What can I do to get promoted?

SPC Eddie "Nemo" Aiumu — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 17:08:21 -0500

I see this question frequently on Social Media. When I was the Personnel Assistance Clerk in the Army. People would constantly come into my office with this question. What's funny is that they ask me and without even looking at my rank expect a PFC to know. However, because of my job I owe them the due diligence to research the answer and give it to them.
1. Weapons- Since we don't go to the range as often than what people think. You should go to your Arms room and sign your weapon out. Once you do so take 20-30 minutes to learn and familiarize with it. Why is it important? Most Soldiers haven't seen a M4 up close not to mention any weapons system. They have to understand how to adjust sight, windage and their trigger release. Ask your Armour for simple shooting drills to improve your breathing, steady grip, trigger pull and release. Dry firing can help you get that 40/40 and translates to max promotion points for the weapons portion.

2. Awards- It pays to be an outstanding Soldier. You're not going to get an AAM or ARCOM every time you pick up trash. But every bit counts, from COA to GCM understanding this can get you on the road to that next stripe. Also update your ORB to reflect your proper awards.

3. Education- Go to School. Either Military or Civilian those points can be the difference of you being promoted. Yes. Military life isn't easy, nor does having a family (families are cool) because both requires your undivided attention. So, you need to sit down with your loved ones and explain to them the reason your not home after work on certain days. Most Soldiers who're single take their time for granted and decide to skip out on school and wait til they ETS. However, if you plan on being in for 20 you must get this portion done.

4. APFT- This one isn't hard to explain. Let's face it you can be an expert shooter, a decorated Soldier and well educated but, you fail APFT none of those matter. Some old head once told me, "Look here fatass, one hour of PT isn't enough. Once you get off work go run, do push ups and situps. That's the only way for your Fatass to remain in this Army". Sadly, he was correct and most Soldiers only do the minimum but maximum partying.

Hope this helps feel free to add to this below.

Response by SPC Paul Tillson made Feb 15 at 2016 5:34 PM

SPC Paul Tillson — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 17:34:30 -0500

SPC Eddie "Nemo" Aiumu Good advice, one other thing that I did, was ask for a counseling statement about why I have not been promoted, and 30 days later was promoted.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2016 6:40 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 18:40:19 -0500

You forgot, do all of that, then go to BLC then go to the promotion board. Continue to do all that was stated after the promotion board and you'll get promoted in no time

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2016 9:35 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 21:35:55 -0500

Stay in and do what's expected of you

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 15 at 2016 9:42 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 21:42:10 -0500

Show you have the mettle, wisdom, tactical and technical knowledge, and leadership skills or potential of an E-5. I liked it when soldiers and NCOs forced my hand at promoting them because of the track record.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2016 9:56 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 21:56:03 -0500

College, BLC, awards, if you do something out of the common, your NCO's should be helping by putting in Awards. It seems that the Soldiers I talk to and have the same questions I ask where do they need points. More common than not it is Awards and College. Sucker up and even if its 1 class do it. I hated school and still have an AA and am working on my BA. Hope this helps

Response by PVT Robert Gresham made Feb 16 at 2016 6:26 AM

PVT Robert Gresham — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 06:26:37 -0500

SPC Eddie "Nemo" Aiumu, You made a great list, but those are the things that just about everyone thinks about. What some people forget is that it's really just a matter of doing your job, taking care of your peers and your subordinates, taking the initiative, and meeting (or even better exceeding) the standards that are set out by the Army and your chain of command. If you combine the two lists, your WILL get your promotion !!

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2016 7:28 AM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 07:28:26 -0500

Thank you for the advice.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2016 10:46 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 10:46:35 -0500

Great tip.

