Is it true the promotions are automatic in the army, so you don’t really have to put much effort?
Is it true you just need to make sure you don’t get demoted and the promotions will come in nice and steady automatically?
This is not completely true. Promotions up to e-4 are based on time in service and time in grade meaning that they are pretty much automatic pending approval from your unit commander. Once you get past e-4, you have to submit a packet that is reviewed by a board. For e-5 and e-6, I believe, the board is on the battalion level. For ranks that are higher, it is done at a higher command. You get promotion points for pt, weapons qualification, civilian and military education and points from your unit commander. Getting NCO rank is not automatic. Just because you put a packet in, does not mean that you will get promoted.
Nope.
Pretty much automatic up to E-3 but if you are all chewed up your commander can deny those also. After E-3 everything is based on selection.
21 years in the Army…I have no idea what I am talking about
As a commander I denied plenty of people promotions from E-2 to E-4 or made them wait a few months longer…so they are NOT automatic
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Hmm who told you that?
The only promotions you get before going to the board are from
PVT ( E-1 ) to PV2 ( E-2 ) to PFC ( E-3 ) and to SPC ( E-4 )
After that, you will have to go before the board for a promotion. You need to also have accumulated points. Your PT test will count against you when getting promoted .
If it were so easy, everyone in the Army would be a E-9.
I can tell you that Intel soldiers sometimes get promoted fairly quickly. One of my NCOs was an E-7 and he was only 25!
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US Army vet
Yes and no. You will hear people say E1-E4 are gimmes. This is when you can just make sure you don’t screw up and get promoted automatically. After that you will be putting together packets, earning and watching points, going to boards, etc.
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Only to E-4. (providing you pass the PT test and don’t get in trouble) After E-4 then all advancments in rank must be earned.
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"Up or out"
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This is not completely true. Promotions up to e-4 are based on time in service and time in grade meaning that they are pretty much automatic pending approval from your unit commander. Once you get past e-4, you have to submit a packet that is reviewed by a board. For e-5 and e-6, I believe, the board is on the battalion level. For ranks that are higher, it is done at a higher command. You get promotion points for pt, weapons qualification, civilian and military education and points from your unit commander. Getting NCO rank is not automatic. Just because you put a packet in, does not mean that you will get promoted.
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Up to e-4 yes it is true , at e-5 and above you can pretty much stay the course and retire but to make it past e-7 you got to get extra schools and alot of competition.Also at e-5 and above you have a shorter leash. When you mess up at that rank you could end your career alot quicker than a e-4 could with the same mistake.
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Not to mention e-6 and E-7 are some times a long wait especially for E-7. There’s alot of people ready for E-7 but they only let so many in the army so there is a waiting list to get that rank. My DS in basic was on the E-7 list and had been for 3 years. He had well above the points for it met all the requirements and passed them. He had a CIB from when he was in the rangers and EIB pathfinder, Scuba, sniper school he was with the golden knights for a tour as well as DS. It took him another year after i left Benning before he got his E-7. He was a great teacher and from some other people I knew and served with that served with him he was a dam good soldier as well.
So no promotions are not easy after E-4 and even when your qualified and passed the board he might have to wait some time.
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