What exactly can PFCs do to guarantee they will get the 6 month waiver and promotion as soon as 18 months TIS and 3 months TIG?

SPC Jesse Bisping — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 10:57:46 -0500

I haven't had any leadership roles in Basic or AIT, so I don't have any promotion points currently. I'll be going to my duty station soon, and want to be sure that when slots open up to promote, I'll be at the top of my cadre's list. Also, any advice for 15R fresh out of AIT would be appreciated.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 14 at 2019 11:01 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 11:01:01 -0500

There is nothing to guarantee it. Promotions and waivers are a competition. There is a limited number of waivers available to your company. If your leadership picks you, then you'll get it.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Feb 14 at 2019 11:02 AM

LTC Jason Mackay — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 11:02:29 -0500

SPC Jesse Bisping There is nothing you can do that will "guarantee" you'll get a waiver. Waivers may not be available to your command to give. They are doled out from higher headquarters. You can be the best soldier possible: reliable, good attitude, proficient, fit. That will give you your best chance.

It works the other way though. You'll be guaranteed not to get a waiver if you are a sh!tbird, late, lazy, shamming, complaining, and generally making trouble for your NCO Channel and COC.

The Command gets a AAA117 report which shows by TIS TIG. The waivers are doled out. If a soldier needs TIS and TIG waived, that's two waivers. Otherwise the promotion is automatic unless action is taken by the command to the contrary. As a Company Commander I only remember having 1 or 2 waivers to consider each month, sometimes none. As you can see in the attached link, the waiver is "occupied" until that person hits their natural promotion point for TIS/TIG. It's fairly cut and dry on how waivers are allocated but occasionally a 1SG will get the CSM to pull one on a one time basis.

https://ssilrc.army.mil/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/AGCCC_Administer_Enlisted_Promotions_and_Selections_ELM_LP-JAN-2018.docx

AGCCC_Administer_Enlisted_Promotions_and_Selections_ELM_LP-JAN-2018.docx

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 14 at 2019 11:15 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 11:15:51 -0500

You want to get a waiver to get promoted early? Here is what you are going to need to be aware of. When you get to your unit, you could be one of several PFCs that are wanting that waiver for early advancement. So....you need to set yourself apart from them. Stay out of trouble. Bust your ass at work. Come in early, stay late. Smoke the hell out of your weapons qual and APFT. Show yourself to be dependable and to be that "go to guy." Show your CoC that you are the biggest, baddest mofo on the base and no one else but you deserves that waiver for early advancement. Good luck.

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Feb 14 at 2019 11:45 AM

CSM Richard StCyr — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 11:45:14 -0500

There is no "guarantee" or sure fire way to lock down a promotion waiver. However you can help your chances and be more competitive by doing things like: Max your APFT, Score Expert on your weapon, volunteer for one of the unit level special teams like NBC recon / decon, field sanitation or rail load, machine gunner or RTO.

Check out DA Pam 600-25, it has the career development plans for all MOS skill sets and will tell you what you should shoot for at each level for assignments, education, MOS skills and training.

Response by LTC Jeff Shearer made Feb 14 at 2019 12:15 PM

LTC Jeff Shearer — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 12:15:05 -0500

Learn and work your sack off

Response by CSM Chuck Stafford made Feb 14 at 2019 1:24 PM

CSM Chuck Stafford — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 13:24:39 -0500

When you get to the unit -- assess your peers and then be better than them at everything. Someone will get a waiver -- will it be you? Good luck

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 14 at 2019 3:33 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 15:33:18 -0500

Soldier of the Month/QTR/YR;
290+ APFT;
Complete SSD I;
Army Correspondence Course Program (ACCP);
Be the best 15R in the unit;
Always be at the right place, at the right time (means 15 min early), in the right uniform, with the right attitude, ready to work;
Stand at parade rest/attention always (not at ease, and go to position of attention, then parade rest, then back to position of attention)
Yes, ma'am/sir/Sgt/1SG...
No, ma'am/sir/Sgt/1SG...
Don't make excuses
When you're finished, check, recheck.
Maintain accountability of your equipment.
If you messes up, or aren't going to make a deadline, as soon as you realize it--- that's when you inform your supervisor.
Repeat orders back to your supervisors to ensure you understand them.
If you are unable to do something, don't know how to do something, the time to let your supervisor know is RIGHT then and there.
If you are lacking a resource to accomplish a task--- inform your supervisor immediately.
Read every TM, maintenance message, and learn how to access such information online and check those sources regularly.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2019 5:33 AM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 05:33:26 -0500

From an NCO who is all about giving recognition where it's earned, I say this: You are a lower enlisted soldier, and you don't have much responsibility, but you bear a lot of grunt work.
1. Do your best on the work you're given
2. Do as little griping as possible
3. Take on your tasks, including the implied, and ask for more
4. Asking questions is not bad, but think beforehand, "can I figure out this problem using what I already know, without consistently relying on my leadership?"

Tip, asking for more can sometimes not work out in your favor, so you may want to make some wiser decisions in that department. Your career is what you make it, do your best, and your leadership will see that.

Response by SSG John Lasseigne made Feb 16 at 2019 10:47 PM

SSG John Lasseigne — Sat, 16 Feb 2019 22:47:56 -0500

Waiver...i have no idea. As a new 15 R...always, always open the ietm and read the task completely before starting the work. Refer back to the task often. You will avoid silly mistakes that will get you labeled as a prime motorpool/detail candidate. Second...realize that AIT obliterating you the very basics so you need to figure out who the hotshot crewchiefs are and learn from them. Oh and never never tell the TI....Sgt Idontknowaservofromastrut told me to do it that way. If you want to become one of the hotshot crewchiefs volunteer to be on the phase team. They perform all the heavy scheduled maint and you will gain a lot of experience and knowledge quickly.
P.S. One of my pet peeves as a TI...being asked "hey Sgt, is this safety good enough"...if you the person that did it has doubts about it. Just cut it and start over.
The TM is never wrong, "the way we do things here" often is, so trust but verify and use care and tact.READ AND FOLLOW THE IETM....ALWAYS.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2020 2:04 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 14:04:26 -0500

Notice how nobody told you to be the best 15R. Take this time to be a technician. Learn how the helicopter works, develop the skills to fix it, you will only have a couple of years of hands on experience before you are moved in to a leadership position.