What regulation states that I can receive promotion points for my degree?

2021-06-01T12:10:16-04:00

I received my degree prior to service and have been told different things on whether are not I can receive promotion points. Is there a regulation that states if I can receive promotion points for my degree?

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2021 12:16 PM

2021-06-01T12:16:42-04:00

There is a regulation that covers everything about enlisted promotions (and reductions).
AR 600-8-19.
For E4 to E5, civilian education is worth a possible max of 75 points.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2021 12:39 PM

2021-06-01T12:39:36-04:00

Look at the point tabulation for the promotion package. It's if you have the degree, not when you got it. Also, your soldier skills are worth more points for a SGT promotion than for a SSG promotion. Both max points at 800, but they are allocated differently. You get more promotion points for the same fitness score for SGT than you do for SSG, but you get more promotion points for that degree for SSG than you do SGT.

Now... timing wise, as an NCO you wont be able to use your current degree as a "bullet" point on a future evaluation for professional development, because you didn't achieve it during the rating period.

There are promotion point calculators floating out there. Find one, and you can specifically see how to game each promotion point.

One thing I learned in the civilian sector in finance calculating out the pay bonuses for sales staff was WOW it's easy to move numbers by managers changing the slightest parameters that impacts the bottom line pay check.

Here's what I'm getting at. Dollars to doughnuts weapons qual is your most powerful promotion point return for he given amount of effort to achieve those points. ACFT as well I suppose if you are a fitness nut. But education stays with you and you carry the accomplishment forward without having to redo it. Whereas ACFT and weapons are something you have to keep on top of and it can go up or down.

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Jun 1 at 2021 4:57 PM

2021-06-01T16:57:01-04:00

I came in as a SPC - and my Bachelor's degree maxed out my civilian education points for both SGT and SSG. As long as you have the degree, have it annotated on your SRB you should be fine. You have to take your transcript to S1 for them to add it to your SRB.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2021 6:34 PM

2021-06-01T18:34:52-04:00

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm almost positive the service member is speaking of obtaining points for the completed degree -- as referenced on the PPW -- AFTER the enlistment into the military. Per AR 600-8-19:

"Degree completion. Twenty promotion points will be granted to any Soldier who completes a degree while on active duty. If recommended for promotion to SSG, the Soldier must have completed the degree while in the rank of SGT to receive these points. If recommended for SGT, the degree must have been awarded after enlistment in the Army, USAR, or ARNG prior to being promoted to the rank of SGT."

To answer your question, you will not receive 20 promotion points for the degree completion under section D civilian education. However, you will receive 2 points per semester hour you have completed.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2021 9:45 PM

2021-06-01T21:45:44-04:00

Your leadership is failing you. Just thought you should know. Even if you did not ask them this question, they are failing you.

Response by SGT Lenise Hamilton made Jun 1 at 2021 11:48 PM

2021-06-01T23:48:38-04:00

SPC Amelia,
You should have gotten credit prior to you signing on the dotted line, I'm not fully understanding your situation. Your recruiter should have made sure you were taken care of prior to this current inquiry. Did you make them aware of your background education at the MEPS Station prior to signing on? AR-600-200, should give you the insight that's needed for your inquiry. Hopefully, this regulation is still in effect. I've been out since 1994, however, regs only add-to, I'm sure it's not totally discontinued. This use to be my area of expertise, I was in the personnel arena field. All the best to you, I wish you well :-) .

Response by SP5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 3 at 2021 10:50 AM

2021-06-03T10:50:59-04:00

SPC Private RallyPoint Member Nothing to do with your poste. d question. Just a note from a really old 56th SigCo radar repairer alum. Ft Huachuca and Ft Ord 1960 to 1962. Glad the unit still exists.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2021 8:10 PM

2021-06-21T20:10:37-04:00

Here's what I did: I enlisted as a SPC because I already have a bachelor's. About 6 months ago I realized that even though my ERB showed that I have the degree, it didn't show how many credit hours I had completed.

To fix this I had to take my official transcript to my local education center. They wrote an official memo detailing how many credits I had. I took this memo to my S1 and they updated my ERB accordingly.

Now my PPW shows my credit hours and I'm maxed for civilian Ed. points.

Hope this helps!