Posted on Jan 11, 2024
MAJ Infantry Officer
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If a LTC has 3 years or less until MRD, can he get an extension for the O6 Promotion Board.
If so, what is the process?
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COL Randall C.
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Prior to 2020, it would be no. Now? You'll have to talk to HRC* to get a good answer, but it still probably is a "no". The rules are also different based on component as well as branch in the exceptions they will grant, but the bottom line will be "Is this extension in the best interest of the military or for compassionate reasons?".

I do have one question though. Since MRD's are based on an officer's commissioned time, I'm wondering how an officer would be able to hit the 28 year mark of their career without going through the O6 promotion board. An active duty officer would go before a mandatory board around the 20 year mark (give or take .. depends on the published zone of consideration by HRC) and a reservist would be around the 24 year mark. It would be possible if they were delayed a few years along the way (i.e., RC with no vacancies), I suppose, but it would be a unique exception.

I mention this to make sure it's an apples to apples comparison. If a LTC is selected for promotion, then their MRD is automatically kicked out another two years (30 years MRD for COL and LTC(P)).
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* https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/RPMD%20Officer%20Actions%20Team
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MAJ Infantry Officer
MAJ (Join to see)
2 mo
Thanks but if an officer was enlisted in his career and came up 2 1/2 years prior to MRD with 3 years at O5 Rank. Seems HRC should wave the policy for an officer by adding a year to his MRD for board considerations.
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COL Randall C.
COL Randall C.
2 mo
MAJ (Join to see) - You seem to be mixing "time in service" with MRD. MRD is based entirely off of an officer's commissioned time. It won't matter if the officer was commissioned right out of college or if they had 10 years prior enlisted time - if they are the same rank, they have the same MRD.

An O5 has an MRD of 28 years, so that means 28 years from the time they are commissioned. As I stated above, there would have to be a pretty unique situation for that O5 not to have gone before an O6 promotion board prior to his 28th year of commissioned service.

The advice still stands - it will likely be a "no", but you'll have to talk to HRC* to get a definitive answer.
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* https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/RPMD%20Officer%20Actions%20Team
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LTC Battalion Commander
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2 mo
I am in this boat. I will tell you how a LTC can reach their MRD without having ever been looked at for 06. I've got 4-5 years of time sitting in the IRR when I was in another service (USMC). It was the point of my life that I was struggling with being in the reserves, my civilian career was taking off, I was having children, I went back and got my MBA. I wanted to participate but couldn't. The time in the IRR kept eating up my time towards my MRD, but it did nothing for my career. I wasn't participating, I wasn't earning good years towards retirement, and more importantly, I wasn't doing the schools I needed to. I am now faced with the possibility that I won't be looked at for the first time for 06 until the same year as my MRD (2027). At the 18 year mark, I transferred to the National Guard. I was selected for 05, but then had to wait several years to pin it on. These two things together, put me back about 6 years in my career. I will require an extension for the board, although I've never been passed over for promotion before. In fact, with me, I am top blocked on OERs, have a successful battalion command, and a great reputation in uniform. If I wouldn't have taken these detours, I would be an 06 already. But now I'm going to have to try to get an MRD extension to get DA selected, and then I will be very limited in the time I get to wear it.
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COL Randall C.
COL Randall C.
2 mo
LTC (Join to see) - Yep, being promotable but delaying the promotion is one of those situations I mentioned above. Your time in the IRR wouldn't affect the timing as the participation in the board is determined by your DOR, but if you were delayed significantly in pinning on O5 then it would fit.

I'll be interested in the response you get back from HRC.
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MSG Intermediate Care Technician
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From what I know, an extension request would have to be submitted to HRC. The issue, is can the LTC submit now 3 years prior to actual MRD?

The blow article is the closest I can find. It may not be the direct answer you're looking for, but it may point you in the right direction.

https://www.army.mil/article/241831/new_retirement_extensions_allow_the_army_to_retain_critical_talent
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Edited 3 mo ago
I agree with others here. The LTC MRD is 28 years of COMMISSIONED service (any prior Enlisted time is not counted against the MRD). An LTC at 25 years (with at least 3 years TIG) would have been looked at twice by the COL promotion board (between years 22-25). So "no", this LTC would not get an extension approved to be looked at again by a promotion board that passed him/her over at least twice already. It's a different topic if the LTC is trying to get an extension beyond MRD for other reasons and there is a shortage of officers in his/her rank or specialty.
MAJ Infantry Officer
MAJ (Join to see)
2 mo
Thanks. What about an O5, that has three years TIG and never went to the 06 Board. Would HRC extend him to at least qualify for one 06 Board.
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2 mo
A LTC with 3 years TIG who has not yet been considered by an O6 promotion board really should have their promotion "eligibility" evaluated by HRC. This can also get the discussion started on whether HRC would consider extending the officer's eligibility for promotion to have the opportunity to be reviewed by an O6 promotion board. However, granting an extension depends on various factors such as the officer's performance (KD/CSL), education reqs being met, needs of the Army, ... et al. But that would be a conversation with HRC.

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