Posted on Mar 5, 2015
If I get passed over for promotion: Should I stay or should I go?
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I'm a TPU Reservist CW2 255A (Signal). This April is my first look for CW3, to be promoted next year if I make it. I've already decided that if I don't make it (I find out in July) that I'll put in a packet for retirement.
Mentioning that makes many want to convince me to stay.
They tell me it's a numbers game, and IF I get passed over this April, that's no indicator that I'd get passed over next April.
I have all COM OERs, except for my last one which was an ACOM from the rater only. The senior rater was made to be someone from the unit's higher HQs in Indianapolis who doesn't know me and never met me.
I have a Master's degree and two Bachelor's degrees, but no current industry certifications.
The selection rate in 2014 for SC TPU CW2s was 85%. That could be taken one of two ways....either they have a dire need for CW3s in my field, or they've got enough now, and the next selection rate will be a lot lower.
So...I'm throwing the question open to RallyPoint: If I get passed over in my first look, should I stay in for my 2nd look, or should I retire right away?
NOTE: If I do stay after getting passed over once, and I get passed over twice, I will HAVE to retire anyway...I won't get a choice. USARC brought back the 'two strikes and you're out' rule for Warrant Officers.
UPDATE AS OF 1 DECEMBER 2018 - Obviously, I made it. Thank you everyone for your input. My next promotion I've already decided is my last, whether I make it or not. I don't have to worry about it for another three years or so.
Mentioning that makes many want to convince me to stay.
They tell me it's a numbers game, and IF I get passed over this April, that's no indicator that I'd get passed over next April.
I have all COM OERs, except for my last one which was an ACOM from the rater only. The senior rater was made to be someone from the unit's higher HQs in Indianapolis who doesn't know me and never met me.
I have a Master's degree and two Bachelor's degrees, but no current industry certifications.
The selection rate in 2014 for SC TPU CW2s was 85%. That could be taken one of two ways....either they have a dire need for CW3s in my field, or they've got enough now, and the next selection rate will be a lot lower.
So...I'm throwing the question open to RallyPoint: If I get passed over in my first look, should I stay in for my 2nd look, or should I retire right away?
NOTE: If I do stay after getting passed over once, and I get passed over twice, I will HAVE to retire anyway...I won't get a choice. USARC brought back the 'two strikes and you're out' rule for Warrant Officers.
UPDATE AS OF 1 DECEMBER 2018 - Obviously, I made it. Thank you everyone for your input. My next promotion I've already decided is my last, whether I make it or not. I don't have to worry about it for another three years or so.
Posted in these groups: 
Retirement
Promotions
Retirement Promotions
Edited 7 y ago
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 18
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Understand the anxiety of waiting for promotion board results (BTDT), but it is important to be both patient and to plan for all options. Work as though you expect to be promoted.
I don't know all the rules for reserve component personnel, but am very familiar with the "two-strikes and you're out" policy. Consider these factors:
-Will your family support your decision either way?
-Is your current civilian employment compatible with your Reserve duty? (If you don't have a civilian job, are job prospects in your area of expertise good?)
-Are you still able to perform well in your selected specialty--physically, mentally, spiritually?
-Do you enjoy the reserve job?
-Does your current commander or supervisor support you?
If yes to all five points, then sticking out for a second look is probably a good idea.
I don't know all the rules for reserve component personnel, but am very familiar with the "two-strikes and you're out" policy. Consider these factors:
-Will your family support your decision either way?
-Is your current civilian employment compatible with your Reserve duty? (If you don't have a civilian job, are job prospects in your area of expertise good?)
-Are you still able to perform well in your selected specialty--physically, mentally, spiritually?
-Do you enjoy the reserve job?
-Does your current commander or supervisor support you?
If yes to all five points, then sticking out for a second look is probably a good idea.
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CW3 (Join to see)
1-3 are definitely yes. I'm new to this unit, and we have a new commander, so I have to take a wait-and-see attitude. The next few months will see whether or not our unit climate improves or worsens... I'm hopeful, because I'm hearing the right things from this commander...
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Do you still enjoy it? Do you think it's time for you to move onto the next phase in your life?
Look at it outside the "up or out" mindset. Let's say you were a CW5 right now, with no possibility for further advancement, what would your course of action be?
Look at it outside the "up or out" mindset. Let's say you were a CW5 right now, with no possibility for further advancement, what would your course of action be?
