How can I earn enough promotion points to get promoted to E-5 without schools?

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Apr 2019 23:00:31 -0400

Next month I will be pinning PFC and I’m realizing how close I am to becoming eligible for SGT. I’m currently in a unit where the option for schools are almost non existent. I’m aware that Education (earning a degree) and PT are big ways to earn promotion points. Relative to the other MOS’s in my unit my promotion points needed are high. I was just curious if anyone has some advice or things I could do big or small to earn myself enough promotion points in order to become promotable.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Apr 18 at 2019 12:05 AM

SSG Brian G. — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 00:05:30 -0400

Options for schools might be limited but nothing and no regulation says that you cannot flood your command with requests for schools. It never hurts to submit, submit, submit and to write letters to that same effect.

That said, pursue higher education, excel at physical fitness, at weapons qualifications do the best you can as this adds in as well and when given the chance go before soldier boards. Soldier of the month awards you a set number of points as does soldier of the quarter and year etc. Volunteer in your community as this can get you an award worth points. Your OD badge gets you points, strive to be a senior OD.

Get with your command as they can show you a breakdown of a promotion point worksheet and areas that you can work without needing army specific schools that will add up. You are a ways out from even becoming E-4 (P) yet so you have time.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Apr 18 at 2019 8:00 AM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 08:00:37 -0400

Focus on college education. Although special skills training is important but not a deal breakers when it comes to promotion. However, college gives you more bang for the buck!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 18 at 2019 8:39 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 08:39:06 -0400

Not too many E-4 have piles of MilEd, but you do have to get SSD and BLC done. Without those, you are dead in the water. I would encourage you to enroll in CivEd and get your military training on your transcript. This step is often overlooked and can get you a leg up as well as several steps closer to earning a degree.
You are in complete control of your PT score. Get to the gym.
Awards are a little more nuanced, but in order to earn one, you have to be in a position to excel. Volunteer for exercises. Seek out additional duties.
You have time, and I like where your head is. Now get after it.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 18 at 2019 8:56 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 08:56:42 -0400

Having started in the 94 CMF, I deeply feel your pain on this. Start hitting those correspondence courses. Enroll in a school as soon as possible to start making use of TA. When you enroll, send over your Joint Service Transcript. Going from Tradoc to WLC with 94F I got all my electives and most of my math/science credited which saved me time and the Army some small bit of money.
As SSG Grierson said, hit them boards. Start performing well, you get awards. Keep performing well, when an incentive school does come down the line you're more likely to get nominated by your leadership.

Response by SSG Robert Peterson made Apr 18 at 2019 11:29 AM

SSG Robert Peterson — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 11:29:20 -0400

Max your APFT, sign up for some collage courses, rehearse and go to promotion boards

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 18 at 2019 12:14 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 12:14:52 -0400

Glad to see you are hungry. But do not rush yourself to promotions you are not ready for. Simply put go at your own timeline.
1. When doing correspondence look for ace certified courses.
A. This will help boost your joint service transcripts which is used to send to college institutions to see how many semester hours military education and training/schools you are eligible for.
B. This also allows you to look into other options of education as well. College credits for heroes, Purdue has a short suspense degree program for small teams management. In as little as 6 classes.
C. This is why I say go your own pace college is hard to do on active duty. It means putting up alot of your own free time. Learn the programs available to you and how to use them the best for you. And as a future leader its imperative to know them and their inner workings to explain to future soldiers inquiring.
2. P.t. is a big chunk promotion points as well. Practice makes perfect. Remember you cant always score 100, but you can always put in 100... best advice continue to be better than yesturday.
3. Weapons qual.
A. Fundamentals, learn them and your weapon platforms inside and out. FM 3-22.9 is m4 m16 variations... refer to the proper tm to learn more about the weapon.
B. Go to ranges get comfortable with guns the most problematic thing I notice is soldiers are unfamiliar and scared to operate the weapon platforms... (makes them nervous) if you only handle a weapon twice a year or once a year...
3. Awards ... these come with time. I cant tell you how to get them.but outshine everyone around you... go above and beyond your scope of duties be assertive, proactive, and try to help implement new systems and or ideas to make the work place function more effectively. I have no doubt if you learn those you will do well. And the puzzle pieces will fall into place at due time.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 18 at 2019 12:17 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 12:17:56 -0400

Also one last thing, for mil ed try to get 1 course a year, cbrn, umo, hazmat, etc. Etc. It shows your still hungry for knowledge.
How do you eat an elephant? 1 bite at a time.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Apr 18 at 2019 1:04 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 13:04:08 -0400

What in the hell is wrong with correspondence courses. I had maxed out all the correspondence courses for 11B to include ALC, tho went when they offered the slot at Benning. Also maxed out my secondary of 76Y.

