Should promotion from PFC to SPC be automatic?

The lack of weapons Qual shouldn't be an issue, unless your command has counseled you on it. You can still promote.

Well, for me it was automatic; however, I had graduated from a university, with a BA.

Ask your Platoon Sgt. what you need to do to advance to Specialist. It will show you are not asking for something to be given, but how to earn it. It demonstrates a mature professional outlook.

Step one (if no one has stated it yet), is to ask your Team Leader why you haven't been promoted yet, and if there is something that has stopped the promotion process that you can remedy. You say you have spoken with your chain of command, but did you ask that specific question?

even if you have tig and tis it doesn't mean they should give it to you. if your chain of command feels as if you are ready to take the next step then they will pin you

It also has a lot to do with how long you have been in the unit and how many are ahead of you on the list. Get the SSD I completed and all the other schooling you can get for points.

OK I've been out for a few years but when I was a PSG no promotion was automatic. The Chain of command was still required to recommend you; the "yes" answer mentioned earlier. There are also, or at least when I was in there were 2 different requirements for TIS/TIG; for waiver and without waiver. You could get promoted with a waiver if the unit had them available. If the unit was at its limit of allowed waivers then no matter how badly I wanted to promote someone it just wasn't happening. Even at the time of promotion without waiver I still had to say "yes" and I could say no . The 1SG I worked for had a rule that if you said no in these cases he wanted to see signed counseling on the soldier within a day or 2. I had to hold a PFC back on rare occasions for various reasons, but i always made sure the soldier was clearly counseled as to the reasons why he was being held back. Of course I retired in '09 the rules may have changed since then.

PFC Alex Rivers I noticed you are in the National Guard. Would that have anything to do with your not being promoted? Do the other soldiers get promoted in the guard automatically or do they have to wait for a slot to open up? I'm a little ignorant on the promotion process for guard and reserves.

PFC Alex Rivers See my comments to others input on this thread. Also, when the opportunity presents itself, transfer to another unit as your NCO chain has failed you. If you are lumped into a support platoon (i.e. HQ) you have to be your best advocate as more often than not the PSG tends to be from whichever low density MOS is the largest representation in the PLT (usually food service or motors)...this is no excuse but I have seen the smaller slices forgotten about under some PSGs.

On a more pointed note, you need to get in front of your Readiness NCO and find out what in the system is holding up your auto advancement. One of the unique (and maddening) things about the Guard system is how all of the admin pieces fit. For example, if you do not have a current PHA your orders will not publish. The system sees it as a deficiency and will not release your promotion until your unit goes through a SRP/PHA. You need to go straight to the source as he/she will also know what is on the AAA-117 discussed below.

Technically, if one is "eligible", meaning one meets all the requirements--a key point for all promotions, appointments, awards--- and there is no objection for cause (determined by rules of eligibility, supervisors, commanders) one is administratively "advanced" rather than "promoted" just as from Pvt to PFC, or just as a Major General is "appointed" and not "promoted" to Lt. Gen or General , etc per se. Of course, an advancement is effectively a promotion in terms of pay and general military or even command authority. A main difference is there is no promo board requirement; the advancement (or appointment) is up to the designated authority (in this case, the unit commander and 1SG).
We used to have temporary and permanent ranks through the 1980s which made this topic a lot more fun....