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CW3 (Join to see)
I'm in a new (to me) unit and not yet fully integrated into the unit mission. I'm reserving judgement until I have enough information to make an informed judgement.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
Fair enough. I'd lean towards "stay" then. As you get more integrated, your feelings will either change one way or the other. As you haven't swayed into the "time fore me to go" category, it doesn't hurt for you to stay. You can still do good.
When I got out, I left because of a conscious choice. It was time to move on. There wasn't any regret in the decision. If that makes sense. Sure, I would have liked to have stayed in, but it was an choice.
When you approach retirement, make sure that it's on your terms. Don't regret it.
When I got out, I left because of a conscious choice. It was time to move on. There wasn't any regret in the decision. If that makes sense. Sure, I would have liked to have stayed in, but it was an choice.
When you approach retirement, make sure that it's on your terms. Don't regret it.
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85% selection rate, I like those odds. For my CW3 selection board (active Duty) 915A's got selected at 54% and there were a lot of good guys that got passed over. If it were me, I would stay for the 2nd look and ensure that I get as much eyes as possible on my ORB, IPERMS and OER's to ensure that I had a game plan going forward for the 2nd look. If you truly love your job, you owe it to yourself to give it one more go if you don't get selected this year. Good luck.
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CW3 (Join to see)
Thanks, sis. 85% was the 2014 selection rate. That could be taken one of two ways....either they're sucking wind and need as many of us at the CW3 level as possible, or they got enough. No way to know which.
In any case, I've got less than two months until I know....and those who've seen my OERs have said I don't need to worry about getting selected, because I will.
In any case, I've got less than two months until I know....and those who've seen my OERs have said I don't need to worry about getting selected, because I will.
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CW4 (Join to see)
Have faith Brother. If you did your job to the best of your abilities, then your OERS will show it, more importantly your S/R comments. The comments are more important than the block check. If your ORB and IPERMS are dress right dress, then it all rests in the eyes and minds of the board members. They may select 50 for your MOS and the top 25 are above the rest but for the next 25 slots, 35 files are equal, 10 guys will not make it regardless of their files because there just isn’t enough slots. If that happens, buckle up and give it another go. Just my opinion.
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1974, I was caught up in the draw down from Vietnam. Â My MOS 3421 (Disbursing) had a glut of Sergeants. Â I had three years in grade and was just passed over for the second time. I only had five years in and felt my career was over, so yes, I elected to get out. Â In retrospect, I would have eventually made Staff Sergeant and probably GySgt or higher in the next 15 years.
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First you go home and take your pants off and watch the History Channel.
Then you go back and look at why you got passed over and if you can change it next time.
If yes > do it
If no > bye
Then you go back and look at why you got passed over and if you can change it next time.
If yes > do it
If no > bye
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1LT Nick Kidwell
So...is the pantslessness directly related to his thought process here?
Personally, I tend to think better when I am fully dressed.
Personally, I tend to think better when I am fully dressed.
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CW2 Eric Scott
I think the pantlessness helps. It did me. Don't do it at work or it will work against you.
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1LT Nick Kidwell
I see.
Well, I decided I was going to leave service before I deployed, deployed on a DetOps mission and rocked it, came back the next year to testify in a courts-martial, and THEN left service. My pants were on the whole time.
Perhaps pantslessness would have expedited the process?
Well, I decided I was going to leave service before I deployed, deployed on a DetOps mission and rocked it, came back the next year to testify in a courts-martial, and THEN left service. My pants were on the whole time.
Perhaps pantslessness would have expedited the process?
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I actually get asked this question a lot, so here are some thought.
Are you prepared now to get out? Have all the education, certifications, etc that you need to transition?
Will staying another year allow you to better prepare or will it hurt you?
Do you still enjoy being in? Or put another way, do you have that "feeling" that it is just time to go?
If you have to wait till the second look, are you willing to stay the required time actually pin on and have the required TIG to retire?
Finally, don't rule things out. Life can change a lot in a year, so your thoughts and feelings today, could be completely different next year because your life and situation has changed.
Are you prepared now to get out? Have all the education, certifications, etc that you need to transition?
Will staying another year allow you to better prepare or will it hurt you?
Do you still enjoy being in? Or put another way, do you have that "feeling" that it is just time to go?
If you have to wait till the second look, are you willing to stay the required time actually pin on and have the required TIG to retire?
Finally, don't rule things out. Life can change a lot in a year, so your thoughts and feelings today, could be completely different next year because your life and situation has changed.
