Is 5 years TIS to late to promote to Sgt?

Shit... I didn't make SGT until almost six years of active time. I ETSed after three years after getting reduced from E4 to E3. Then did two more years in the National Guard after a break in service. Then came back into the Regular Army and promoted 18 months after that. E1-E6 is really fast. You have a chance to make the next rank every month. E7 and above you get evaluated once a year and that evaluation determines if you get promoted that month. There's a very good chance that you beat your peers to SFC even if they made SGT long before you

Time and experience do nothing but help. Theres been a long time of promoting ASAP in the Arny and we've suffered ( ill admit it, I got SSG too early). Spending more time as a Joe just means you know more.

Honestly, it seems like you have learned from your past and have the maturity to be a leader.

Keep showing leadership. Your ready to be promoted. Prepare for the boards and keep working hard to build your points.

Life experience will help your junior enlisted as you progress through the ranks. Use this experience to grow as a person and a leader.

A quote that I use a lot is Any road will take you to where you are going if you don't know where you are going. Sit down and write your short-term and long-term goals down both in the Army and out. Build a roadmap of where you want to go.

Next, go to your senior NCOs and ask for their help to develop you as a leader and accomplish your goals. Next, use that roadmap to define your military career.