What schools do officers attend to get promoted?

Cadet 2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Jun 2021 21:52:58 -0400

I know colonels attend a certain school to be promoted to general

Response by MSG Gary Eckert made Jun 17 at 2021 10:02 PM

MSG Gary Eckert — Thu, 17 Jun 2021 22:02:23 -0400

CPT career course, ILE, SAMS, War college

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2021 10:28 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Jun 2021 22:28:40 -0400

BOLC, CCC, ILE, War College. Probably others I'm not aware of

Response by CCMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2021 12:38 AM

CCMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 00:38:36 -0400

NCO school

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2021 2:51 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 02:51:09 -0400

Schools don't get officers promoted like they do for enlisted, ratings and positions get officers promoted. You'll be rated on how you perform against your peers, for instance "number 4 of 9 people I currently rate if this grade". Best performers will be selected for more challenging assignments which are more likely to get promoted. I'm sure one of our senior officers will go more in depth about it

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Jun 18 at 2021 9:42 AM

MAJ Ronnie Reams — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 09:42:45 -0400

The names have changed, but as I recall, OBC for 1LT, OAC for MAJ, 1/2 CGS for
LTC and finish CGS for COL.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2021 10:35 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 10:35:45 -0400

Depends a lot on education and branch. Some branches TIG and TIS are enough to make rank in zone. Others you will need certain schools and assignments and good OERs to rank. I know 05’s without CCC done in the reserves and I know O3’s with CCC both phases completed who haven’t made O4 yet. A lot of variables when going before the board.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jun 18 at 2021 11:31 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 11:31:29 -0400

Actually it's schools and other pedigree items that make an officer somewhat but not completely competitive for promotion. It varies by service, branch, designator, etc. However, for each officer, there is a progression path with various beans that should be accumulated and at what rank. There are the stock in trade leadership courses. Masters degrees start to come into play when going up to the O-4 board. Professional credentialing for varied staff corps is likewise prevalent at the O-4 level. Credentialing in varied National organizations can be a good bean if it applies to your designator. Even so, liken this stuff to skating the short program. To be competitive, you need to skate the long program as well. Performance, initiative, taking care of people; the list goes on. Then it's having competent raters and reviewers who know what they're doing. There's a lot of urban myth out there regarding "magic pills", letters to Boards, etc. Work diligently on all the pedigrees and your job. Promotion through O-3 is pretty much assured. But really pay attention to O-4 and above as it starts bottlenecking quickly. Learn about the promotion process, boards, and the various documents that are published. Key one would be the Board Precepts that get revised every year. And if you get a chance as a mid grade O-3, listen carefully to what senior officers who actually sat Boards previously have to say. That's a fairly small group. I did around 6 promotion, continuation, command Boards in my time. I still cringe at stuff members post on this forum.

Response by COL Victor Hagan made Jun 22 at 2021 11:44 PM

COL Victor Hagan — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 23:44:47 -0400

I strongly recommend that you download a copy of DA Pam 600-3 and read your branch considers what you need to be competitive for promotion.

Response by SMSgt Bob Wilson made Jun 23 at 2021 12:20 AM

SMSgt Bob Wilson — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 00:20:46 -0400

Cadet LT, Learn you job first, worry about promotion later.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jun 23 at 2021 12:47 AM

LTC Jason Mackay — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 00:47:50 -0400

Cadet 2LT Private RallyPoint Member there is more nuance to it. You will attend CCC following your first duty assignment in CONUS or a long tour in Germany right around the List coming out for the O3 board. I was promoted second week of CCC. When you compete for O4 you also board for ILE. You’ll compete for O5 and BN Command at the same time. Following command you’d board for Senior Service College and O6 at the same time and again for BDE Command.

The only “school” requirement for promotion is you have to be JPME II qualified and have a 3year joint assignment to become a GO. It’s law. Gold Water Nichols Act,

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Jun 23 at 2021 12:23 PM

SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 12:23:31 -0400

They have to attend all career development courses - typically prior to them being selected for Promotion. Officer Basic and Advance Couse, Captains Course, Commmand and General Staff Course and if selected for Commmand - there is a new method for Selecting Batalion Commanders - which inow includes an assessment of their capabilities, temprance and skills required for acceptance and assignment and selection prior to assuming command. Then for LTC's and COL their is competiotion for attendsnce at the Army War College!

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Jun 23 at 2021 1:42 PM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 13:42:20 -0400

I would worry about getting through the lower ranks first. The first thing will be your branch specific Basic Officers Leadership Course. If you are Combat Arms, I suggest Airborne and Ranger School and it doesn't hurt even if you are not Combat Arms. Then you will do your Plt time, XO, maybe Staff time, during which you need to complete your Captains Career Course. That should take you through company Command. When you go to Major, you get Intermediate Level Education, selection by Department of the Army. The last big step is Army War College.
On top of all this is broadening assignment and other special schools. And you need to continue your civilian education. An MA is not an official requirement, but you won't be at the top of the promotion list without one.

Response by Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis made Jun 23 at 2021 6:10 PM

Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 18:10:21 -0400

It is not the taking of a school that gets a Colonel promoted to General. First, you must be promoted to General (BG), and then you get to take that school.

To answer your question, however, there are three levels of Professional Military Education for Officers: Primary Developmental Education (PDE), Intermediate Developmental Education (IDE), and Senior Developmental Education (SDE). Each Service will have their own names for these DE's. For example, the Air Force calls its PDE Squadron Officers' School.

I took the AF PDE in correspondence. I also took the AF IDE in correspondence, too. I took the AF SDE in seminar.

Response by COL Carl Jensen made Jun 24 at 2021 10:32 PM

COL Carl Jensen — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 22:32:55 -0400

Basic and advanced Officer branch course,C&GS, Army War College. If you change branch, you go through basic and advance courses in the new branch. At least that's what is was like in the 60's to the 90's. It seemed like every time I was ready for promotion they raised the bar, or froze promotions. There are additional courses you have to take to keep up with your assignments. You might want to add refresher courses to bring you up to date. There was no shortage of courses available. Life was easier as a Sp4. LOL!

Response by CPT Larry Hudson made Aug 5 at 2023 8:30 PM

CPT Larry Hudson — Sat, 05 Aug 2023 20:30:29 -0400

The Advanced Courses of your Speciality or MOS ie., Engineers go to Ft. Lenardwood
Artillery - Fort Sil etc.