Response by MSG Michael Shannon made Apr 18 at 2019 11:55 PM

MSG Michael Shannon — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 23:55:43 -0400

Civ Ed! It's damn near free while you're in need of it when you get out. A quick thing to do is enroll in school and turn in your JST. It'll turn into credits which will turn into points. As a PFC you may not get much but when selected for promotion you'll go to schools and you can turn in your JST again. I can tell you from personal experience that I've turned in my JST about four times in my career and I've received about 45 total college credits which is a little over a year of school....... for free!

Response by SFC Scott Higgins made Apr 19 at 2019 10:30 AM

SFC Scott Higgins — Fri, 19 Apr 2019 10:30:44 -0400

I know how tough certain MOS's are to get promoted in. IT was a while ago with different requirements but out of 1000 possible I had to have 750 points to make E-5 and 966 to make E-6. I did it in 6 years so it can be done if you are willing to do the work!. Go to the education center. see what schools are offering classes - and take what you can. Civilian Education can really help add to your points - get your military education evaluated by the school - that can earn you some extra college credits - depending on the school. Volunteer for extra duties. See if there are boards you can go to, Soldier of the Month, etc. Get that experience under your belt. Work on your PT Score, my worst event was the run.....ugh. It is never to early to start - glad you are thinking ahead for your career.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 19 at 2019 10:31 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Apr 2019 10:31:31 -0400

You can see some trends. There's what you can control and what you can't.
What you can:
College, PT, weapon qual, correspondence
What you can't:
Awards, mil schools (more can't than can), and the board members opinions

Do what you can for the "can't" stuff and max out your "can" stuff. Above all, be a good soldier. Be a leader before you are put in a leaders position. Plenty of people make E5, and that's what they are...E5s. They become lazy, treat their soldiers like crap, and bring down the force. We need Sgts. 5 types of leadership, know em and apply them. You can lead from a PFC/SPC position. Get to know your PSG and 1SG they have a lot to say within your promotions.

Response by SGT Nicholas M. made Apr 19 at 2019 11:38 AM

SGT Nicholas M. — Fri, 19 Apr 2019 11:38:44 -0400

You need to max the following events, in this order--> APFT (or ACFT in a year or so) --> Weapons Qual --> Correspondence Courses (ALMS, JKO, etc) --> SSD1 --> BLC (Make Commandants List) --> A quick, 'for-profit' online college like Purdue Global (formally known as Kaplan Online). I only recommend a 'for-profit' online college for speed if you are trying to accumulate points in a quickfast. I would advise a real degree from a more reputable source since you are "about to pin PFC" and you still have a year or so at best before you go to the board or are even ready to become a NCO.

Response by CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 19 at 2019 12:37 PM

CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Apr 2019 12:37:01 -0400

Correspondence courses, volunteering (Outstanding Volunteer Medal), college courses.

The fact that you are pinning PFCand already thinking about being an NCO is outstanding. Learn the Creed, study for the board, and do what you can to pick up those points!

Response by PO3 Adam Stoflet made Jul 24 at 2019 3:02 PM

PO3 Adam Stoflet — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 15:02:11 -0400

Have you considered doing extracurricular activities like volunteer work, or getting qualified for other job duties on post out side of your MOS? In the Navy having qualifications in other watch standing positions through our Personal Qualification Standard (PQS) can help you stand out from your peers thus giving you a higher value to you command. Maybe you could even Shadow some of the Higher watch standing stations on your off time. Doing Volunteer work might sound a bit odd but it could help you achieve awards and recognition as your actions bring a positive light to the military. Also I don’t know how the Army handles evaluating your technical knowledge in your MOS but in the Navy we have 200 quest test about 50-75% of it is in Rate (read MOS) knowledge and the remaining is basic military knowledge, like Military history, recognizing other branches rank insignias, grooming standards etc. So reading up on you gears technical manuals could help you gain that in Rate (MOS) knowledge that could not only save your bacon in the field but show that you are dedicated to being a better Soldier who can make the best of his equipment.