When should an officer expect to be promoted to Captain?

Took me 26 years, but I'm a slow learner. ;-)

Isn't it related to whether or not you saluted 1LTs when you were a 2LT?

The Army provides the requirements for promotion. All components Army, Army National Guard and Army Reserves adhere to those requirements. The rule book is AR 600-8-29

Eligibility Rules. The general rule to promote 2LTs is 18 months from entrance on active duty or 24 months minus one day from the date of commissioning, whichever is earlier. LTs are not boarded.

CPT, MAJ, and LTC. These officers must serve at least 3 years TIG to be considered for promotion (approximately 4 years of service). You only have two opportunities to board. After that, you will ultimately leave the service. Promotion screening authorities will review the official military personnel files of eligible 1LT to consider the officer for promotion to the grade of CPT. Promotion screening authorities will place the names of officers in the promotion zone on a recommended all-qualified officers list unless there are reasons not to (referred OERs, letters of reprimand, UCMJ actions, etc.)

Back in the dark ages (1968) it was 1yr in each of the Lt grades and Captain at 24 months. The only requirement was that you wake up on the morning of your promotion. My Captains bars were tossed to me by MG Tolson, CG of the 1st Air Cav, Camp Evans, RVN on his way to his chopper. The ceremony was "put them on when you've got the time and you don't have the time now and oh ya congrats, Captain.". We were flying escort for him that day in a Snake.

The time from O1->O2->O3 is a "Needs of the Army" thing, as always, but it also depends if you're in the Active, Reserve, or Guard component. When I commissioned, Active was at 18mo/18mo from Commissioned to CPT, but Reserve and Guard hovered around 24mo/36mo for the same (I made 24/33, so I barely beat the curve). Later on, the Reserve floated as far as 18/24 in some special cases, but now it's back to 24/36 standard. Active expanded slowly to 24/24, which is what they seem to be at now, but because of board delays it seems like it's become closer to 24/30.

Bottom line is, unless you're in a Guard unit with no slots anywhere, current 1LTs should be picking up CPT between 4 and 5 years after commissioning overall. One thing to remember is that Active pins on as soon as their sequence # hits, but Reserve has to find (or already be in) a billet of the new grade, which cannot be multi-person slotted, to pin on (and barring that, will pin one day prior to their next anniversary of the old grade). For a Reservist, that can dramatically extend the wait-time if you don't have a billet ready.

When I first came in, it was typically 4yrs from your commissioning date (2 as a 2LT and 2 as a 1LT). Soon thereafter, it got dropped to 3. I think it's back up to 4 now, and 4 is about where it needs to be.

When I was a 1LT with a mix of reserve and active duty I spent 7 years as a Lieutenant. the time spent worked out well for me.

CPT (Join to see) and CPT (Join to see) -
I commissioned in May of 2009 into the VA ARNG. I was promoted to 1LT in November of 2010. I served in O2 billets until June of 2013, at which point I became an S1 and submitted my Unit Vacancy Promotion packet, based on the fact that I had the right Time in Service (TIS), Time in Grade (TIG), Civilian Education, Military Education, I was in an O3 billet, and I was recommended for promotion. It was accepted but before I was promoted, I transferred to the CA ARNG and went back to an O2 billet. I was notified that I was being DA boarded in fall of 2014, and I was promoted in 2015 when the board finally published their results.

I don't remember TIS and TIG requirements, I'm sure someone can look those up. You need a four-year degree and to have finished BOLC. I finished my second Captain's Career Course by August of 2013, which definitely helped my chances, but not required. Of course, you also need to be doing well with OERs, APFTs, DA Photos, and the like.

Another thing to understand is they don't owe you anything. I am trying to get someone UVP'd right now, everything fits, but the Brigade Commander says he doesn't believe in vacancy promotion.

So... bottom line: Your stars have to align a bit, but it's not impossible. Otherwise, you'll be boarded approximately five years from your commissioning date.

Hope that helps.

Right now it's the first day of the month when you'll hit 4 years active commissioned service.

I was a 1LT for 18 months in the USAR before I pinned CPT. The reason for the acceleration, I was currently in a CPT slot as a Company Commander and I had both my Battalion and Brigade CDR push for my promotion.