What can I do to earn a Promotion from SPC to CPL?

PFC Tuan Trang — Mon, 11 May 2015 10:25:22 -0400

I'm currently a pfc, Start service at may 05/13, I was wondering what can i do to get promote from spc to cpl?

Does community service help?

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2015 10:37 AM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 May 2015 10:37:29 -0400

PFC Tuan Trang the only CPL that I've seen here, Meade, was because she had so much accomplished as a SPC and her CDR wanted to have everything on a NCOER. But that's CDR discretion. You could get to a Company as a CPL and the CDR can say, I don't need you as a CPL, you are gonna be SPC again. Which is not a demotion since you are in the same pay grade. CPT Private RallyPoint Member correct me if I'm wrong.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made May 11 at 2015 11:07 AM

LTC Paul Labrador — Mon, 11 May 2015 11:07:05 -0400

Both are E-4 so it's not really a "promotion" over the other. It's a delineation of duties (kinda like MSG vs 1SG). CPL is an NCO thus a leadership position. SPC is not. Couple of factors will come into play:

1) is there a need for a junior leader? If your mTOE or TDA does not support a CPL, likely you will not be made into one.

2) have you demonstrated leadership skills necessary to be able to do the job.

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2015 11:14 AM

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 May 2015 11:14:23 -0400

You receive a waver from your chain of command. Some units require you to go to the board. Others will give it to you if you have held a leadership position long enough. Just anticipate that your chain of command will expect more from you as a cpl than as a spc.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made May 11 at 2015 11:14 AM

LTC Jason Mackay — Mon, 11 May 2015 11:14:36 -0400

You have to be laterally appointed by your Company Commander. You have to be in an E5 slot, performing duties as an NCO. Once that is done, your company will not see the E5...until you leave or forever. Generally once the Command does that they will not get the right manning backfill. Hence why seeing CPLs is rare. Not to say the Command may do it anyway. They usually pick someone who is a seasoned soldier and has potential to lead, and is right on the verge of E5 anyway

Response by SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz made May 11 at 2015 11:16 AM

SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz — Mon, 11 May 2015 11:16:16 -0400

During my last tour in Korea I met a PFC who was working as the liaison for the incoming Soldiers to the unit. Her NCOIC PCSed and she was left in charge. She got promoted from PFC all the way to CPL. This is just an example of how you can get promoted to CPL.

Response by CPL Ron Williams made May 11 at 2015 11:16 AM

CPL Ron Williams — Mon, 11 May 2015 11:16:22 -0400

I was so called promoted to Cpl while I was in Iraq during my second tour mainly because of the need of another NCO during convoy missions

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2015 11:18 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 May 2015 11:18:21 -0400

I was a CPL before. You can become a CPL for these reasons:

1) your commander needs more NCOs to fill in spots at the unit.

2) it's up to your commanders discretion to laterally promote you in order for you to be allowed to go to certain schools.

Being a PFC you need to become a SPC and have at least gone to WLC for your commander to be more for that decision.

Response by CPL Ted Jones Jr. made May 11 at 2015 11:25 AM

CPL Ted Jones Jr. — Mon, 11 May 2015 11:25:18 -0400

Not sure. Myself and another SP4 were promoted to CPL when all the "acting" ranks were done away with in 1987 or so. We were both promotable and on "the list". I got out instead of reenlisting. RECON all the way!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2015 11:36 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 May 2015 11:36:53 -0400

Movement from CPL to SPC isn't a promotion; it's a lateral appointment. AR 614-200 has guidance about the requirements to obtain this rank. Honestly thought it's really going to be based on the need for it of you meet those requiements and the command supporting it. Also I just read that you are a PFC; so I'm curious to wonder why aren't your more concerned about being promoted to SPC and then SGT?!

