Is it easier to get promoted now than it was 10 years ago.

2014-04-29T13:47:19-04:00

I had a discussion with a Soldier the other day about the promotion points.
He is a fueler, older Soldier with a wife and child, just came from Korea, has been in the army 6 years and is a SPC.

To make a long story short, his MOS 92F has been 798 for a long time and he told me due to the current promotion point system it is impossible for him to make SGT.

Is there anyone that dislikes the current promotion point worksheet and why? Who likes it? Why?

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Apr 29 at 2014 1:52 PM

2014-04-29T13:52:41-04:00

Ten years ago, we were hurting for personnel. We were expanding the Army, so there were a lot more vacancies. Now that we are shrinking again, there will be less NCO slots, thus it will be harder to get promoted. Same with Officers.

Response by MAJ Steve Sheridan made Apr 29 at 2014 1:52 PM

2014-04-29T13:52:53-04:00

Witht he down sizing of the Army, I believe it is and will get harder to get promoted now than it was 10 years ago.

I beleive cut off scores get changed all the time based on the requirements of the Army.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 29 at 2014 3:15 PM

2014-04-29T15:15:01-04:00

If Soldiers want to stay in the Army and not chase 798, then reclass. In my opinion, the new promotion worksheet is fair, but the Army can't over promote.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Apr 29 at 2014 3:21 PM

2014-04-29T15:21:06-04:00

The promotion point worksheet is what it is, nothing has changed in that aspect. I was boarded and promoted when we still used a 1,000 point scale...made SGT with 742 points in secondary and SSG with 913 points in secondary. Like has been said before, we had more slots available for a long period of time due to the increase in the standing Army's population and are now returning to where we were and lower so promotions will be tougher and the number of slots lower. Reclassing from overstrength MOSs to understrength may be the only options for some to get promoted.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 29 at 2014 3:43 PM

2014-04-29T15:43:09-04:00

The change the promotion system wasn't to make it easier, but to make it less prone to local favoritism. Also to distinguish some differences in the expectations between SGT promotion and SSG promotion. Complaining about an MOS cutoff being 798 simply means no slots are opening up. Be it from reduction in MTOE across the force, or those higher-up's sitting, waiting for retirement. 798 isn't unobtainable, it just takes a long time to get, not more or less so than before.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 29 at 2014 4:09 PM

2014-04-29T16:09:37-04:00

Promotion point worksheet is just that, a worksheet, 10 years ago you could get points for the board, now you can get points for combat deployements as an example.

Promotion slots being available that might be a different story, when I first came in, my original MOS was always 798, then with the wars more people were able to advance, nowadays it probably will go back to just a few slots available for promotion each month

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2014 4:42 AM

2014-08-13T04:42:00-04:00

It was much easier back then (not that I was there) but we do have the internet and I use it. Back then you could get up to 150 free points for the promotion board. Also back then college was worth 1.5 promotion points , where now its 1 credit= 1 hour. When I came in 2009 it was like that. Also you could get crazy amounts of promotion points for online correspondence courses, where now you get a measly 78-79. Also they have cut so many classes off, that no longer count for points. It is much harder now then it ever was. I am also a fueler so I know your friends struggle. That's why I sat myself in the library, literally went every day after work, and studied to get my scores up. Now when I go to reenlist, I will finally have options. Last time I reenlisted with my 95 gt ,etc I heard "do you wanna stay a fueler, be a cook, or go infantry". Give yourself options my friend.