What should I do if my leadership won’t let me wear my new rank?

2018-08-13T19:15:18-04:00

Basically I came down on my promotion automatically and have a date of rank on my erb a couple weeks go by and they still won’t let me wear my rank because they haven’t given me a 4187,So when I ask about the 4187 they say they will assess the orderly room and then I never hear back no weeks have turned into months same issue keeps happening so I’m looking for a regulation or DA Pam where it says I have to wear my perspective rank?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2018 7:32 PM

2018-08-13T19:32:33-04:00

Are you getting paid as an E4?

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Aug 13 at 2018 7:44 PM

2018-08-13T19:44:42-04:00

You should not pin yourself. If you are being paid and they refuse to pin you as to see the CSM on open door. Thank you for your service.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2018 8:09 PM

2018-08-13T20:09:33-04:00

The does your new rank show on your LES?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2018 9:07 PM

2018-08-13T21:07:02-04:00

Everyone will say if you're getting paid for it, you shouldn't care. Thats BS. Everyone in your situation would want to be pinned. You earned the promotion. As previously stated, if your company is not moving forward and its been that long, go higher. Someone will eventually have your back.

Response by SFC David Bentley made Aug 13 at 2018 9:25 PM

2018-08-13T21:25:21-04:00

I wouldn't to straight to the CSM quite yet, when was your last company promotion ceremony? Remember your not the only one. To my understanding there would have to have been a 4187 cut for you to get promoted. check IPERMS for the last DOC. in the mean time enjoy the new PAY!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2018 9:53 PM

2018-08-13T21:53:54-04:00

Continue to engage your first line. That's really it. Remind him/her that this shouldn't be that hard to fix since it's a CO grade promotion. I don't know the details and I've experienced it before in my time, I got the pay and when others pushed me why I'm "wearing the wrong rank" I let them know that my leadership is waiting for the right time. Don't sweat it, not having the SPC rank on your uniform isn't going to kill you but prepare everything on your uniforms and kit that reads the new rank.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2018 11:21 PM

2018-08-13T23:21:33-04:00

Seems like a huge lack of communication on your leadership.

Response by SFC Dagmar Riley made Aug 13 at 2018 11:46 PM

2018-08-13T23:46:21-04:00

SPC Private RallyPoint Member, i know it doesn’t seem fair when something like this happens; but at least you have the pay check in the meantime. Unfortunately these things occasionally occur and like CPT Private RallyPoint Member mentioned, you get a little of the free time to learn some more in your new rank and it also prepares you for when you’re in a leadership position someday and a PFC comes to you repeatedly with the same problem. Continue to use your chain of command to keep reminding them. If all else fails, when you receive orders for PCS it will have the correct rank on it and you can report to your new unit with the correct rank. This isn’t how it should happen but I actually seen this happen once. Thank you for your service and don’t let this change your attitude about continuing to serve; keep your head high on continue to serve with pride. Everyone at one time regardless of their rank has hit or will hit a snafu that can/will be irritating; just don’t let it define who you are!

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Aug 14 at 2018 8:17 AM

2018-08-14T08:17:17-04:00

You got a LEADERSHIP problem with in your command.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2018 2:50 PM

2018-08-14T14:50:43-04:00

First off your message is misleading. You said you came on the list a couple of weeks ago, by a couple I assume 2. Then you said you've been waiting for months.... Either way have you Section Sergeant or Platoon Sergeant inquire about your 4187. I've seen promotions be held up for the lack of a 4187 but it eventually came after the leadership engaged the Company.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2018 3:08 PM

2018-08-14T15:08:51-04:00

We had a soldier PCS to my unit and she made SGT for May - but we didn't have her orders. She was on leave and they didn't give her any promotion orders when she left. She reported mid month. So she had to wait another week to pin on until we could get orders issued. She didn't complain about it she just waited.

Until you have a 4187 you don't have that rank. If it's been months push your leadership. Your PSG, and then your 1SG. If that doesn't work then go to the CSM. Are you getting paid it yet? If not I'd get on them about it so you can get paid.

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Aug 14 at 2018 4:42 PM

2018-08-14T16:42:19-04:00

Is there some reason they don't want to pin you? Some outstanding discipline issue or something?

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2018 11:02 PM

2018-08-14T23:02:07-04:00

If you are advancing from E-3 to E-4 the system automatically promotes you once you reach you TIG & TIS requirements. Your command will then complete a DA 4187 for your records.
If your command does not want you to be promoted they must flag you in the system, the day before your automatic promotion, and remove the flag the day after. They then have to counsel you on your deficiencies.
Once you have corrected yourself your leadership can recommend you for promotion using a DA 4187.
If your command does not flag you they will have to backdated your DA 4187 to the promotion date in the system.
As with many things in the Army, it can take time but will always catch up. This doesn't mean you can't remind your FLL or use your chain if they fail to act.

Response by 1SG Marion "Ron" C. made Aug 14 at 2018 11:13 PM

2018-08-14T23:13:45-04:00

This may not be what you want to hear, but the opposite of what you are asking can be found in AR 600-8-19, table 2-1, page 19, step 15 which states "Conduct promotion ceremony". Not being able to see the grade change transaction, it appears that a DA Form 4187 has already been typed allowing the HR person to enter the grade change, thus you are being paid for the advancement. Your chain of command may want to check with the BN S1 to see if they have a copy of the DA Form 4187. It may be that the orderly room clerk never received the DA Form 4187 and the promotion certificate from BN.

I agree with others that you may have a leadership problem if your leaders do not care enough to ensure you are promoted on time, which is unfortunate. Ensuring Soldiers are promoted when they deserve it should be uppermost in leader's minds.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 15 at 2018 1:11 PM

2018-08-15T13:11:23-04:00

Ask your FLL to get involved. Request a date to be promoted. Use your chain and request to speak to next Leadership in chain if you don’t get answers. Communication is key but so is Leadership. Sometimes you have to remind them. Don’t give up. Someone knows something ask to be kept in the loop.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 16 at 2018 9:14 PM

2018-08-16T21:14:17-04:00

Step 1: Write a memo to request a status. Don't leave it open-ended (meaning include a 10-business day window for them to respond by). Also outline your follow-on actions if there is no response (i.e. going to see the CSM, starting an IG inquiry, etc).

Step 2: If no response is given, follow through on your follow-on actions. In the mean time, you should make an appointment with the DEERS office to update your CAC.

Step 3: Be the steward of your career and don't let this go. The army made the regulations for automatic promotions, your unit has to live by those regs.

Response by CSM Paul Herr made Sep 24 at 2018 4:10 PM

2018-09-24T16:10:12-04:00

SPC, First it sounds like you may have left information out from your question. If that is not the case and there is nothing else missing such as disciplinary issues, height and weight or something to that nature then I really do apologize for your inept leadership. This should be as simple as you asking your platoon Sergeant or FLL about the issue and they resolve it for you. The fact that people are telling you you need to do this or that, see the CSM IG is all a last resort. It shouldn’t even get to this stage. I mean this is low hanging fruit for a Platoon Sergeant. Again I apologize for the leadership you are under. Start with your FLL they should tell you immediately when they will look into it. If they cannot resolve it escalate it from there maybe with the open door policy with the 1SG. Nothing? Then the CSM. Nothing? Then IG and look for another unit ASAP because your unit cannot take care of its Soldiers and after all the previous, it must be pervasive.