Issues adding my bachelors degree to my ERB and receiving promotion points for it?

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 16:13:27 -0400

I have a question regarding promotion points. I have a bachelors degree from before I enlisted and I am curious as to whether or not I’m allowed points for it. My S1 said that I can’t get points for it because I came in as a SPC and that’s what I get rather than points. I have talked to several other college specialists most of whom are E5/E6 at this point who have their credit hours on their ERB and also got points for them. My ERB says “baccalaureate” degree and lists no credits. Is my S1 correct in that I don’t get points for it and those guys just got hooked up by their old units or was my degree entered incorrectly when I joined? They pointed out at the promotion board that I was missing my credits as well. I’m confused as to how to proceed at this point. The Ed center on post doesn’t have an answer either.

Response by SPC Ethan Reddick made Sep 30 at 2018 4:22 PM

SPC Ethan Reddick — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 16:22:41 -0400

I was always told if you had your bachelors degree before you joined it didn’t give you any promotion points. It had to be earned while in the army for it to give you promotion points.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 30 at 2018 4:40 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 16:40:15 -0400

First, S1s can be wrong. I am no expert but will attempt to use logic to your case. I believe NCOs who get college degrees get educational points. Why should you be the exception?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2018 5:01 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 17:01:00 -0400

You get the points for the semester hours, but not for degree completion because it was prior to enlisting. Not to worry, though. You'll max points in civ ed.
IAW AR 600-8-19 para 3-19a (semester hours) and 3-19c (degree completion)

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Sep 30 at 2018 5:31 PM

SPC Erich Guenther — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 17:31:37 -0400

Gee I can answer this one even though I have been out since the age of the dinosaur. Think about it for a moment. If they didn't give you points for the degree each step of the way, what is the incentive for someone without a degree to go and get one? So the answer is yes you should get points for the same Bachelors degree several steps up in the rank system. I only skimmed the reg mentioned below because it is a new promotion system since I got out a long time ago. They mention in the reg SGT and again for SSG. Surprised your S1 got it wrong. I believe they need the actual registrar certified college transcripts though to enter the points in addition to the degree certificate (unless stated on the transcripts you earned a degree). The courses and college have to be accredited via the accrediation system the Army uses and you need the raw transcripts for that as well as calculating semester hours for points.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2018 8:58 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 20:58:53 -0400

Your degree will be posted in your ERB/SRB as well as your credit hours. You need a sealed official transcript sent to you from your college showing the credit hours and the degree conferred to you. Once S1 has those transcripts they will input the credit hours in the system and also scanned a copy for your OMPF which is like a cloud for all your military records. The points will reflect once they get all of that in the system. That has been my experience as an NCO who earned his Bachelor's degree while on active duty and also while helping Soldiers get ready for the promotion board.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 1 at 2018 11:36 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 11:36:23 -0400

Then your S1 is worthless. Yes you can get promotion points for habe a degree either have them do their job or you can send your paperwork to me and I will get it done or know someone at HRC who can do it for you.

Response by SPC Chris Ison made Oct 5 at 2018 7:43 PM

SPC Chris Ison — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 19:43:24 -0400

It is my understanding that you can get a certain number of points for "civilian education", and that this mazes out at an associates degree,a s far as points per credit hour.

https://www.armystudyguide.com/promotion-points/promotion-points.shtml

Seems your S! is an idiot, no surprise there, i have run into a lot of them.

Army Promotion Points

Earn 100 Army promotion points through civilian education. Learn how online schools can help you get ahead in the military r while preparing you for your post-service career! Take advantage of military education benefits like Army tuition assistance, the Montgomery GI Bill and soldier scholarships.

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2018 12:31 AM

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 18 Oct 2018 00:31:59 -0400

So just an update I searched the regs, showed them to my s1, and gave them my sealed transcripts and my credits are now on my ERB. Thanks everyone for helping me to clarify this.