Should promotion from PFC to SPC be automatic?

First, look at your ERB. You might be flagged and not even know it. if you need to, Google, "ERB codes" to find what those mean if you have any. Also, someone referenced AR 600-8-19 for enlisted promotion and reductions. Make sure to review that as well.

PFC Alex Rivers - Based on your description, somebody's not being honest with you. Of course, the problem MAY be the UMR. Sometimes, your MOS is full for the next level you're looking for in your unit and the unit can't double-slot. If that's the case, change units.

There is no such thing as "automatic" promotion. People still have to say "yes" or "no" .
Work hard. Talk to your s1. And keep going up.

How far up your chain of command have you gone? If they can't give you a definite answer ask for some time to go see finance.

Here is some information that can give you a little insight of what might be happening. All comments here are great. What I am going to do is refer you to the following: As your affiliation indicates you are in the ARNG. If this is correct, please take a look at AR 600-8-19, dtd 2 Feb 2015, Table 2-1, Step 8. It specifically says; " Step 8, Unit/BN CDR, Select eligible Soldiers by annotating the AAA–117 YES for select or NO for denial of promotion. Prepare DA Form 4187 for those promoted with waiver, or promoted after the automatic promotion date. Prepare DA Form 268 for those denied promotion on automatic promotion date. For ARNG Soldiers a promotion instrument must be produced and only when there is a vacancy. Keep in mind the words, "only and vacancy". Keep a positive attitude, keep plugging along and strive to always do good. Maintain your administrative, moral, physical, and educational requirements. Only you can make a difference. Your hard work will pay off in the long run. Good luck!

Keep in mind PFC rivers that half the state is deployed right now. With the other half preparing to following the same shortly. Most leaders are putting your promotion on the front burner, so to speak. They have much larger takings to take care of.

Has this been resolved yet?
If it hasn't, here are a few 'Guardisms' that may be effecting you.
Did you spend time in delayed entry/RSP? If you did you can wipe out all that time in service. For 1st promotions in the ARNG, your TIS doesn't start counting until you report to basic. And if you were a split-op Soldier (worst program in history of the reserve compnents) then you are really screwed. If that is the case then your TIS didn't start until 6-7 weeks prior to your AIT report date.

If your State uses an automatic promotion system then you may not appear in that system until APFT, HT&WT are reflecting in SIDPERS. It could be as simple as your RNCO/TNCO put it in RCAS and it didn't update in SIDPERS and they are only looking at the auto-advance system instead of doing the manual calculations.

Or you could just have a really bad Admin/Readiness NCO that hasn't dropped the 4187 into iPerms.
Your M-Day Leadership should be able to push the issue if this is the case.

All promotions should be based on merit. Automatic promotions don't prove ability.

The fed rec may already be in and it is just a matter of pinning the rank. Check your iperms. Whatever you do, DO NOT promote yourself.

lmao not really i was such a pain in the rear to my 1st sgt that he tore my spec 4 orders up lol i hadn't been in trouble i just pushed the rules a lot. I didn't get spc to i was out and in the National Guard