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

no one likes a "slacker" - so my question would need to be - what were they like before the promotion? If they were on top of things before then possibly they are in a slump. How to get them out - don't know. But, if you observe it - so will brass, hopefully with out having to point it out.

Auto promotion just took a leap forward as I just seen about 10 Soldiers get promoted with out going to a promotion board. In the Army Reserve you get put on the pprl with 39 points an if there is a vacancy with in 50 miles they get promoted. So this could have good an bad points as SGT Achenbach pointed out (swelled heads). The silver lining that is coming is now you have to have SSD and your NCOES (ie WLC, ALC and SLC) completed starting in January. I have only been asking for this for about 10 years. So if you are on the PPRL you might want to get to you PME prior to January 2016. Now I'm sure this will help the auto promotions as those on the pprl list that don't have the proper PME will be passed over. Good luck to you all!!!!

I like that the automatic promotion concept places pressure on leaders to do the right thing regarding subordinates' promotion eligibility. In order to police the ranks and keep the corps honest, supervisors have incentive to ensure they are counseling and/or chaptering non-performers. This should be done anyways if someone is choosing not to recommend eligible candidates for promotion, but now laziness will equate to that Soldier being promoted anyway. Of course, laziness can also be the root of Soldiers who should be promoted to be brushed aside. This protects them as well, and serves a backstop for those who aren't sent to the promotion board simply because their leadership doesn't want to do paperwork. It sucks that any of this is a reality in our Army, but it is.

SGT Achenbach,myself being a prior service NCO, the promotion boards tested my abilities to be a SGT and SSG. I was told for years that I must earn my promotable status first when I was a PVT. Then I would go to the NCOES. I have seen some automatic promotions go well for some NCOs and not so well for others. The ones that were ready, despite not attending school just yet, were strong as junior enlisted. The ones not ready had a difficult time adjusting or were demoted. Most just needed some more time to develop and they eventually caught on to thier obligations as a new NCO in the unit.

As for automatic to the next rank, in some ways it is an incentive knowing you will get promoted and are expected to do your duties and responsibilities well. It is your opportunity to advance once you get pinned on. It is up the individual then to continue to be the next leader in the NCO Corps. The Army needs NCOs as leaders and not pay grade Soldiers like my CSM always said to us back in the old days.

I still think it would help everyone to be evaluated first to see how ready they are. What I would do is change the way the promotion boards are conducted. I would rather see how the Soldier knows his job duties. I understand that the board will ask questions from many topics to see the all around version but, knowing your job to me is important. I knew mine well and did enough to answer the other topics and pass. As long as you are confident, they will see the potential of you being a leader and get you promotable.