Should there be an automatic promotion to E5 or E6 if you just get the required points?

Let's just clear up the fact that there is no such monster as an "automatic" promotion. A commander at the company level signs off saying to integrate Soldiers into the "Command list Integration" promotion. So while they don't attend a board, the PSG and 1SG (ideally) agree to let them be put on that list. The commander then authorizes it with his signature.

Lazy leadership that don't want to counsel Soldiers is a big contributor to some of the slackers getting on this list. The leaders are lazy and don't want to counsel, and they figure the Soldier won't make cut off anyways because the very low points and inability to add points until actually boarded.

SGT,

Depends on what you mean by your statement. If you are truly 'slacking off' then no I don't think you should be promoted; however, making points for an MOS that requires significant effort to obtain isn't really seen as slacking. So are you talking about MOS' with low points and soldiers making the cut? In my circumstance, my promotion points are at 14 and I have almost 500 points, but my unit refuses to send me to a promotion board and refuses to put a justification in writing (counseling statement). According to Army promotion statistics the average promotion points for soldiers selected for SSG in my MOS is around 350. I would think that from an outside perspective without even viewing my ERB or knowing my leadership competencies, you could look at these trends and my points and reasonably assume that I am not a slacker. I know soldiers getting promoted all the time with the bare minimum in point accumulation. The reason this happens is because Army leadership cares about their personal perspective of a soldier over that soldiers actual competencies. My opinion is that I am not going to the promotion board because I stick my neck out for what is right on a frequent and consistent basis. My senior leadership (not my direct chain of command) have determined that makes me a trouble-maker for them and is putting a stop on by chain of command's recommendation. My point is that a soldier may not be afforded the opportunity by his leadership to go to the promotion board. What you may see as slacking may be resentment from a constant battle of trying to get to the board with severe backlash. Not saying this is always the case, but it certainly seems that way in my situation.

There should never be a promotion based on points. Experience, time, dedication and how you carry yourself matter more than points.