For promotion to LTC and COL, is it mainly political and who you know that gets you promoted?

Cadet 2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 16:08:18 -0400

Is it mainly political and who you know that gets you promoted since, it's very selective?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 19 at 2021 2:33 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 19 Jun 2021 02:33:56 -0400

The main reply you're likely to get is work on getting 2LT first.

AR 135–155 Promotion of Commissioned Officers and Warrant Officers Other Than General Officers.

Generally speaking, every single promotion in the military of any service is very regulated, and quantitatively based. The review board for promotions probably wont have any first hand experience with the candidates they are reviewing for promotion, so any "influence" is diluted to just about zero.

The best chance one has at "gaming" the system is reading the above mentioned regulation, stacking the deck in their favor with training, education (military and civilian), and diversified duty positions supported by respectable evaluations.

The only thing that could be "gamed" the most in the selection process is the Evaluation, and that as well has very narrow guidelines how it is to be conducted.

The way the military is designed to conduct promotions goes out of it's way to make sure undeserved promotions (to a fault) are not awarded.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 19 at 2021 4:02 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 19 Jun 2021 04:02:56 -0400

CPT Private RallyPoint Member gave a good reply, and he's right about the first line.

Worry about making LT first Cadet. It's going to be a long road to get your oak leaf let alone a full bird, if you get there. Worry about developing your skills and leadership style, take tips from your high speed enlisted, NCO's and fellow officers, they'll all have experience worth absorbing.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 19 at 2021 8:41 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 19 Jun 2021 08:41:39 -0400

1. Work on getting commissioned and learning your job.
2. Understand now that ROTC and BOLC won't teach you how to be a PL, at most it provides you the necessary tools to learn the job as you are doing the job. The Army is a learning institution, if you aren't learning every week, you're doing it wrong.
If you are doing it right, you will learn more through a handful of mentors and your own experience than every school you attend.
3. LTC is selective, COL is very selective, the separators are how well you did in commands and schools, and how accurately your record reflects that.
4. How well you do in command and schools is entirely up to you.
5. How well your record accurately reflects anything is entirely up to you.
6. it is not political or "who you know" because the DA Board members do not know you or anyone else they are boarding.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 19 at 2021 12:36 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 19 Jun 2021 12:36:01 -0400

The promotion board isn't specifically political but getting the Top Blocks from your senior raters you need to be selected by that board are much more likely to be.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Jun 19 at 2021 9:58 PM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Sat, 19 Jun 2021 21:58:28 -0400

This is what you are concerned about as a Cadet? It is true that as you move up the chain your group of peers shrinks and it does become more competitive as you compete for rank. Being well rounded and flexible within your peers will make you a better prospect for promotion. It’s generally only labeled as political by the people who get passed over because of one reason or another

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Jun 20 at 2021 5:04 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Sun, 20 Jun 2021 05:04:47 -0400

First of all consider the start of becoming and Officer as a 2nd Lt where You lack the work experience as an officer and upon becoming a 1st Lt still don't know a lot but think You do. You can learn a lot from Your NCOs who do have the work experience, listen to them. I have found Officers that do listen and learn do far better in their career than those that don't. Upon rising to the rank of Captain either now You are competent or in the alternative proved You never will be. If You are able to rise to the rank of Major this paves the road to rise to Higher ranks provided You can prove You have those abilities You Must prepare Yourself to stand out above others Who are also competing for those higher ranking positions. Your training and education is something You should never ignore if You expect to advance to these higher grades. Never forget where You came from either and take care of You troops while still maintaining control. Many that forgot that had their careers ended involuntarily due to bad self serving tactics. Education, training, taking care of Your people and never losing sight of the mission, teamwork and leading by example. Those are all factors for advancement to higher ranks such as Lt. Colonel, Colonel or in some cases even beyond. These are all things I have observed in over 22 years in a Military service uniform and saw Officers that are example in all the things I've mentioned and either sank completely or advanced into an outstanding career they could be proud of. I'm not saying its easy but You have a big hand in the success or failure of Your own career.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jun 20 at 2021 10:54 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sun, 20 Jun 2021 22:54:16 -0400

Like knowing a senator? No. Your promotions are contingent on ACOM/MQ blockings, assignments particularly Command, KD performance and to an extent who you are working for which you may have no control over.

Do they not talk to you about officer career progression and the evaluation system?

Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Jun 21 at 2021 10:43 AM

Col Joseph Lenertz — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 10:43:25 -0400

Good question...wow, you are looking down the road a ways, aren't you? SGM Private RallyPoint Member 's response is better than I could have written...I agree with everything he said. The only additional point I would add is to become a recognized leader through superior knowledge and hard work, even if you are not in the leadership position. And, whenever there are opportunities to compete against your peers...whether that is in an exercise, or formal training, or PME...you should work to be in the top 10% of every one of those competitive challenges. Your integrity and results, and their impact upon your unit, and how high that impact is felt up your chain...those are the items that will earn you promotion.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Jun 21 at 2021 12:04 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 12:04:18 -0400

I see you've asked several questions about being an Army Officer. That's good! Hopefully several of them will be answered as your continue your officer training.

As for making rank, I can respond from the Air Force and Army point of view. I was in the USAF for 22 years and was an Army Civilian for 6 years. Promotion beyond Captain requires achievements in several areas. First, your assigned specialty and positions. Learn to be an expert at your primary MOS. Demonstrate leadership and management capability in the positions to which you're assigned. If you are a platoon leader or a staff section chief, do that job to the best of your ability and demonstrate tangible achievements. In the Army it is very important to pass or excel at the physical fitness test. Keep your weight under control as you get older. (I had a major who was a great staff officer work for me. He failed the Army physical fitness test. Despite the great OER I wrote him, he didn't make LTC.) Training and education help increase your likelihood of promotion. Volunteer or request training appropriate for your MOS beyond the basic schools. For example, if you're infantry request Ranger School. Work on an advanced academic degree. In the Air Force, having a Masters Degree was an unspoken requirement to make LTC. Complete professional schools, such as Command and Staff College, in residence if you can get a slot, otherwise do them by correspondence or on-line. If you do these things the result should be (note I said should) top rated OERs and endorsements, opportunities for career enhancing assignments, building a network of other officers willing to work hard to move up, finding a senior officer mentor willing to help you career.

Is who you know more important than what you know? I say somewhat. As you move through your career you will find other officers and senior NCOs who are like minded individuals. Some will become friends, other valued associates. Keep track of them. Link to them on social media. Correspond with them on e-mail. Track them so you can talk with them after you are separated by PCS or retirement. This network will help you learn where opportunities are that can help your career. They can offer advice about all manner of things because their careers will diverge from yours giving them experiences you can profit from. Find a more senior officer who is willing to help guide our career. As a company grade officer, this may be a major or LTC who is willing to mentor you as you serve various jobs at the company or battalion level. Follow these leader's careers. Stay in touch as your paths diverge over time. They can offer very valuable advice on assignments, leadership techniques, schools, etc. They can influence your career path by communicating with other senior officers in their network about your. (In the USAF, having an O-6 or above mentor, aka sponsor, to help push your career along was very valuable. My sponsor made O-7, but he then retired after 2 years. I lost my sponsor. Moral of story: have multiple mentors.)

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 21 at 2021 12:17 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 12:17:38 -0400

I think the politics is the most pronounced is going from COL to BG. The generals wear Members Only jackets and will decide who to invite to the exclusive club of general officers. Senior generals will decide who the fair haired generals are and will promote them.

Response by Lt Col Mark Avery made Jun 21 at 2021 12:27 PM

Lt Col Mark Avery — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 12:27:41 -0400

Here's an answer you won't like but often applies - It Depends.
It varies from service to service and from time to time. Everything goes through cycles. In no service is promotion to O-5 based on being fully qualified - promotion rates vary based on many factors. Any time it comes down to deciding which of the fully qualified officers get the next promotion, politics can be a factor. In my experience, it's much more about performance than politics. Sometimes, it's about opportunity and being in the right place at the right time. There are those who spend half their career looking for their next job. I don't recommend it, but many of those probably progressed higher up the ranks than I did. Frankly, given the zero effort I spent "managing" my career, it's a bit surprising I went as far as I did.
Does who you know get you promoted? Not by itself, but how some people know you can certainly ensure you don't get promoted. Focus on doing the best possible job where you are with the team you have and it becomes far less likely that you'll get red-lined.

Response by LTC Ken Connolly made Jun 21 at 2021 3:17 PM

LTC Ken Connolly — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 15:17:10 -0400

No doubt networking helps. However primarily, it is job performance, physical fitness, education/training, assignments, and availability of slots are what gets any Soldier promoted regardless of rank.

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Jun 21 at 2021 5:12 PM

SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 17:12:20 -0400

Assignments that are highly visible within your service are helpful!