Is there a way to get Date of Rank changed after promotion?

2023-03-24T15:01:47-04:00

Guard, 1LT in an O3 spot since 2017. I was eligible for promotion to CPT back in late 2019, my packet was dropped Feb 2020, and as we all know COVID hit. Fast forward about 6months (Aug/Sep) to give it time to run its course, I ask about the status; S1 tells me it got lost and have to resubmit. Fine, ‘Army efficiency’, fast forward another 6 months (2021) ‘it’s with BDE’. Few months later I ask again, ‘oh, it was denied’ (I’m told whoever at NGB makes the decision just blanket denied every one). Now I’m pissed, finally had to go through DA Select which convened March 2022, approved, but I’m still waiting on my Fed Rec and the last document I saw said DOR 1 DEC 2022.

I know back pay isn’t even an option but my gripe is time in grade. Many of my peers prompted late ‘21, early ‘22 when I should have already been an O3. I’m just afraid this is going to drop me on the promotion list come time for O4. Any thoughts/suggestions appreciated!

Response by COL Randall C. made Mar 24 at 2023 4:20 PM

2023-03-24T16:20:18-04:00

Short answer for your situation: No.
Long answer: You were submitted for a vacancy promotion and it was denied. You were subsequently promoted though a centralized DA board. Your DOR is going to be the same as everyone else on the DA board, regardless of how long it takes for the FEDREC to go through.

Everything else is 'window dressing' as far as the system is concerned. Is it fair? No. However, because you had an official denial on your vacancy promotion, there isn't a recourse.

You can't claim that your DOR would have been earlier except for COVID or any other factor that will be a legitimate reason to one of the Army Review Boards other than a hypothetical (if COVID hadn't happened and they processed my packet in a timely manner, I might have been promoted earlier!).

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 25 at 2023 9:54 AM

2023-03-25T09:54:05-04:00

Just to add; NGB does not "blanket deny" all UVPs.
However, on any DA Board, they can only select up to 10% of promotions that are below zone (BZ) or prior to their first year of eligibility in the primary zone.
Which means any UVP packet prior to primary zone should be written up as a top 10% performer.
Unfortunately, too many in the Guard fail to realize this and approach the UVP as a "check the block" exercise, believing that if they just complete the checklist, they will get it, and that kind of UVP packet will typically get denied.

FWIW, a strong UVP packet would be a 1LT with CCC complete, an OER that enumerates "1 of x" of company XOs in the BN, and maybe even a strong company command OER if they already got to that job.
A UVP that would definitely get kicked back would be OERs for just PL and/or staff time, and/or enumerated 2 or lower on an XO OER, and CCC not completed yet.