Response by 1SG Jason Fitzpatrick made May 11 at 2015 11:46 AM

1SG Jason Fitzpatrick — Mon, 11 May 2015 11:46:02 -0400

PFC Tuan Trang I applaud your internal drive and desire to get promoted. Being laterally appointed to Corporal is in my humble opinion something that your actions will determine. Lead, Lead, Lead. Live the Creed of the Noncommissioned Officer and always put the needs of the Army, The Organization, and your Soldiers before your own. Doing community service is great, but do it for the service to the community, not some advancement for yourself. You may get awarded the Military Outstanding Volunteer Serice Medal but make no mistake, the lateral appointment is not an award. It is recognition of your ability to lead and take care of Soldiers.... NOT YOURSELF! If you are doing it right, you will be working ten times harder as a Corporal than as a specialist. You will be working for your Soldiers and their Family Members, the Unit and the Army. In addition to all the extra work, you will more than likely be the NCOIC of all the details that the Sergeants don't want... I made many Soldiers and great young leaders wear that rank who had demonstrated outstanding ability to lead their peers. Anybody can make Sergeant...It takes someone very special to wear the rank of Corporal!

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2015 11:50 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 May 2015 11:50:41 -0400

This has already been covered over and over below. I was Promoted to CPL almost immediately because I was sitting in an e-6 slot, and we didn't expect to get that e-6 for about 6 months.

As soon as the E-6 showed up (almost 9 months later), I was honorably demoted at a formation in front of the company. It's all about what job you're fulfilling within the company. That's really about it.

As a side note, even if they need an NCO, they won't promote a SPC to CPL that they believe can't fulfill the role successfully.

Forget CPL. Work on your SGT promotion. Good luck!

Response by SrA Edward Vong made May 11 at 2015 11:59 AM

SrA Edward Vong — Mon, 11 May 2015 11:59:11 -0400

Wow, so much easier in the Airforce. E-4 is basically given to you.

Response by SSG John Bacon made May 11 at 2015 12:32 PM

SSG John Bacon — Mon, 11 May 2015 12:32:58 -0400

I was Laterally promoted to corporal by my Commander at his change of command due to my performance during the change of command inventories. I took control of the entire thing due to my Supply Sergeant being injured. My best advise PFC Tuan Trang would be to do your job to the best of the of your ability, always show up on time, and take charge whenever the opportunity presents its self.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2015 1:21 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 May 2015 13:21:43 -0400

Set your sights higher than Corporal. Get in college, do correspondence courses, get your "sexy" badges (airborne, air assault, sapper) go to WLC and learn learn learn. You want to set yourself up for success to be a Sergeant. Corporal is what will be given to you if your are filling or higher needs you to fill a sergeants position.

Response by SGT Justin Lamb made May 11 at 2015 1:49 PM

SGT Justin Lamb — Mon, 11 May 2015 13:49:02 -0400

PFC,
To become a CPL you need to get a lateral promotion or become DA select.

If you get a lateral, most of the time when you leave the unit that gave you the lateral will lateral you back to SPC before you PCS. I left as a CPL and my new BN CMD decided to keep me as a CPL but know the option is there.

The way you are DA selected is your unit sends up a packet recommending you to be DA selected. In which case your extra services I'm sure couldn't hurt. Becoming DA select is rare.

You need to be serving in an E5 position in order to get a lateral that is done with a 4187 signed by your BN CMD.

Response by CPL Brian Clouser made May 11 at 2015 2:08 PM

CPL Brian Clouser — Mon, 11 May 2015 14:08:09 -0400

To be a cpl, you need to be in a leadership slot, like Assistance Squad leader. Just take on more responsibly and you make cpl. Then that when the real fun begins. Good luck and I hope this help you out.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2015 2:27 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 May 2015 14:27:11 -0400

You have to get promoted to SPC first, do your TIG requirement as a SPC, do your SSD-1 and submit a E-5 promotion board packet, get boarded and there has to be a NCO position in your unit in order to get laterally promoted to CPL.

Response by CPL J Sannizzaro made May 12 at 2015 4:38 AM

CPL J Sannizzaro — Tue, 12 May 2015 04:38:57 -0400

I have been out since 92. Back then most never made corporal. They simply went from spec to sergeant. I made mine because they wanted an NCO to report to the battalion XO, that was the story. The truth was they needed NCO to cover mandarory posts, and the battalion was short Jr NCO and E5s. Good luck and don't sweat it if you promote strait from spec to sergeant, just stay on path.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 12 at 2015 5:25 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 May 2015 05:25:53 -0400

My question to you, is what are you doing to get to the next level? Are you trying to get promoted just because of money or are you genuinely an outstanding Soldier who goes far and beyond your peers? You should be focused on how to be a leader. As far as volunteering if that is what you want to do and its genuine then do it, but dont just do something for the next rank.
You should be focusing on leading from the front, going beyond the normal daily duties, doing military education and when eligible sign up for civilian courses. You are our future NCO and you must lead from the front.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made May 12 at 2015 5:44 AM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Tue, 12 May 2015 05:44:56 -0400

Go tell your squad leader you want a team leader position. The rank will come. Don't worry about volunteering. Being a Team Leader will keep you busy in your personal time.

