Will promoting to Sergeant right before PCSing cost me my duty station?

2019-08-19T08:52:01-04:00

I am a 68W and came down on orders to 575th med company under 62 medical brigade in April and I recently completed BLC and am promotable. I was not promotable when I was put on assignment. I have hard orders in my hands and im 29 days from PCS. If I make points for September, that would mean that I would pick up Sergeant 17 days before going to Lewis-McChord. Could I be moved elsewhere, as in another duty station? I'm going to a primarily 68W company and there are many slots, so hopefully that plays to my favor.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2019 9:02 AM

2019-08-19T09:02:11-04:00

You could, and if you were several months away from PCS this would be a real possibility. This close to PCS your branch won't change your assignment. Your assignment is to a Brigade, not a company. As for the company you're going to, that's controlled by the Brigade and can change at any time, any day.

Response by SSG Keith Cashion made Aug 19 at 2019 9:26 AM

2019-08-19T09:26:32-04:00

If you get promoted prior to reporting a couple of things could happen upon arrival. You could be moved to another unit within the BCT or if they are over strength your MOS and Skill level, the DIV G1, could move you within the DIV. There is one CAVEAT to that last one, and that is if you received a BONUS for your MOS, then you have to be slotted in your MOS (and yes you can be at the E5 level), but you have to be slotted, based on the fact that is what the enlistment/reenlistment contract states.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2019 12:06 PM

2019-08-19T12:06:10-04:00

I'm not an expert in your Medical Command's structure. However, the unit you're being assigned to, may end up slotting you in another position if available. They may even keep you in your original position, as you can serve 2 up and 1 down in an assignment. But not a period of longer than a year, which they'll be compelled to transfer you to another position or potentially PCS you (but not likely, since you're enlisted I would think).

If you were an mid career officer, there would be a greater chance of you getting PCS orders after 1 year.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Aug 19 at 2019 3:35 PM

2019-08-19T15:35:00-04:00

Highly unlikely so long as your within one grade of the assignment... E4's become 5's so rapidly there's no difference between the two from an assignment perspective.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2019 4:18 PM

2019-08-20T16:18:18-04:00

You'll still go to JBLM with three possibilities.
1. Same unit you're already tracking
2. Same BDE but different Company
3. Different BDE, still JBLM

If you're on leave when you make points you could just pin yourself as you're in transition, however you will have to work with your new unit or old unit to get a copy of your promotion orders.