Posted on Jan 8, 2021
Would it be frowned upon to refuse promotion to stay eligible for a packet MOS (31D/35L)?
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Hello all. I completed a contract with the National Guard, graduated college with a B.S in CJ, and made E-5. I'm re-enlisting for the active Army with the goal of getting to CID or CI, but prior service cannot enlist directly into these fields. I will be up for promotion to E-6 before I am able to submit a packet for either. Would it reflect poorly on me to refuse promotion so that I can meet my goal?
Posted in these groups: 
35L: Counterintelligence (CI) Agent
31D: CID Special Agent
Prior Service
Recruiting
Investigation
35L: Counterintelligence (CI) Agent 31D: CID Special Agent Prior Service Recruiting Investigation
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 6
Suspended Profile
No. I know many who refused promotion in order to qualify to attend CISAC. That being said, if you were to get accepted into the MOS, and then pick up E6 before attending CISAC, it is possible to get a waiver to continue. But again, like all waivers, approval is not always guaranteed.
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If you want to flex the degree and use your Criminal Justice background I would recommend just going into one of the Alphabet agencies. Keep rocking as a part time Soldier and sidestep into something a little bigger than what you will be exposed to in CID. That seems like a more logical route than hurting your career by volunteering to turn down a promotion.
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SGT (Join to see)
I've gotten through the preliminary hiring and have a tenative offer with Border Patrol, but I haven't deployed in my 6 years and want to get active duty experiences first.
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SSgt Christophe Murphy
Putting off promotion doesn't look good no matter how you slice it. I get the itch to deploy but you have to weigh the pro/con of it. If you want to live that overseas life I would suggest going Diplomatic Security Service. You'll be an Agent, get some primo training and the ability to serve overseas to include "exotic" locations is plentiful.
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Just be really sure you’re getting in. On paper I thought I was a shoe in. I had a degree, was active duty, had Blc, had a TS/SCI and a lot of experience in intelligence and some in law enforcement. I put off doing my SSD2 for a long time because I knew I’d be promoted almost immediately. Well, when I submitted my packet I ended up getting denied and they will never tell you why, so you have no idea what you can fix. I wasted 2 years trying to get in as a 35L. I think it’s a good route to go, just be 100 % sure you’re getting in before you sacrifice your career. I’m still waiting on my E6 now because of my approach , not horrible , but it’s frustrating knowing that I could have been an E6 years ago and never knowing why I was rejected. Good luck and I hope it works out for you.
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If anything it shows your dedication to what you are going for. Do what's best for you. The Army will find a way to fill the E-6 position in the MOS you are leaving...so I say refuse away.
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I have a good buddy who dropped his P status for E6 to go 35L. Worked out very well for him.
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Don't enlist directly into them. If you're trying to go active, submit your conditional release then go directly to your first duty station and submit your application. These both have time in service and time in grade restrictions, plus they don't accept promotable E5's so you'll have to drop your promotable status prior to attending the course
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