Response by MAJ David Wallace made Feb 16 at 2016 10:47 AM

MAJ David Wallace — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 10:47:03 -0500

SPC Aiumu, you are wise beyond your years! If you're junior enlisted, you'd do well to follow this advice. PT and weapons Qual and familiarization are critical not only to your promotion, but also to your survival on the battlefield. If you can't reach out and touch the bad guys, you better have a good running game! Make the time for classes, both professional and personal. Start mapping out your future and make it yours. Make a plan and work your plan. Set goals and deadlines for yourself. The sooner you start, the better

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2016 11:02 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 11:02:47 -0500

Very good advice. The truth is you can do all this and still not get promoted. Depends on what branch your in and what part of the branch your in. Such as me being in the national guard. The truth to promotion is to start with the basic which were outlined in the initial post. Follow those up with the other comments of taking initiative. Then go above and beyond by volunteering for everything. Their will be soldiers who look at you like you a blue falcon or whatever name they can think of because they are actually jealous or have the knowledge of a child. Never stop having a thirst for knowledge. Learn to do multiple roles/jobs. Make yourself marketable. Ask to go on every military school you can. Keep in touch with those who play key roles in your unit to schedule you for schools. If you see somebody doing something you don't know how to go offer help and ask questions. Find military books of different areas and read them. Study your basic warrior task and drills and keep abreast of them. Anyways what I meant by doing all this and not getting promoted is how things are structured in the national guard from E-4- E-5. Learn how many points each area is worth and how much each item in that area are worth such as how many points you get for certain awards, for civilian school, for military schools. When you have down time explore all the different websites for the military online off of Ako. To know how to keep everything up to date.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2016 11:30 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 11:30:48 -0500

One additional piece of advice, is to study for and volunteer to go for Soldier of the Month. These boards are excellent to practice for the promotion board. Additionally, it is an avenue to set yourself up to be awarded an AAM or ARCOM depending on if you can go to a BDE Soldier of the Year board.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2016 11:58 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 11:58:44 -0500

Promotions in the Army may seem like voodoo or black magic sometimes, especially to the lower enlisted. The truth is less witchdoctor and more economics. Its simple supply and demand. How many do you need, how many do you have and whats the best one? E1-E4 have automatic promotions based upon time in grade, time in service with the occasional waiver. Those waivers are also based on supply and demand.

When you go to buy a car, you make your decision based on things like performance, fuel economy, trunk space, comfort, design and of course cost. You want to get the best car that you can for the money that you have to spend.

Promotions in the Army are no different. There is a budget. Every MOS in the Army has a certain number of slots for every single rank. When the number of soldiers in that rank (and MOS) are below the number of authorizations, soldiers get promoted. Which soldiers get promoted is the question. The army wants to promote the best qualified. Just like you want to buy the best car for the money, there are a limited amount of promotions available so how does the Army pick the very best for that promotion?

The army has to use metrics to measure performance. How well did you do on your PT test? How well did you shoot? How much college do you have? etc. A point value is assigned to each area and those values are totaled up. This is how we have promotion points. Soldiers believe that they're chasing the cutoff score, but in reality, thats not the case. Soldiers are competing against each other for limited promotions and promotion points is the tool that the Army uses to asses performance and potential for each soldier and the cutoff score is only the tool that the Army uses promote off of the top.

Lets say there are 100 Sergeant positions in a certain MOS. IF the number on hand drops to 90 (because of promotions or soldiers getting out, demoted, etc) then there are ten slots available. The army goes down the promotion point list from top to bottom and draws the line after number ten. How many promotion points that soldier has, is the cutoff for that month in that MOS. Its that simple.

Soldiers are not competing against the cutoff score, they are competing against their peers for the limited promotions available. Its like walking in the woods with your friends and running into a bear. The Bear can not eat everyone, so how do you survive? You can't outrun the bear, but luckily you don't have to. You only have to outrun the people that you're with.

Senior NCO promotions are done the same as Junior NCO promotions. Yes, I know, the board is once a year and soldiers get a sequence number... however the mechanism for promotion is exactly the same. Every MOS has a number of slots in that rank and they need to keep them full. The Army has to project how many vacancies they might have in the upcoming year and thats how many soldiers that the army puts on the promotion list. The promotions are given out each month when the vacancies actually open up.

