What is the best way for a PFC to start earning promotion points?

2015-04-10T19:24:51-04:00

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2015 1:40 AM

2015-04-11T01:40:34-04:00

I assume you're in AIT. Kudos to you for planning ahead by asking this question. I agree with everything 1LT Doyle said: Weapons qualification, APFT score, and correspondence courses will get you 398 points if you max them all. You can knock out some DANTES (aka CLEP) exams to earn college credits while you're waiting to become eligible for tuition assistance, and regularly work volunteer hours to benefit the community around you. Also, start working on getting technical certifications, if you haven't already (e.g. CISCO, Microsoft, etc.).

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2015 7:19 AM

2015-04-11T07:19:14-04:00

Do everything LT Doyle and SPC Thundercloud said but , first concentrate on advancing to Specialists and while you are waiting for that tell your squad leader you would like to attend the Battalion Soldier of the Month Board. That will give you some experience in attending boards. All the promotion points in the world won't help you if you cannot pass the board.

Take initiative
Max the APFT
Qualify expert with your weapon
Do correspondence courses
Attend the Soldier of the Month Board
Make Specialist

Response by SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA made Apr 11 at 2015 9:08 AM

2015-04-11T09:08:22-04:00

APFT and Weapons Qual are the fastest promotion points. Check out http://www.ezarmypoints.com/ for pretty much everything you need to know about promotion points.
You need to complete SSD-1 before you can go to WLC, which you need to complete before you can get E-5. SSD-1 is no longer worth promotion points, so if you find a resource that says it is, it is just a little bit outdated.
The Army will pay for your civilian education, but not until you have been out of IET for one year. Each college credit is worth a promotion point, up to 75 for promotion to E-5, and 100 for promotion to E-6. Completing a degree while on active duty is also worth promotion points.
Read what ezarmypoints.com says about Skillport courses. Each five hours of these correspondence courses is worth a promotion point. Even if it actually took you five hours to complete five hours of courses, this is still a lot faster than civilian education. I can fulfill the completion requirements (view each lesson page and pass the pre-test or test with 70%) for five hours of courses in well under an hour, no sweat. Some of the information on ezarmypoints.com about Skillport is outdated, e.g. there are no more (that I have seen in months) courses measured in minutes (these had a trick to completing them even faster). You can get up to 78 promotion points for E-5 and 84 for E-6 from these courses. Hint: I prefer the one hour courses, maybe because I get a quicker sense of accomplishment. I can knock it out in 5-10 minutes and realize that I just earned 20% of a promotion point in less time than it takes to enjoy a cup of coffee. Airborne School was three weeks of full days, and it was only worth 10 promotion points. I can earn that many in a week, without even trying that hard.
Find a promotion points calculator (based on DA Form 3355) and see the schools that are worth promotion points. Maybe your unit will send you if you're high-speed enough.
Good luck!

Response by SGT John Wesley made Apr 11 at 2015 2:25 PM

2015-04-11T14:25:07-04:00

Totally agree with CSM Oldsen! I did it all. Correspondence Courses, Max Weapons, Max PT and Soldier of the Month/Quarter/Year. Put yourself out there! Take initiative.

30 years later I'm still advising my guys in civilian life to take initiative, get out of your comfort zone and get your face out there.

Response by SGT John Wesley made Apr 11 at 2015 2:39 PM

2015-04-11T14:39:48-04:00

Btw, be good at what you do! Do not "Meet" goals, exceed them!

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Apr 17 at 2015 6:51 AM

2015-04-17T06:51:14-04:00

Any moment spent not doing college, correspondence courses or SSD's is a wasted moment...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 17 at 2015 7:04 AM

2015-04-17T07:04:46-04:00

Enroll in college or take CLEP/DSST tests if you aren't eligible for TA yet, and take advantage of every military course offered. You can improve your weapon scores and APFT quickly if needed, but it takes a long time to build up the points from education. Ask and keep asking to get sent to classes especially WLC, and make sure you know your job and are doing the right thing so someone will recommend you for the board when the time comes.

Response by SGT Jim Z. made Apr 17 at 2015 7:34 AM

2015-04-17T07:34:20-04:00

SPC Private RallyPoint Member I applaud you for your forward thinking and planning. The others have hit on the head. Keep up the positive motivation and roll with the punches.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 17 at 2015 12:01 PM

2015-04-17T12:01:14-04:00

It is great that you are asking early. Many soldiers are comfortable with "I'm just a private". Start knocking out Correspondence courses, get some civilian ED going (If you can), attend local schools, volunteer and receive your MOVSM. PT, Weapons..the list keeps going. Good luck! You will make SPC in no time with your mindset.