How does the E4 to E5 promotion work in the Army National Guard?

2016-02-02T17:03:56-05:00

I have heard a lot of things and the doctrine (I have indeed read it) seems fuzzy aside from 12 months time in grade. What other requirements need be met aside from the usual weapons qual and passing APFT? What does the promotion packet include/entail? And will I look decent as a candidate with a 270 APFT and BLC under my belt, or should I have more education than that (schools are hard to get in the guard.)? Any and all advice and information is appreciated.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2016 5:20 PM

2016-02-02T17:20:10-05:00

Pass current PT test. Be Green on medical. Be off any profiles. Finish SSD1. Go to WLC. Come back get you packet set up, and submit it.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2016 5:28 PM

2016-02-02T17:28:28-05:00

http://www.ngbpdc.ngb.army.mil%2Fpubs%2F600%2Fngr600_200.pdf is a good start to look at. This is going to get a bit wild as it is a lot of information to put out. I was a SGT and made it to SSG before I commissioned. I read up on this so I knew what I was doing.

First, soldiers don't actually go to a board like they do in the regular Army. Each soldier builds a packet and that packet go to a board, or panel, and they assess the soldier based on various criteria. This ranges from awards, college, time in rank/grade, and a few more areas. Once your packet has been reviewed you will be assessed against your peers in your MOS and Rank. You will be given a numerical value or point score. This is how many promotion points you have.

Once you have your points you will be put onto a promotion list with all the others soldiers in you MOS with your rank. Every MOS and Grade has a list. Once your packet has been assessed you will be put on the Combat Engineer SGT list along with all of your peers.

When a unit has a vacancy they will view the list of those eligible to be promoted. If you are within the milage of that unit they will call you and offer that SGT position. If you accept they will notify your state command and orders will be published promoting you into that unit that had the vacancy. If you didn't accept the promotion you will be removed off the list until next year.

The promotion lists are produced once a year. Once the number one soldier get promoted the number two soldier becomes number one and so on. They will only promote as many as they have vacancies. If a unit doesn't want to promote anyone into that vacant slot then the promotion process pretty much stops. Usually the state will prevent that from happening. I hope this helps.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2016 5:29 PM

2016-02-02T17:29:25-05:00

WLC isn't required until E6 but most units send you prior to E5. Having completed SSD1 and WLC you should be fine. Not its just waiting for your name to get to the top of the list

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2016 5:38 PM

2016-02-02T17:38:43-05:00

Make sure you have SSD1 done go to WLC have the required points find a E5 slot with your MOS transfer. Promotion.

It's really that simple.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2016 6:01 PM

2016-02-02T18:01:47-05:00

Why don't you just join me on the dark side?

Response by MSG Don H. made Feb 2 at 2016 6:13 PM

2016-02-02T18:13:22-05:00

Every promotion board looks at soldiers as complete package. PT, weapons scores, deployments, awards, military schools, correspondences courses, civilian education and time in service and grade all are give points for a tabulated score. You also will go before a board and the board will give you so many points based on your general performance and knowledge of common tasks questions. the scores get tabulated by state G-1 and you are put on a order of merit list. As guard soldier, you can limit your chance of promotion to certain cities, at least bigger state do that. For Texas, my soldiers can select to be considered for promotion in the entire state or select the areas they are willing to drill in. Remember promotion is driven by vacancy, you many be number 10 on the list in the state but if there are only 9 slots open, you have to wait. The list is good for one year, so as slots open up in your MOS and next grade, the promotion gets offered to the next person on the list. If it is too far for you to drive, you can decline a promotion but you go to the bottom of the list.

Google Soldier of the month board study guide, they are pretty much all the same. some guys I have seen get flash cards.
civilian education and extra Army on line course are a big plus, because it shows you are seeking self improvement.
hope this helped

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2016 7:12 PM

2016-02-02T19:12:49-05:00

Hahah get the schools U need and get a SLOTttttttt!!!!!! Long as U complete your NCOES and your SSD should be good so long as you're in a slot for an E5. If not there are plenty of 20 year SPCs I know U can talk too

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2016 7:52 PM

2016-02-02T19:52:41-05:00

The best person to ask is your first line leader. Make them aware you are looking to be promoted and then take the steps you need to make it happen.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2016 8:58 PM

2016-02-02T20:58:21-05:00

Each state is probably an little different. In Nebraska, we have the Enlisted Promotion System in which a packet is created for each eligible SPC. The packet contains QBI data, Soldier unit /distance preference, and evaluations similar to an NCOER. All the packets are then reviewed by an NCO board who rank all the Specialists according to MOS (If you have multiple MOSes you designate which one you want to be considered for promotion in). After the list is published, Soldiers are offered MOS vacancy promotions starting at the top of the list in their unit/distance preferences. If a Soldier turns down an EPS offer, they go to the bottom of the list for the rest of the year. If they become QBI ineligible (failed APFT or Body Composition) the offer will be revoked. In either case, the offer will go to the next eligible Soldier on the list.

