I recently signed my counseling to fill a vacancy for a E5 slot (SWVA). Why did I get laterally appointed to CPL and not promoted to SGT?

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 14:39:37 -0400

I am currently a National Guardsmen for the Army

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Oct 17 at 2024 3:03 PM

SSG Carlos Madden — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 15:03:04 -0400

We'll need more details to answer this but the first follow up question is do you meet all the requirements for SGT and if so, did you put in your promotion packet? When is the next board?

Response by COL Randall C. made Oct 17 at 2024 4:16 PM

COL Randall C. — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 16:16:48 -0400

You may be mixing two related, but different things together - the application for vacancy promotion as well as the later appointment as CPL.

Individuals who are recommended for promotion to SGT and have graduated from BLC will be laterally appointed as a corporal. Since the beginning of FY22, this applies across all components of the Army (RA, ARNG, USAR). Although BLC is not a requirement for your promotion to SGT (as of this June), I'll hazard a guess that you have completed it.

Thus, you are now a CPL (it's automatic and isn't part of the monthly promotion cycle).

Your UVP is probably still working it's way through the system and once approved and processed you'll pin on SGT stripes.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2024 8:06 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 08:06:46 -0400

As you are approaching E5, it is time for you to become an expert on AR 600-8-19 (ch 6 for National Guard specific info) and the Enlisted Promotion System MOI your G1 publishes every year.
Promotions in the Guard are a multiple step process of 2 to 3 orders.
1. transfer order to the vacancy in the next higher grade.
2. lateral appointment order to CPL for an E4 moving to an E5 vacancy.
3. promotion order to the next higher grade, once that Soldier rises to number 1 on the promotion list in that MOS (after every name ahead of you has either promoted or is found not currently eligible for promotion). And this step could take 30-90 days, depending on how functional your unit and BN S1 are at providing all of the required documents to G1 on the first try.
Your state's G1 has the promotion list published somewhere, the link is probably in that MOI, you should be able to see where you are on the list.