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

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.

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.

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

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!

PFC Tuan Trang

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?!

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!

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.

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

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.