Is 5 years TIS to late to promote to Sgt?

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 21:04:44 -0400

I’ve been in for about 5 years and i went through a bad stage of not wanting anything to do with the military, I’m currently waiting on my slot for blc and working on points. I have decided i want to stay in and get back on track. I guess I’m looking for some opinions on the subject.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2021 9:07 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 21:07:59 -0400

Time and experience do nothing but help. Theres been a long time of promoting ASAP in the Arny and we've suffered ( ill admit it, I got SSG too early). Spending more time as a Joe just means you know more.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2021 9:12 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 21:12:02 -0400

Not at all, you have the experience, more mature and can help your peers advancing their careers. Now, get serious and make the best out your future. Good luck!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2021 9:20 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 21:20:35 -0400

Shit... I didn't make SGT until almost six years of active time. I ETSed after three years after getting reduced from E4 to E3. Then did two more years in the National Guard after a break in service. Then came back into the Regular Army and promoted 18 months after that. E1-E6 is really fast. You have a chance to make the next rank every month. E7 and above you get evaluated once a year and that evaluation determines if you get promoted that month. There's a very good chance that you beat your peers to SFC even if they made SGT long before you

Response by SFC Kathy Pepper made Mar 14 at 2021 9:20 PM

SFC Kathy Pepper — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 21:20:43 -0400

Not everyone is ready for promotion at three or four years and it is to your credit that you did not rush to go to the Promotion Board before you were mentally ready to become an NCO. I was an E-6 for years longer than others because I did not feel ready for the increased responsibility of E-7; I never believed in getting promoted just for the money, and have a low regard for those who do. Make certain that you have a good answer for any Board member who asks about your time lag; "not wanting anything to do with the military" is not a good answer. Good luck, and I'm happy that you are back on track.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2021 9:24 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 21:24:36 -0400

Honestly, it seems like you have learned from your past and have the maturity to be a leader.

Keep showing leadership. Your ready to be promoted. Prepare for the boards and keep working hard to build your points.

Life experience will help your junior enlisted as you progress through the ranks. Use this experience to grow as a person and a leader.

A quote that I use a lot is Any road will take you to where you are going if you don't know where you are going. Sit down and write your short-term and long-term goals down both in the Army and out. Build a roadmap of where you want to go.

Next, go to your senior NCOs and ask for their help to develop you as a leader and accomplish your goals. Next, use that roadmap to define your military career.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2021 9:26 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 21:26:20 -0400

CPL Private RallyPoint Member Keep us posted when you earn Sergeant stripes. Good luck!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2021 9:53 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 21:53:00 -0400

Heck no. You are still ripe for the picking. In almost all average cases, most Soldiers do not pick up SGT until like 4-9 years. I didn't promote to SGT until eight years. Yer good.

Response by SFC Melvin Brandenburg made Mar 14 at 2021 10:23 PM

SFC Melvin Brandenburg — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 22:23:12 -0400

I went through that same stage. I can tell you with absolute certainty that if you seek to maximize your tactical and technical competencies so that you can be a stronger contributor, so you can better support your team, squad, and platoon mission, so you can develop leadership traits described in the NCO Creed, you will find greater meaning and fulfillment as a soldier. The emphasis should be on we, not me. We succeed as a team in battle. We train more effectively and that just might be the difference between coming home or not. Seek to become stronger and set the kind of example that will build others up as well.

Response by SFC Kenneth Hunnell made Mar 14 at 2021 10:38 PM

SFC Kenneth Hunnell — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 22:38:31 -0400

No, it's not to late.
You just made the time to promote up or out shorter. It's quite apparent that you know what you need to get promoted. Focus on getting your school date and identify what you can do to get promotion points, IE Weapons' qualification, ACFT.
Identify all educational classes that you have competed whether it be military education or civilian that equate to promotion points.
Always make sure that you up to date on knowing your job and able to communicate that knowledge to others, whether they are subordinate to you or someone that you may report too.
If you can't organize a group of people to perform a task, it doesn't matter how many stripes you get.
Stripes does not say you can do anything, it just says you have been in for a long time.
I hope you have learned something from procrastinating.
You should teach your soldiers how to do there job to the best of their ability, when they do good that would be a sign of your ability to mentor others.
Always take advantage of any free education whether it be military or civilian education
Nothing better than a free education

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2021 12:47 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 00:47:23 -0400

It’s never too late just keep looking forward

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Mar 15 at 2021 1:02 AM

LTC Jason Mackay — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 01:02:26 -0400

No. Isn't your RCP 8 years?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2021 1:38 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 01:38:25 -0400

Short answer, no.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2021 4:55 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 04:55:12 -0400

To give you food for thought.....I made SGT after having damn near 13 years TIS

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Mar 15 at 2021 5:26 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 05:26:39 -0400

You are fine. 5 or six years is more the norm. If you focus and apply yourself you still have time to get on a fast track. If you truly want to apply yourself, you will have no problems moving forward.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2021 7:35 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 07:35:31 -0400

From this post it looks like you’re ready for the next step now. Don’t worry about how long it took. Look at it like this , you don’t have to wait for staff time in service. You already have it

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Mar 15 at 2021 8:53 AM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 08:53:07 -0400

You are likely SLIGHTLY behind your peers. But only slightly. But....

Don't worry about comparing yourself to your peers. That way lies madness. Compare today you to yesterday you. And yesterday you to last week you. And so on. Are you a better, more capable leader today than you were yesterday? Good. Now what are you doing to make sure you are a better, more capable leader TOMORROW? As long as you keep doing that and keep that mindset, you will be fine, and you will "get back on track."

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Mar 15 at 2021 12:29 PM

SFC Kelly Fuerhoff — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 12:29:28 -0400

No. Why would it be?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2021 1:58 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 01:58:15 -0400

Promotion is about potential. Some people are ready and prepared to take on more responsibility when they arrive, and some need to grow before they make the decision to take it on. even then it comes down to learning and growing in to the roles

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2021 9:04 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 09:04:04 -0400

Absolutely not. Keep pounding man you'll be fine.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 22 at 2021 7:27 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 07:27:02 -0400

The only time its too late for a promotion is your ETS.

Response by SSG Paul Headlee made Mar 23 at 2021 10:39 AM

SSG Paul Headlee — Tue, 23 Mar 2021 10:39:17 -0400

Five or six years to make Sergeant used to be the norm when I was trying. My dad made it in about a year, but he was in the Army Air Corps at the time. Things change. Just always do your best.

Response by SPC Richard McQuagge made Apr 8 at 2021 4:46 PM

SPC Richard McQuagge — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 16:46:41 -0400

I was in for 6 years and I still did not want to be a E-5 and I turn it down

Response by SGT Christopher Doyle made Apr 17 at 2021 12:48 PM

SGT Christopher Doyle — Sat, 17 Apr 2021 12:48:46 -0400

Heck it took me longer than 5 years to make SGT, cutoff for my MOS where over 750 for the longest time. If you enjoy your job and the military life stick with it. I actually retired as an E-5(p). But the benefits are the same as anyone else