I hope I've taken some of the mysticism out of the Army promotion system. How do you get promoted? Be better than the soldier to your left and right. Outrun the bear!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2016 3:37 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 15:37:39 -0500

These are qurstions for your 1st line supervisor. Express your interest in promotion and have him guide you. After all, that his responsability to you. Express your interest in promotion and ask him to groom you to be a leader; take on every opportunity to show you are responsable, instead of being part of the group. Also covered should be Expectations of your job and you as a soldier should be covered in your initial counseling and re-addressed monthly. Volunteer for everything you can possibly volunteer for (even if you do not know what the task/mission is) as this looks good on you.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2016 4:16 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 16:16:26 -0500

I clipped this from http://www.ezarmypoints.com
Before you can even put a promotion packet together, you need to make sure that you meet the requirements for promotion.
•Have a passing APFT (180+) in the last 12 months.
•Have a passing Height and Weight in the last 6 months.
•Have a passing M-16 weapons qualification in the last 12 months.
•Have no active flags for any reason.
•Have the appropriate length of Time is Service (TIS) and Time in Grade (TIG) for the rank you are going before the board for.
•Have completed Structured Self Development Level 1 (SSD1).
•Have completed Warrior Leader Course (WLC).

If you have satisfied the above requirements, this means you are eligible for promotion. The next step is to get you promotion packet information together. Start making copies of any certificates, orders, awards, etc. you have earned during your time in the Army.

ABDS: "Always Be Doing Something!" on your Promotion Packet! Always be current and up to date and you won't have to ask anyone.....Like "Field of Dreams" build it and it'll come!

All the best always!
- TOP

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2016 6:16 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 18:16:26 -0500

What can you do to get promoted? Well, within my answer, I hope something helps you or sparks and idea. I have to go off of what I did. I've been in 24 years and went from PV2 to 1SG.
What I did to get promoted was to keep a high level of Motivation as much as possible! I stood out from everybody else, I exceeded standards every chance afforded me. I not only cared about me, but I cared about others, I did the best I could in everything, PT, APFT, Ranges, Schools, etc. I went to school at every opportunity. I helped others to learn and be there best. I volunteered a lot. Not to receive just an award or certificate for what I did, but I learned from what I did. I made myself even more valuable than just being a good Soldier. A few years ago, I made a list of all my additional duties. At one point, I had like seven. I was good at all of them and answered the call when it came time for me to execute. Everyone is different and I don't expect anyone to do what I did unless it's in your heart to do. You have to have a certain level of drive, attitude, discipline, Motivation, determination. It was a mind set for me! I would always say to myself " What next is there that I can do to move up to the next level?" Now as I've read all of what I just said, I think the most important answer to your question is to stand out and don't be average. And as you stand out, do it from your heart, let people see you are here to make a difference and while you're doing that, lead others, help others, be and set the example.

Good Luck and I believe in you.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2016 6:44 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 18:44:54 -0500

Awards apft ssd1 time in grade education and stand out in your unit

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2016 7:52 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 19:52:57 -0500

Everything that was mentioned is spot on, work on where you are weakest. If you are having trouble with the APRT, then get with a Battle who aces the APRT. If you are lacking in education then get sign up for school. I was under the old 1000 point system, I went to school, worked to shoot expert and tried my best on the APRT.

Response by SPC Glenn Robison made Feb 16 at 2016 7:53 PM

SPC Glenn Robison — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 19:53:48 -0500

They say never volunteer for anything, I volunteered for everything I ended my 10 years time with 5 mos's, I past up my E 5 didn't want it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2016 11:09 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 23:09:31 -0500

Getting promoted is easy! Now that we have covered that here is the major hard part WORK very hard, master your craft first! Know and learn everything you can about you job and then work on your bosses job next and continue that cycle. Weapons and PT are easy if you want to get better at then then engage your focus on the those areas and the blanks will begin filling themselves in, don't ever be afraid to do your own research and study hard no matter the subject or topic. Military and civilian education is all you take the first step in figuring out what you want to do. College is hard but start with one course at a time and before you know it you will be done. I worked my butt off and got my bachelors in 23 months it is hard work but it is possible. As a Soldier all you have time so why not use it wisely even if the Army is not your career plan and nothing but a chapter in your book of life why not get everything they can offer you both in and out of the service. Who knows you may decide that this is what your life plan is an stay in for 20 or 30 years. Lastly stand up and stand out remember if you don't control your career someone else will. Don't be afraid to be the best and help others to do the same thing. The Army is a team an as a team you will have to work together to accomplish many goals BUT, you will still be responsible for making the right choices for your career path. Hope this help.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2016 11:40 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 23:40:16 -0500

