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.

Not at all, you have the experience, more mature and can help your peers advancing their careers. Now, get serious and make the best out your future. Good luck!

To give you food for thought.....I made SGT after having damn near 13 years TIS

CPL (Join to see) Keep us posted when you earn Sergeant stripes. Good luck!

You are likely SLIGHTLY behind your peers. But only slightly. But....

Don't worry about comparing yourself to your peers. That way lies madness. Compare today you to yesterday you. And yesterday you to last week you. And so on. Are you a better, more capable leader today than you were yesterday? Good. Now what are you doing to make sure you are a better, more capable leader TOMORROW? As long as you keep doing that and keep that mindset, you will be fine, and you will "get back on track."

You are fine. 5 or six years is more the norm. If you focus and apply yourself you still have time to get on a fast track. If you truly want to apply yourself, you will have no problems moving forward.

I went through that same stage. I can tell you with absolute certainty that if you seek to maximize your tactical and technical competencies so that you can be a stronger contributor, so you can better support your team, squad, and platoon mission, so you can develop leadership traits described in the NCO Creed, you will find greater meaning and fulfillment as a soldier. The emphasis should be on we, not me. We succeed as a team in battle. We train more effectively and that just might be the difference between coming home or not. Seek to become stronger and set the kind of example that will build others up as well.

Not everyone is ready for promotion at three or four years and it is to your credit that you did not rush to go to the Promotion Board before you were mentally ready to become an NCO. I was an E-6 for years longer than others because I did not feel ready for the increased responsibility of E-7; I never believed in getting promoted just for the money, and have a low regard for those who do. Make certain that you have a good answer for any Board member who asks about your time lag; "not wanting anything to do with the military" is not a good answer. Good luck, and I'm happy that you are back on track.