Is it wrong for a PFC to worry about his promotion points?

2019-02-20T16:37:23-05:00

I recently got waived to PFC. Im am entirely aware of how many promotion points I have and how many I need to make SGT. I understand i have a bit of time before I get there, however i would like to prepare. My mindset is to start preparing now so when the time comes i don’t have to scramble to “make points.” However whenever I bring up anything pertaining to promotion points, my chain of command and basically anyone higher ranking than myself says “you are just a PFC. Don’t worry about it”. Am I wrong for monitoring my promotion points ? Is it wrong to be prepared. This is demoralizing.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2019 4:47 PM

2019-02-20T16:47:14-05:00

In your case, you do have time to get your points up there. There is nothing wrong with you monitoring your points level. No, there is nothing wrong with being prepared. I would advise you to not put too much emphasis on it presently. Keep an eye on them, certainly...but don't get tunnel vision.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2019 4:52 PM

2019-02-20T16:52:59-05:00

Not at all. This is your career. No one will care about your career but you. Take charge early, as many have learned this the hard way.
You may be able to log into the HRC website and run a "mock" PP worksheet on yourself to see. But there are things you can and cannot control with points. PT and weapon qual - practice and get good so you can max those. Awards and badges - you are at the mercy of someone else recommending/approving you to get that - so try but don't make it your #1 thing. Education - boom. That's the gold mine. Get all your correspondence course hours done, and get college credits. That is all 100% in your control and you have time to build your points there.

Or, if you desire to skip worrying about promotion points you can go ARSOF. IF you get selected and complete the training, you will have SGT automatically, though it is not about making rank there as much as it is being good at your job, rank is just a perk.

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Feb 20 at 2019 5:09 PM

2019-02-20T17:09:12-05:00

100% care about your points and work to do your best to achieve the NCO status you wish to attain. There are only two ranks in the Army that YOU can achieve on your own and they are SGT/E-5 and SSG/E-6. Of course you have the recommendation of your superiors and the board itself to award points, but no other rank has the inputs that YOU control. I wanted to make SGT in 36 months and that was the sole goal of my first enlistment starting out E-1 PVT. It was being a damn good Soldier, in the right place, uniform and time as needed. Always being ready for inspection and attending and competing in month and quarter boards to broaden my knowledge and gain valuable experience talking to senior NCO's. Having goals and working on them when others look for mischief is admirable and honorable, would have you on my team anytime.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2019 5:21 PM

2019-02-20T17:21:53-05:00

Does it make sense to wait until you're eligible for SGT to start becoming competitive.
Complete correspondence courses (so they still exist), any online courses that are mandatory for NCOES, as soon as you get access to it.
Improve your APFT.
Get a copy of the SOM/SOQ/SOY and promotion board memos, and start studying the references now. Download them, and read them cover to cover.
Give yourself a couple of months and compete for the next SOM/QTR board.
Why? If a waiver for SPC is available, you'll be more competitive. School slots, more competitive.
My philosophy was to work 2 grades ahead. So, yes, as a PFC you should be working on SGT.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Feb 20 at 2019 5:59 PM

2019-02-20T17:59:33-05:00

Many wins ago, PFC Rivera asked himself the same question. Although PFC Rivera didn’t get a waiver he certainly knocked down some serious correspondence courses and a few night and weekend classes. When he got promoted to SPC he had a plethora of points under his belt. When he went to the SGT promotion board 6 months after (got a waiver) he was 2 points shorts of maxing out the board (198 out of 200). As soon as the points came in effect I made the cut off score. In just over 3 years I pinned SGT stripes.