Do your job well

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2016 6:33 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 06:33:48 -0500

SPC Aiumu, to get promoted you must always do better then your peers. Attend all military schooling for the next grade and stay on top of your SSD. If you are in college, continue. If not, enroll and pursue a degree. Good Luck!!!!!

Response by SFC Derahn Thornton made Feb 17 at 2016 2:22 PM

SFC Derahn Thornton — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 14:22:46 -0500

I got promoted on my merits as my old buddy Aiumu said in what you need to do. The first thing I did was speak with my squad leader, and worked day and night to make SGT. My whole section left with the rank of SGT as we were all SPCs. Back in that time the Correspondence Courses were a dime a dozen to apply for and pass. I had 600 pts (old 998 system) and my MOS points were 500. you gotta grind if you want it!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2016 11:21 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 23:21:58 -0500

Talking about promotion, or in reality what we're really considering, the first line of the Creed of the Non-Commissioned Officer comes to mind: No one is more professional than I. We all know that we are in the profession of arms, and with that profession, most of us are tied into secondary professions as well (such as Aviation in my case). A professional never stagnates - they are constantly learning in order to stay on top of their field. A 300 PT test, 40/40 at the range, maxed out mil and civilian education, and a slew of awards are nice, but they don't mean a thing if you pin on E-5 or higher, and cannot lead soldiers within your subordinate profession. Case in point: one NCO I know is a "PT Stud," can shoot, has the civilian education, military education and correspondence courses. However, he always severely struggled when it came to the task he originally went to Advanced Training for: UH-60 Maintenance. As such, it was apparent to the leadership that he was incapable of truly leading his assigned soldiers, and he often found himself tasked elsewhere. While it didn't seem to bother him, he was surpassed by his peers and subordinates because of it, until the right leadership came in, and forced him to learn his job. eventually, he did excel, and went on to the board, where he did get his promotability status. However, it is still a struggle for him, since he is still trying to play catch up.

AKO has a link to a career tracker. Every one of us should be utilizing that, and asking ourselves what we need to do in order to take that next step forward. Further, we also have to consider that someone has to replace us at our current level when we do move up. As such, we should be training our subordinates to do the job at least as well as us, if not better (preferable), and recognizing those soldiers who do excel. It seems few realize anymore that once you pick up NCO and become a leader, it's no longer about just you anymore, but the soldiers you now have authority over as well. If your leadership does not see you working to progress them, or recognizing when they're doing well, then what motivation would your leadership have to try to advance you to the next level? It's really a give and take.

Response by SPC Chris Rozzi made Feb 18 at 2016 4:13 AM

SPC Chris Rozzi — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 04:13:42 -0500

Max out pt score no your shit go to wlc make points don't be the guy that conplains.

Response by SPC William Biles made Mar 1 at 2016 12:43 AM

SPC William Biles — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 00:43:02 -0500

Study and go to the promotion board.

Response by PFC Tuan Trang made Mar 1 at 2016 1:16 AM

PFC Tuan Trang — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 01:16:34 -0500

high score in afpt, degree from college, rotc , volunteer with your unit.

Response by SPC Brandon Hamilton made Mar 26 at 2016 4:07 PM

SPC Brandon Hamilton — Sat, 26 Mar 2016 16:07:41 -0400

Do Skill-Port Courses. It's the fastest way to get points! I have 543hours and Max out for E5 and E6, you can too.

Response by SPC Brandon Hamilton made Apr 2 at 2016 3:40 PM

SPC Brandon Hamilton — Sat, 02 Apr 2016 15:40:29 -0400

Try to stay off Profile bro. Keep a "Low-Profile".