What are the administrative mechanics in getting promoted outside of the board process (vacancy promotion)?

I see that you're USAR. I find it strange that promotion is that difficult considering the number officers they keep claiming to be short, especially in the O-4 and O-5 ranks. They keep trying to get me to come over but I'm waiting for sanctuary next year before I consider a move.

I'm ARNG T10 AGR and fully qualified for O-5 with nearly 7 years TIG. The problem we have in the AGR program is cultural because so many colonels were O-4s for 10-12 years that they think everyone should be. I didn't commission until I was 39 (18 years enlisted) so I fully understand your challenges. I'm Infantry so the big hurdle I have is that because I've been on T10 orders since I left company command I missed being an M-Day BN S3 or XO for a year (Key Development Position - KDP) and it's pretty much a requirement for combat arms. I'm waiting on the last O-5 board results now and they're a month late. As a QM officer you should have huge opportunities in the USAR but may want to talk to a Guard Officer Accessions recruiter to see if they have any options for you.

Meanwhile, get every KDP and school you can. Try to get slotted in the most critical KDPs in the QM career field and make sure you get a company command for at least 2 years. Rule of thumb is NEVER turn down a command, ANY command. If they offer you the laundry company command, take it! Volunteer for the schools no one wants like the How The Army Runs Course (HTARC), UMO, or AT Level II. Boards are making 90% of their decisions based upon your ORB and whatever is on there determine your fate. OERs are important but most of the O-6s I know say that the ORB is what everyone really pays attention to. The guy with the most schools, KDPs, and ASIs wins.

Now, Unit Vacancy Promotions. That's what you want if you can get it. I was promoted to both O-3 and O-4 through UVP and it saves a lot of time and hassle if you can do it. O-5 promotions are ALWAYS boarded. The key is to shop the vacancies. I haven't been USAR since 1996 but in the Guard each state continually publishes a list of vacancies and I'm sure that USAR has something similar. I know the USAR also expects you to take any promotion in the US regardless of proximity to your HOR. That can be tough, especially if you have a civilian career that is difficult to work with regarding drill and AT but you need to take them when offered. Your best friend is the senior NCO in your S-1 shop. Be really nice and friendly because they can help guide you through your career and assist you getting into those vacancies.

Your PME is also critical. Get all of your schools done on time if not early. As a 1LT you should be able to attend your Captain's Career Course or at least get a reservation if you haven't done it already. If they changed the rules and keep you back until you're an O-3 get into the school ASAP. Same with ILE. I know literally hundreds of O-4s who retired or are retiring at O-4 just because they didn't get it done. It must be completed by the end of your 15th year of commissioned service according to regulations. It's a vague reg and I've seen a lot of majors get caught short by it because they didn't know. Your best bet is to attend the resident course at CGSC at Ft. Leavenworth if you can spare the year. It's a PCS move and will generate a DD214 as well as get you ILE complete through the Advance Operations Course (AOC). The reserve components get a small number of slots every year and it's very competitive but you might get lucky. Guard AGRs who complete that course are typically front-loaded for O-5. If you don't get it, start the online ILE Common Core course ASAP. It's a pain in the butt but you just have to buckle down and get it done and it's self paced so you can finish it quick if you're motivated. Start AOC immediately after that (collaborative, takes a year). It's not a requirement for O-5 but it IS a discriminator in the boards and makes your ORB look better than the guy without it. AOC IS a requirement for battalion command. Remember what I said about command.

Last piece of advice is try to surf unit vacancies as soon as you meet the minimum TIG for the next promotion. O-3 to O-4 minimum TIG and O-4 to O-5 minimum is 4 years each last I checked so at 3.5 years start looking for new job. Keep your bosses happy and show them you're capable and competent and they will usually support you.

God Bless and good luck,

-MAJ J.

There is clearly a reoccurring theme here.

I'm incline to believe the Vacancy Promotion is an uphill battle without a administrative culture that it can be navigated through. Maybe I can be the one to try and help my command fill vacancies with such a process currently and over the next few years. Then if we are successful I'll be better positioned to make it happen for myself at TIG.

Now, what seems to be the more opportunistic path is simply position myself as strong as possible for a below the zone selection. In looking at my Branch Career briefs and the last years worth of MAJ MilPers pertaining to promotions I need to have knocked out CCC and have completed time in a Key Position (which I have).

1) Either way Vacancy or Below the Zone, I can't submit for either until I meet TIG.
2) Either way, I can't submit until PME is complete.
3) Either way, if I want early consideration I need Key Positions already done.

Next course of action, knock out CCC, and once completed reach out to my Branch Manager when I'm a CPT with CCC, and a Key Position under my belt. Then ask for guidance to position myself as a below the zone look ASAP so as to not miss any future boards.

Part of me thinks I missed getting CPT a year sooner when I submitted my packet at 3.3 years TIG when it could have technically been done within regulations at 2.3 years (and one of those years was in command). But probably not :-(

I have seen it done. It has to go through a process which is clear in the AR. You will have to convince a GO to sign off on it. Other than that, just do your best and the rest will follow.