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CW3 (Join to see)
Regarding your last point... while this is true, I also have to take into account whether or not I'm integrated into the unit mission, or just wasting my time one weekend a month.
If I've got stuff that's productive to do, great. If not, is it worth it for an extra 90 retirement points max?
If I've got stuff that's productive to do, great. If not, is it worth it for an extra 90 retirement points max?
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CW3 (Join to see)
Well, that's kind of sideways. I'm already out of active duty, I'm a TPU Reservist.... and while I do the same thing for the USAR that I do in civilian life, it has the potential to both help and hurt me. I will have to see over the next four months what the unit climate looks like....
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Correct me if I am wrong (since you Chiefs are strange animals) but don't you get promoted anyway a year later? Then of course two years after that you will be cemented in the rank for retirement.
Is one year really going to be that much of a problem?
Beyond that, stay in for the second look and begin to plan for the transition such as starting to get a few established certs (should at least get you another quick look on a civilian resume).
Is one year really going to be that much of a problem?
Beyond that, stay in for the second look and begin to plan for the transition such as starting to get a few established certs (should at least get you another quick look on a civilian resume).
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CW3 (Join to see)
So you're basically saying stay another year, should I get passed over, and put in for retirement only after I learn I've been passed over twice?
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CPT Zachary Brooks
CW3 (Join to see) I think I was confused. I was thinking that a CW2 can make the rank of CW3 in a CW2 slot, but he has to wait an additional year. Is that still a thing?
I see now what the issue is, and I would still say to wait it out. Worst case scenario is you retire with an additional two years of time in. Use that time to prepare to transition and maybe complete some CEs to increase your retirement points in the interim.
I see now what the issue is, and I would still say to wait it out. Worst case scenario is you retire with an additional two years of time in. Use that time to prepare to transition and maybe complete some CEs to increase your retirement points in the interim.
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CW3 (Join to see)
A CW2 who passes the board will be promoted regardless of what slot he's in.
The issue here is that in July of this year, I will find out whether or not I passed the board next month. If I passed, I'm CW2(P) for a year, and then I'm a CW3, and I do my job for 3 years to the best of my ability, THEN retire. That means I'll have four years and 4 months left in service.
If don't pass the board this time, staying takes a gamble on whether or not I pass NEXT April (to find out next July). It means I'll have stayed not only another year, but an additional up to 7 months (or however long it takes for a retirement packet to be approved). We're talking an additional 62 retirement points, plus up to a maximum of 28 more....for a potential total of 90 more points.......
The issue here is that in July of this year, I will find out whether or not I passed the board next month. If I passed, I'm CW2(P) for a year, and then I'm a CW3, and I do my job for 3 years to the best of my ability, THEN retire. That means I'll have four years and 4 months left in service.
If don't pass the board this time, staying takes a gamble on whether or not I pass NEXT April (to find out next July). It means I'll have stayed not only another year, but an additional up to 7 months (or however long it takes for a retirement packet to be approved). We're talking an additional 62 retirement points, plus up to a maximum of 28 more....for a potential total of 90 more points.......
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CW3 (Join to see)
And no, if I'm in a CW2 slot when passing the promotion board, I don't have to wait another year. The procedure for the RC is that you get looked at in year 5, to be promoted in year 6. So...if I pass the board next month, I find out in July, and I'm a CW2(P) for a year.
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Staying for a second adds to your retirement and gives you a income in the meantime.
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I was in sort of a similar predicament, but not sitting quite so pretty. I was up for my "in the zone" major's board, still having a bunch of years before I could retire. I was passed over. in nurse corps (for the air force), 90% or more of the selects are in the primary zone. My second look (1 above the zone) was held 8 months later (partial year OPR and all) Only difference between in zone and above zone was the 1 class taken to complete my Master's degree and also took my nursing Certification exam and passed. STILL got passed up on 2nd look. Nurse Corps at that time needed bodies and put me on conditional continuation. Year 3, I was 1 of 4 nurses to be picked up OVER the zone...out of 85 total selects.... My biggest relief is that I am not guaranteed to be able to hit my 20 and retire. the fact that you are at/above 20 gives you the magic ticket. NOW it is all about YOU. What do YOU want. NOBODY can decide that but you!! Good luck and enjoy the ride!
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Since you already qualify for retirement, you are in a win/win situation. Getting passed over once is not a career death sentence. Sometimes a certain year group is overstrength and they promote less people from it. If you like being in the Army, then stay, regardless of the outcome of this board. If you don't, retire.
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