How does the Army National Guard promotion system work?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 12 Mar 2016 00:55:56 -0500

I just re-enlisted into the National Guard yesterday from the Army Reserve. I'm reclassing from 74D to 11B. The problem I encountered in the Reserve was sitting on the promotable list for months on end after my packet was approved without getting a slot. I've been in since 2009 and feel like I'm way behind my peers. Would it be hard to put in for promotion ASAP since I'm brand new to my unit?

Response by SFC Josh Billingsley made Mar 12 at 2016 12:57 AM

SFC Josh Billingsley — Sat, 12 Mar 2016 00:57:57 -0500

Not sure, I thought the guard worked in a similar manner as reserves but could be wrong. Sad to see a fellow chemical soldier leave though

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 12 at 2016 1:13 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 12 Mar 2016 01:13:24 -0500

A. You won't be putting in for promotion ASAP. Just doesn't work that way.
B. The Guard do promotions boards once a year. You put a packet in, it goes in front of a board, then you come out on a promotion list. Depending on what you select for mileage and if any vacancies open within the mileage you select, and where you are on the list will determine if you get offered a slot for promotion.
C. In the Guard there has to be a vacant NCO slot for a Soldier to get offered a promotion.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 12 at 2016 1:18 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 12 Mar 2016 01:18:54 -0500

Google NGABS. National Guard Automated Board System. Pretty detailed info on how the Guard does promotions.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Mar 12 at 2016 1:26 AM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Sat, 12 Mar 2016 01:26:21 -0500

In the Reserve I found it was very helpful to have more than one MOS. You could look for a unit's open slots and apply for promotion to those slots, If I remember right you had three choices on a Reserve promotion packet - and it didn't matter what State.

Guard, State does matter. Also I've found homesteading was more present in Guard units. Don't know if it's changed now.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 12 at 2016 6:40 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 12 Mar 2016 06:40:23 -0500

11B in the guard may be hard to pick up your 5 depending on the State and slot availability. I know someone who is an E6 now, but he had to transfer over to a Trans unit as an 88M. He was 11B for 10 years without picking up his 5 because there were no slots. SFC Springman has a lot of good points to make. Board is once a year and it's a paper board so it's all about history and experience, how you look in your uniform and whether or not you know every bit of Infantry history doesn't matter at all because the board never even sees you. If you say no to an offer, you're ineligible for the rest of the EPS cycle. When you put your packet it, it's for one specific MOS, so look around and see what has a lot of openings.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2017 1:58 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Apr 2017 13:58:17 -0400

Our promotions in the ARNG are a little more biased b cause everyone in the state knows each other. The AD component always assumes it's easier, when in fact, it is harder to be promoted especially if you are new! Cronyism is alive and well. Evaluations are the key to success.

Response by SSG Steven Bison made Sep 24 at 2019 11:47 PM

SSG Steven Bison — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 23:47:34 -0400

i was an 5E5 in Saudi Araiba IRR and prompted on National Guard orders to E-6 it worked i don't know why