When should an officer expect to be promoted to Captain?

1LT Eric Rosa, you definitely took some others down memory lane. Based on your profile, it looks like your are a Title 32 Officer, so it is difficult to determine an answer to your question. Mentors in your unit are probably better prepared to discuss than this forum. However, keep in mind that the Army's official stance on promotion timelines has to do with development. In times of frequent deployments and training rotations, officers tend to hit specific developmental gates earlier, and therefore, promotions come sooner. As drawdowns occur and that timeline spreads out, it takes longer to get the necessary experience / education. If I had to do it over again, I wish I had been an LT longer not because of the "fun" factor, but so I could spend a little bit longer understanding my role as an officer. Good luck.

Different situations change the conditions and qualifications for the promotions of all officers in the Army, i.e. War, shortage of junior ranks, hard to commission ranks of professionals and semi-professional fields. Then there is the need for certain languages, that can make an enlisted man a junior 2nd Lt. overnight.

As with all our Armies in the past and now, we attempt to follow a guideline on the length of service/experience each grade must have and education, before they advance to the next promotable level. This is only a guideline and can be changed under rapidly changing conditions. In fact, One day I out-ranked a SFC and a week later he was a Captain, direct commission, due to a few language qualifications. So he then outranked me. We were on amiable terms so it didn't change the work relationship except for his language qualifications and direct commission to Captain.
Attrition, lack of qualified candidates within the ranks and other factors can help some get promoted to a higher rank quicker than others. So it is advised to learn what is the current and futre needs of the Army and attempt to get the training to fulfill that qualification and make yourself the best preferred candidate for the promotion.
Now that I have written all this, the Army can still do what it wants about lengths of service, time in rank, and direct promotions. Just be the best you can be and you will reap good rewards. OOORAH!

My active duty service as a 2LT began 9 JUL 2011, and I pinned CPT 1 JUL 2015. You will know at your 3-year mark whether you made the list, but even if you don't you shouldn't worry. You'll be at the very top of the next list, and will promote shortly after your peers.

For us in the Reserve Component its all about slots. TIG ultimately plays a secondary role to duty position. In the past I served in a BN that was overstrength in Officers. It was common for someone to spend 5-6 years as a Lieutenant simply due to slot limitations. In my current formation we're understrength, so promotion timelines are shorter.

At 6 years without promotion to CPT you'll be put in front of a board. Until you hit that mark I wouldn't worry about it too much.

I'm not sure if the rates are the same for Active and Nat'l Guard. But typically by the four year mark you are already pinned.

It took me roughly 3.5 years to be promoted from 1LT to Captain in the Army Reserves.

Seems the timelines continue to change based upon the needs of the Army. When I commissioned it was 2 years as an O1, 3 years as an O2 before O3 for Reserve; however new officers a year or two ahead of me had their TIG from O1 to O2 reduced to 18 months from 24 months.

With the drawn down in forces in the AC and some in RC we could see these numbers increase again as the footprint is reduced.

Department of the Army publishes the requirements for promotion of officers. All three components (Active, National Guard and Army Reserves) follow the AR for promotions: AR 600-8-29.

2LT and 1LT. The law establishes no minimum TIG requirements for consideration for promotion; however, an officer must have at least 18 months TIG to be promoted to 1LT and 2 years TIG to be promoted to CPT (10 USC 619). The TIG requirement for promotion to 1LT has been extended to 2 years by the authority of the SA. Promotions of 2LT to 1LT are not boarded.


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 is reason not to (referred OERs, UCMJ actions, Letters of reprimand, etc.). You have two opportunities to pass the board. If you do not pass, ultimately you will leave the service.

Regarding saluting: The salute is not simply an honor exchanged. It is a privileged gesture of respect and trust among soldiers. Remember the salute is not only prescribed by regulation but is also recognition of each other's commitment, abilities, and professionalism. The salute is not simply an honor exchanged. It is a privileged gesture of respect and trust among soldiers. Remember the salute is not only prescribed by regulation but is also recognition of each other's commitment, abilities, and professionalism. My rule of thumb was "when in doubt, whip it out." I took joy in saluting - recognizing my seniors, subordinates and peers.

http://www.army-portal.com/pay-promotions/officer-promotions.html as opposed to: http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/armypromotions/a/armypromotions.htm

Personally, I thought 1stLt was the best rank for an infantry officer. If they'd have forgotten about me, I'd have been happy 10-12 years as a 1stLt, or until my body broke down from the glorious abuse.