Does the ‘Up-Or-Out’ Promotion System hurt the Military?

I was 18 when I joined the Army. I had no idea who I was. I thought I was a people person, after working in an office I realized I wasn't. I was miserable. I wish that I could have change my MOS to something more suited to my skills. When I selected my MOS, I was offered to attend cryptologist or linquist. school. They glorified being a transportation clerk, I really wanted to work in a airport.

My husband was 64c a heavy truck driver, he loved it. He spent 4 years in Germany. He was rotated to Fort Carson to an artillery unit. When it came time to re-up he requested on his dream sheet to go to Alaska, Hawaii, Panama. When it came time to sign his papers, he was going to be reassigned to the same unit in Germany. He was ready for a change. He was an E5, I very good soldier, he would have been an excellent contribution to any unit. instead he got out of the Army and ended up working in a foundry.

During my AF career I witnessed several folks purposely score low on skill testing to avoid promotion, thus ensuring that they could continue to do the trench job they enjoyed and were good at. Early in my career I worked with E-9s who were doing the line work, not desk stuff; they brought so much experience to the job to teach the younger troops and advise new officers that the career field was made stronger. Having been directly involved in Army support i can agree with SGM Dawson on the error of doing away with the senior SPC ranks. Not everyone is meant to be a desk jockey; somewhere along the line a person should have the real choice of career paths..worker bee or management without getting stalled in promotions.

Back in the day when they were opportunities to stay at a certain rank and not be punished, it worked well for the Army and the individual. Too much has been focused on getting promoted and not on does the individual just want to do the job at the level he/she is comfortable because all they want to do is good ole fashion grunt work. If someone wants to get promoted and move up, they should pursue that path and if someone is happy as a clam right where they are, then we should allow that person to stay in that position until they are ready to move up. Gone are the days of having a soldier like Radar O'Riely who knows the ins and outs down to the finite detail and we need those kinds of soldiers. If they are happy in their position, let them be happy and stay at that rank and position. Not everyone wants to be a SGM and that is where we lose some pretty awesome soldiers. Just saying.

CW5 Donna Smith - So right Chief! The focus should be on quality of job, how the person is doing and such. That is gone. Glad I am retired.

That was the reason the Army had "T" Sergeants and later on SPC 4-8

It is a fact...some people make excellent Privates, while others make excellent Sergeants.

Same timeframe for me, same results. Some of my best teachers were E-5/6.

SFC Bill Snyder
Ah-so! That is where the term, 'young corporal' came from! Having been a young corporal, I never considered what an 'old corporal' was!