Response by SGT Craig Knutson made May 12 at 2015 4:59 PM

SGT Craig Knutson — Tue, 12 May 2015 16:59:48 -0400

It's been a long time and I'm sure things are different now, but in 1988, I was in an F.O. slot as a SP4. I went to the E-5 promotion board (based on recommendations of superiors) and as soon as I became "promoteable" I was laterally promoted to CPL. I had orders from the Department of the Army so I kept my rank when I PCS'd, which was cool, but I made the cut off score for E-5 before I reported for duty.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2015 1:05 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 May 2015 01:05:13 -0400

SSD 1, WLC (80 points), take college courses (if not already enrolled), do all the correspondence courses you can, do well on or and weapons qual, locate any and all awards you have, and put all this into a folder. That's your start! DA 3355 is what you use to see how many point s you have.

Response by LTC Peter Hartman made May 13 at 2015 10:11 PM

LTC Peter Hartman — Wed, 13 May 2015 22:11:58 -0400

When I was enlisted we had a lot of SPCs just waiting for their enlistment to end. So when you get promoted to SPC act like a leader. If your platoon leader is paying attention, if you have the technical and tactical skills- and if there is an empty team leader slot, you may get it. SPC is the rank that I held for the shortest period of time. 3 months.

Response by CPL(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2015 4:49 PM

CPL(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 16:49:49 -0500

I am corporal (promotable to SGT) and I got this through Lateral Promotion, My 1SG's reason for my advancement was because I was slotted into an NCO Slot. Now, I'm just a little curious because every SPC and CPL that I know is trying to get promoted to SGT. Why try to promote as CPL when you can take another step forward and be a SGT? There's really nothing wrong at being a corporal (You just get E4 pay) It's still an NCO rank no matter what but you're like standing in the middle of being a Specialist and Sergeant. You will be given more duties; Extra Duty Watch, CQ NCOIC, Range Safety, etc. And yes, you will gain a lot of critics (I don't mind, getting professional criticism helps you develop a more sophisticated and effective leadership style) But, since you're trying to take a good leap to become an NCO why not aim for 3 stripes?

For you to get automatic promotion to SPC you will have 24 months as a PFC. However, You can get promoted to SPC with a waiver (18months as a PFC) but that really depends on your leadership. How will they know that you are performing beyond your rank? COUNSELINGS so always ask for your monthly counselings and get credited for your hard work (yes, ask! It's their job to do it for you and its your career that will highly get affected!) It is your squad leader/PSG's responsibility to evaluate your performance and mold you as a leader. If your job performace is outstanding, pass the APFT and no records of adverse action then your Squad leader or PSG will recommend you for advancement to 1SG and then it will be passed to your company commander then they will send up the monthly reports to the battalion, the last stop is your BN Commander (Approving Authority)

Response by CPL Dan McCready made Jan 2 at 2016 7:21 AM

CPL Dan McCready — Sat, 02 Jan 2016 07:21:06 -0500

When I received my CPL in Iraq, 2003, it was because my team leader had been sent home on a medical, and we didn't have anybody to backfill his slot. I stayed as a CPL team leader for the remainder of our deployment, and when it was time to ETS, it was as a CPL.

Response by CPL Jonathan Roberts made Oct 23 at 2017 1:26 PM

CPL Jonathan Roberts — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 13:26:58 -0400

I see this was 4yrs ago. Usually. You will find corpals in combat arms units.and military police. And its up to the company commander whom to appoint as corpals.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2018 11:36 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 23:36:28 -0500

Where in the regs do it says that? I get infantry and Combat receives CPL but not QM.

Response by MSG Danny Mathers made Jul 8 at 2018 11:05 AM

MSG Danny Mathers — Sun, 08 Jul 2018 11:05:33 -0400

Go to Primary Leadership Course. You will have to be a top performer to get an early slot to attend.