Why does the military force soldiers to get promoted if they aren’t ready for the responsibilities or don’t want it?

SFC Christopher Taggart — Sun, 11 Aug 2019 09:57:31 -0400

Wouldn’t someone who’s promoted, when they aren’t ready, do a poor job?

https://taskandpurpose.com/military-needs-abandon-promotion-boards

The ‘Up-Or-Out’ Promotion System Hurts The Military

Few subjects related to military careers cause as much contention as the up-or-out system for promotion. Under this policy, a service member who is twice passed over for promotion is forced out of the military. Today, with few exceptions, service members are expected to keep climbing the ladder towa...

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 11 at 2019 10:13 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 Aug 2019 10:13:23 -0400

I always looked at it as this. You're not getting promoted because you are ready, rather you are getting promoted because you have the ability to perform at the next rank.

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Aug 11 at 2019 12:06 PM

SFC Ralph E Kelley — Sun, 11 Aug 2019 12:06:36 -0400

No one's ever ready for the next leadership positions but they can learn. That's why there are mentors, classes, online courses, and leadership schools. I never met a "Natural Born Leader" but I have met folks with background where they learned to be good leaders.
It takes time and experience (read as making mistakes) to develop leaders.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 11 at 2019 1:10 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 Aug 2019 13:10:30 -0400

This article is completely misinformed. Up or out applies to officer promotions. Officers don't go to semi centralized promotion boards like E4/E5s. I can't remark on the up or out system the officers have because I'm not an officer and I don't have any opinion on it. But, I can say that they aren't being promoted when they're not ready. They have a board that evaluates their performance and determines if they're ready. If they aren't keeping pace with their peers, then the up or out system separates them.

For enlisted, the Army implemented a mandatory integrated list because we had too many leaders who weren't doing their job of either promoting or barring soldiers who weren't willing to take on leadership roles.
On the one hand, you had too many leaders who implemented their own personal standard of what a leader had to be before they'd send a Soldier to the board. Imagine being in one company and the 1SG says I won't send anyone with a PT score below 210, or being in the 101st and a 1SG saying they won't send anyone who isn't Air Assault qualified. Or, imagine being a 1SG and you have a long time E4 who refuses to go to the board. The new policy requires Soldiers to appear before the promotion board once they're in their primary Zone.
The new system also makes them automatically promotable once they've been in the primary zone long enough unless the commander bars them. This eliminates all the fence sitters who were "promotable" but had the minimum promotion points. This forces the leaders hands to a definitive yay or nay for these Soldiers. No one is promoting them without them being ready.

Response by Cpl James R. " Jim" Gossett Jr made Aug 11 at 2019 2:35 PM

Cpl James R. " Jim" Gossett Jr — Sun, 11 Aug 2019 14:35:51 -0400

Now that's an Excellent Question...

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 11 at 2019 4:29 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 11 Aug 2019 16:29:24 -0400

We promote on potential. When they hit the peter principle is anyone's guess.

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Aug 12 at 2019 3:37 PM

SSgt Terry P. — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 15:37:10 -0400

SFC Christopher Taggart I think i understand what you are asking.In the early years of my enlistment,there was no "up or out" standard that i am aware of and there were E-4s and E-5s that had been in many years ,were very good at there jobs and content to continue in that position.Some people are not or do not wish to be leaders and they are exceptional performers at their jobs.IMO,i think the military is making a mistake not retaining these members.