small chance it could happen, depending on a) the exact dates when they were promoted to CPT and b) how the promotion zones are drawn when their MAJ board is convened. However, that wouldn't be because of one having enlisted service and the other not having enlisted service. It would be because of the exact dates (for TIG) being drawn to determine who goes before the board.
For instance, say that you and I both get promoted to CPT in FY 2020. I get promoted in Nov 2019 and you get promoted in Jan 2020 (two months apart, but both within FY 2020). Then, six years later we are both coming up for MAJ in the primary zone and the board picks every CPT who was promoted between Jan 2019 and Dec 2019 (twelve months). I'd make the cut but you wouldn't. Then, if we subsequently were both picked up in successive boards, I'd be promoted at the tail end of my year group (since I was near the very end by TIG) and you'd be promoted at the front end of your year group (since you'd be at the very front by TIG). When all of the dust settles, the gap in our TIG would still likely be close to its original two months.
The only way enlisted time really comes into play directly is when everyone gets their sequence numbers. The Army assigns sequence numbers by TIG, then TIS, then alphabetically. My three years of enlisted time always broke the tie when a group of us had the same TIG.
For instance, say that you and I both get promoted to CPT in FY 2020. I get promoted in Nov 2019 and you get promoted in Jan 2020 (two months apart, but both within FY 2020). Then, six years later we are both coming up for MAJ in the primary zone and the board picks every CPT who was promoted between Jan 2019 and Dec 2019 (twelve months). I'd make the cut but you wouldn't. Then, if we subsequently were both picked up in successive boards, I'd be promoted at the tail end of my year group (since I was near the very end by TIG) and you'd be promoted at the front end of your year group (since you'd be at the very front by TIG). When all of the dust settles, the gap in our TIG would still likely be close to its original two months.
The only way enlisted time really comes into play directly is when everyone gets their sequence numbers. The Army assigns sequence numbers by TIG, then TIS, then alphabetically. My three years of enlisted time always broke the tie when a group of us had the same TIG.
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