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Feb 20 at 2019 6:12 PM

2019-02-20T18:12:19-05:00

SSG Private RallyPoint Member - The only reason you should not be concerned about your points is if you do NOT want to be promoted. Plan and think like a SGT now, it makes things easier later when actual promotion time comes around. No one cares about your career except yourself.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2019 6:17 PM

2019-02-20T18:17:57-05:00

The only good advice my old PSG ever gave me was to be working on your promotion two grades up. As an E3 you should be working on your points for E5. As an E5 you should be reviewing E7 promotion board AAR's to see what will set you apart from your peers

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2019 7:12 PM

2019-02-20T19:12:05-05:00

The best rule of thumb is to think two ranks ahead, secure what you need to achieve the next rank, and prepare yourself for the rank after that. Always have your foot in the door, and your eyes on the next one.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 20 at 2019 7:32 PM

2019-02-20T19:32:31-05:00

There is nothing wrong about thinking of the future as long as you are a team player.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2019 1:32 AM

2019-02-21T01:32:23-05:00

Focus on being a good soldier. Max pt and weapons qual and education,that should just about get you there.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Feb 21 at 2019 3:45 AM

2019-02-21T03:45:37-05:00

Elaborate, OK? School, associates, Bach, hobbies, interests, reading, sports incl !artal arts, ultimate a!notions, senior enlisted, warrant, commissioned, ROTCs, OCS, direct commission indoc OIS programs, intersvc transfer interests, flight interests, do a really thorough detailed biosketch, the more you give, the more specific and thorough you are in explaining, the more can be suggested, grades, GPAs, degrees, majors, STEM coursework, other serious coursework even if not STEM, I have an interest in career/educ topics, I'd be most eager to hear more, no rush, whenever convenient, OK?

Response by PFC James (LURCH) Janota made Feb 21 at 2019 5:09 AM

2019-02-21T05:09:26-05:00

I wished I had paid more attention. Be the Eagle.

Response by SPC Jerry Jones made Feb 21 at 2019 7:25 AM

2019-02-21T07:25:43-05:00

There is nothing wrong with monitoring your points. That just means you have goals, unlike most soldiers. Find a way to get them and monitor them.
If your Chain of Command is not helping you, then you have a bad Chain of Command. They are probably intimidated by you wanting to move up the ranks, possibly into their position of farther.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2019 9:55 AM

2019-02-21T09:55:44-05:00

You are not wrong I was the same as a PFC it is never too late. I started watching points, completing correspondence courses, getting into class that are 40 hours or more will give you points, if you have a college degree you can max at 135 points. Any AAMs that you receive will give you ten points. The earlier you start accumulating points the better off you will be when trying to make cut off.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2019 10:10 AM

2019-02-21T10:10:46-05:00

Monitoring your career is both a leader and individual responsibility. I do not see anything wrong in what you are doing. In fact, I commend you for taking the initiative to prepare for opportunities that will become available to you in the future. The only piece of advice I can give you is to focus on your basic soldiering tasks, work hard at PT, always volunteer for special details or schools, and volunteer in your local community and log those hours. Soldiers who go beyond just military accolades stand out most to me because that tells me that the Soldier is not about themselves and that they have the propensity to serve those they lead, hence servant leadership.

Best of luck to you PFC Tademy!

Response by SFC Scott Higgins made Feb 21 at 2019 2:51 PM

2019-02-21T14:51:36-05:00

PFC, it is never too early. You can't do much about awards and badges - although if you can volunteer for Soldier of the Month Boards - do it. Doing well on PT test and weapons qual can are a must. Education is where you have control, it can be the real difference for promotion. Military education - correspondence courses. These you can do in your free time and earn quite a bit of points. College courses can earn you big dividends 2 Promotion points for every semester hour credit (if you are active duty). Just so you know, I got promoted to SGT with just under 2 years active. I had over 750 promotion points. You can do it, but remember, to get recommended your number one task that you have to do is your job. Be prepared, be willing, be present and be ready to learn.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2019 12:33 PM

2019-02-24T12:33:50-05:00

Nothing wrong with wanting to be prepared but don't stress out about them too much right now, if you want more points max out on your correspondence course hours, work on maxing your PT test and weapons qual, take correspondence courses worth college credits then get your military transcripts verified by a college and have those verified credits put on your ERB