I recently arrived at my first duty station and will pick up E-3 Nov 1. What is the soonest I could make SPC or CPL with a waiver?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 16:13:29 -0400

I’m an older soldier and am looking to make rank as fast as possible.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2020 4:22 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 16:22:46 -0400

AR600-8-19. Section2-3. Rules say 18 months TIS and 3 months TIG. I highly advise if you want that waiver, go to armypubs.army.mil and start looking at some of the regs. Start with 600-8-19 and get the whole picture. Know what you're up against, but then keep going. Regs for uniform wear and appearance, conducting PT, and so on. Even if you don't get waived to Specialist you'll be a better Soldier and a shoe in for Sergeant. Good luck.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Oct 27 at 2020 5:40 PM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 17:40:27 -0400

Don’t sweat it. Focus on learning your trade, seeking self improvement; few Soldier of the Month boards here and there. You’ll get promoted.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Oct 27 at 2020 8:52 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 20:52:44 -0400

1. Depends on your unit's MTOE- how many SPC slots are open. 2. Damn few CPL's in the Army these days. 3. Very few waiver floating around as well- you have to be a water walker. Don't sweat- lean your MOS and excel at it- that will get you promoted.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 28 at 2020 8:00 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 08:00:36 -0400

If you do not know how to find the answer to this question, you may want to rethink if you are ready to fast track rank.

Response by SFC Dan Thomsen made Oct 28 at 2020 9:40 AM

SFC Dan Thomsen — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 09:40:16 -0400

If you are looking for early advancement from waiver's you should be asking how do I shine above my contemporaries. Focus on this train of thought and you will make rank early then many of your peers the rest of your career. Be the guy who ask's "how can I help". Come to the NCO's in your command and say what else needs to get done, i'm finished with what you assigned me. This is what makes us as NCO's pursue making your advancement a priority. Yes, you will likely work harder then your peers, but those are the golden apples that get groomed for greater positions of responsibility. Learn the regulations and get copies on your computer for reference and be the guy who knows the answer or knows where to look. It will pay dividends!

Response by SFC Tim OReilly made Oct 28 at 2020 1:48 PM

SFC Tim OReilly — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 13:48:50 -0400

As mentioned below there's time in service and time in grade issues, getting promoted ahead of the curve may be possible, follow the guidance already given, that will get you to E-4. During that time and especially after you'll want to look at the things that will help you towards SGT and above.
PT was and will be important, be physically fit. Be careful as you do it so as not to mess yourself up, joints take a long time to heal.
Education another area that you have direct control over. You want to not only delve into the particulars of your MOS, but also broaden your skill set within the commo field as well. I'm thinking of Tech Control, Networks, IT security and related skills. This will come in handy in the longer run as well after you get out.
Don't forget the basics of what you've learned there's a lot more than E/I*R that you should revisit from time to time, you never can tell when it'll come in handy.
As time moves on and you come up on ETS you may want to decide whether or not you want to stay enlisted, decent enough, or to try for warrant or commissioned officer ranks. Before making that decision do your homework and decide if you want to go through with it.
and then there's the career killers drugs and drink, avoid the one and keep the other to a minimum.

Response by Fort Carson Mountain Post Living made Oct 29 at 2020 5:01 PM

Fort Carson Mountain Post Living — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 17:01:25 -0400

Take correspondence course, pass PT tests, get good weapons quals and pass boards.
How many college credits do you have? If you don't have many, max out your correspondence courses first as they're free and worth almost as many promo points as a college degree. The correspondence courses won't take you 4 years to complete though.

Response by Fort Carson Mountain Post Living made Oct 29 at 2020 5:02 PM

Fort Carson Mountain Post Living — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 17:02:07 -0400

Also, congrats on coming to Fort Carson. Check out @mountainpostliving on Instagram and Facebook (Facebook.com/mountainpostliving).
Let us know if you have any other questions.

Response by Fort Carson Mountain Post Living made Oct 29 at 2020 5:03 PM

Fort Carson Mountain Post Living — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 17:03:06 -0400

If in doubt, the advice in this thread is pretty solid.

Response by PVT Jack Wilkie made Feb 3 at 2022 11:17 AM

PVT Jack Wilkie — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 11:17:24 -0500

Try to make soldier of the month, soldier the quarter, soldier of the year and see where your rank and pay go up.