Hope this provides you with some idea of how the Guard works.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2016 11:55 AM

2016-02-03T11:55:42-05:00

Shouldn't be to hard going from 4-5. It's 6-7 and 7-8 that really sucks.

Response by SGT Paul Mitsuda made Feb 3 at 2016 7:56 PM

2016-02-03T19:56:11-05:00

You would need to see your chain-of-command and ask them to send you to PLDC or Warrior Leadership Course. IF you have passed your weapons qualifications, APFT, and have good standings with your unit, they MAY recommend you to go to PLDC. I hope this helps and best of luck to you.

Response by SFC Carlos Gamino made Feb 4 at 2016 2:04 AM

2016-02-04T02:04:58-05:00

Sometimes bu the buddy system unfortunately.

Response by 1LT Ryan Millican made Feb 4 at 2016 8:44 PM

2016-02-04T20:44:20-05:00

Like others have said, SSDs, those need to be completed as soon as you can. I know for my unit that's a huge step that keeps some of our Soldiers from getting promoted in a timely manner.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2016 9:02 PM

2016-02-04T21:02:40-05:00

As an update, I do have SSD1 done, and have for quite a while. I am also taking an APFT in 2 months in order to possibly obtain a slot for AASLT. Another wrench in the mix is the possibility of my unit restructuring. If I am forced to reclass, will that hurt my chances, or will that look favorable as an additional school?

Response by SGT Randy Poling made Feb 5 at 2016 8:53 AM

2016-02-05T08:53:09-05:00

There has to be an open E5 slot in your unit before an E4 can be promoted. At least that was the way they did it in my old unit

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2016 2:48 PM

2016-02-06T14:48:51-05:00

From my understanding while speaking with my national guard counter parts. The best advise I can convey is utilize alms and jko with addition to ensuring that you are keeping in compliance with all required in grade schooling and one level above schooling. Also keep in very close proximity with your S1 and your UA. Also keep all files in the green along with doing a 6 month personal evaluation, to an sure your file is always up to date.

Response by SGT Jonathon Caldwell made Feb 8 at 2016 9:45 PM

2016-02-08T21:45:53-05:00

Someone either has to retire or die up the chain somewhere so everyone else can move up.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 12 at 2016 7:06 AM

2016-02-12T07:06:00-05:00

What goes in the packet will vary slightly by state. There will be a Memorandum Of Instructions (MOI) published by your state. ALMS/ATRRS/and Correspondence courses will improve your score. College Credit helps too. Anything you have done to make your self better. MOS specific training, 40 hour courses, civilian affiliations and credentials. Include anything that shows experience on your biographical sketch. 270 APFT and BLC is a great start but if that is all you have done in your career, it may not be enough. Remember, you are not just trying to get to a magic number like Active Duty, you are trying to get to the top of the list. Depending on your MOS and the strength of your state, you may be competing against 200 Soldiers for only one open slot.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2016 8:42 AM

2016-03-08T08:42:21-05:00

simple. the E4 with the best APFT score or the one who kisses the most ass or whose daddy/uncle/cousin etc is a retired GO gets promoted. All other E4s have to wait for some E5 to die.

Response by SPC Wilkens Valme made Nov 19 at 2017 8:13 PM

2017-11-19T20:13:57-05:00

Man it depends if the follow the rules of promotion of bumping you up a rank or makes you a corporal

Response by SSG Matthew Nechy made Dec 15 at 2017 3:49 PM

2017-12-15T15:49:12-05:00

I know I was in a board for SSG in front of PSG, 1SG, and the Battery Smoke.

Response by CPL Tess Dingle made Apr 9 at 2019 1:37 PM

2019-04-09T13:37:35-04:00

I have BLC and SSD1 I'm getting my board packet together to have submitted by May... I am currently sitting in a 5 slot... what happens next? how long will it take?