How feasible is it to be promoted to MAJ in BZ in the Army Reserves?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 16:12:00 -0400

So I "should" receive my first look at MAJ on the next review cycle for Below the Zone. I got cheated out this year by a few months due to secondary zones being looked for those with a time of promotion no later then Oct 2017 and my promotion date to CPT was Nov 2017. I should have Three strong OER's prior to opening up my board profile. ( Waiting on my 3rd one as we speak to be finished) But I have received a Most Qualified from my BC with a 1 out 32 CPT's under her on my second OER, so I feel strong about it BUT I have a couple of concerns though.

Prior to last year I was the Battalion S2 and my Rater and Senior Rater where the XO and the BC. Those two OERs where marked well for me. This OER year I changed my MOS to 38A Civil Affairs officer from intel, so now my Rater and Senior Rater are both MAJs. I feel like anything they put in my OER might not carry the same weight as the BC ones do.

Also, as a 35D. I hit all my Key Leadership Developments(?) to track for Major as a Intel officer. But with my recent switch to a 38A I just barely became a team chief after being the CMOC CIM Chief for the past year. I'm not sure if this is going to help me or hurt me.

What are your thoughts?

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2022 5:37 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 17:37:51 -0400

I would say to not hold your breath on BZ. I will say that I’ve seen a lot of CA Officers make it BZ, but I just wouldn’t count on it. BZ is such a crap chute. Not trying to be a downer, it’s just the reality.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2022 5:41 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 17:41:04 -0400

I’m also fairly certain that if both your Rater and SR are both MAJs, you may need to have an Intermediate Rater. Don’t quote me on that, but it’s worth looking into.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2022 11:00 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 23:00:42 -0400

Concur with MAJ Snell, possible but not likely. If you look at the historical promotion list the BZ promotion is short to nonexistent. There are plently of O4s in the reserve right now, not alot of movement to open up vacancies.

Response by CSM Eric Biggs made Jun 22 at 2022 4:12 AM

CSM Eric Biggs — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 04:12:43 -0400

Sir, your chances of getting promoted BZ are slim. Your concern of this years OER is valid and you are right, when the Senior Rater (SR) is an O4, it holds less weight than if the SR is an O5. See AR 623-3. An intermediate rater is only authorized for special branches (Chaplain, JAG and AMEDD). Also, your SR should not be a Major, they should be at least a LTC AR 623-3 Paragraph 2-7 (16) (a), and Table 2-1. This year's OER should get kicked back by HQDA for Rater/SR mismatch if it gets send up as is unless the SR is a MAJP (Promotable). If your BN CSM is not reviewing all NCOER's for E-7's through O-3's, the CSM is not doing their part to advise and mentor junior NCO's or Officers.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jun 22 at 2022 3:21 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 15:21:10 -0400

OK, having sat (voting) O-4 to O-6 AD/Res boards and O-7 recorder, some key info is missing here. That relates to the precepts the Board must follow. Typically, there is a no higher than select percentage of the IZ total for BZ. There is a cut line for BZ that you would have seen say 6-9 months prior in the board announcement message. The cut line for AZ is one failure to select for AD but is more open ended for Reserves. BZs are in the same pile with everyone else. We never, never, never selected to the cap because the BZs records overall mostly graded out lower than what the select list is after the third crunch. Reasons include less stick time, no current year Senior Reporting Officer push, and some lesser aspects. Skippers only have so many silver bullets to keep within a meaningful average, hence use them on IZ first, AZ second, and BZ last. You spend time talking pedigree items. Pedigrees are the equivalent of skating the short program. They are threshold and easy targets to keep for now or toss. Getting flipped sideways or whatever is situational to a Board. Boards don't vote pedigree, billets, or performance. That is all recorded in your record which is evaluated. Boards vote "level of confidence". Always remember that as it should play in how you are trying to steer your career. That means board individuals are voting 100%, 75%, 50%, etc. on their conclusion that you will succeed at the next level. That said, who were the BZs we picked up? Typically they were the difference between success or failure in an operation in the badlands, got some heavy duty hardware for it, etc. A right time right place factor was common. Some were magnificent in turning around what the prior Alpha Hotel left them. Common thread here is standing out above all others. Interesting enough, they tended to be picked up in the first crunch.