What are courses that a 15Q can take to put themselves above their peers while building toward promotion early in their career?

Start with completing SSD 1, your training program, and BLC. Complete correspondence courses to build promotion points. Ensure your PT score is high and depending on the unit and the OML qualifications, you could attend Air Assault, Airborne, or Pathfinder. TERPS is a great course with a lot of math, but it is very rare and usually based on necessity. If education is your goal, I recommend you request TA through your PSG, enroll in college, and take classes towards a degree. There are a few colleges that will give you credit for AIT and that will get you closer to a degree.

Best way to stand out from your peers, however, is to embrace the Total Soldier concept. Enhance your PT; your weapons qualification; know your skill level 1 tasks, warrior tasks and battle drills; attend the Soldier of the Month board; take ownership of and pride in your areas; learn, be eager and hungry. Be driven and motivate your peers. Help them and don't leave them behind. Live the Soldier's Creed and learn what it means to be a Soldier. Put in the work to be the best and remember where and how you were when you asked this question. And when one of your Soldiers asks, Sergeant, how do I get to be a Sergeant? You will have the answer.

SSD1 for starters, enroll in college, try to get a CTO from a fixed based facility. There aren't any courses at the 10 level it's mostly performance based evaluations to get recommendation for promotion. Do well at BLC and focus on the basic soldiering skills. Be available to do everything that your peers dread doing. Don't be afraid to put in work!

Pathfinder