What's the quickest way for promotion during and after Army BCT?

Michael Skipper — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 20:47:49 -0400

Response by SPC Logan Daniels made Apr 24 at 2018 8:57 PM

SPC Logan Daniels — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 20:57:04 -0400

Don’t worry about promotion man. Focus on what you are being trained in. Rank will come with time!

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Apr 24 at 2018 8:58 PM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 20:58:52 -0400

My promotion was automatic. I was automatically promoted from an E-3 to an E-4; after Basic Training. I did NOT have Basic Combat Training.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2018 8:58 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 20:58:59 -0400

Learn all you can and study all you can in basic training. Volunteer for leadership positions and be the best you can be so when you get to your first duty station you will be a squared away soldier.

Also, once you get to your first duty station, start college if you don’t have any college under your belt. It will pay off in the long run, make you stand out from your peers and are worth promotion points. When you get to your first unit also ask to go to the “Soldier of the month” board. After two years of doing things like that you will be considered for promotion early but there’s a series of things you have to do before getting promoted. You can do it.

Any more questions, feel free to send me a PM.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2018 9:26 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 21:26:14 -0400

Michael Skipper Listen closely and be observant. Be squared away at all times and help your fellow soldiers. Learn your MOS so that you are the go to person for answers. Continue your education and do not be afraid to volunteer. Promotions will come when you have earned them.

Response by SGT Eric Davis made Apr 24 at 2018 9:27 PM

SGT Eric Davis — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 21:27:54 -0400

Do your job the best way you can, score high on pt test and weapons qualifications but it’s not about getting promoted but doing your job great

Response by 1SG David Niles made Apr 24 at 2018 9:29 PM

1SG David Niles — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 21:29:19 -0400

Be that soldier that is always ready, willing to work

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2018 11:25 PM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 23:25:05 -0400

Talk with your recruiter about getting promotion credit before you enlist. If they won't do it, go to a different recruiter. If they agree, ask for it in writing. If it's not on your DD form 4, or a DA form 4187, it didn't happen.
If you have enough college credit, you'll automatically qualify for E-3. I believe hot can earn E-4 if you have an associates.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Apr 24 at 2018 11:25 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 23:25:46 -0400

unless you have a bachelor's degree or are an Eagle Scout or have some other qualifier that brings you in at E2 or E3, you will be promoted by time in grade (TIG) and time in service (TIS). There is a waiver process for one or both provided on a merit basis.

Response by MSG John Duchesneau made Apr 25 at 2018 12:32 AM

MSG John Duchesneau — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 00:32:16 -0400

Why would you want to get promoted quickly? You will have less time to learn your job. The key to "fast" promotion is to always pass PT and to complete your NCOES requirements as possible. As soon as you make Specialist bug your First Sergeant to send you to WLC. Good Luck!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2018 12:52 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 00:52:00 -0400

Doing the best in every bit of training they give you during may help you get promoted while you're there, but after when you're at your unit, it's most likely going to be just waiting for time in grade and service. Until you reach specialist anyway. As far as becoming an NCO, that's another story.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Apr 25 at 2018 6:10 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 06:10:32 -0400

Do you have any college time that be proved, pay close attention to what you are doing in your MOS, do the job assigned to you to the best of your ability. The best way to also get ahead is to do extra training in the field that you have decided.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2018 7:01 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 07:01:53 -0400

Some AIT schools have student leadership positions where they look for squared away privates to lead fellow privates , often they promote the squared away student leadership during AIT

Response by MSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2018 11:59 AM

MSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 11:59:11 -0400

Remain disciplined and professional, work hard at everything that you do from the moment you wake up until you go down, and take every available moment to further your military and civilian education to gain knowledge and experience. For now you are responsible for yourself but you must always prepare to be a leader.

Response by SPC Brian Stephens made Apr 25 at 2018 6:07 PM

SPC Brian Stephens — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 18:07:25 -0400

Promotion mostly depends on the needs of the Army. If you are E-1 right out of basic, your promotion to E-2 is automatic after six months of active service. Of the four lower enlisted ranks, I was an E-2 the shortest, maybe four months, but I spent most of my time as a PFC until I was automatically promoted to Specialist. Keep your record clean. Keep your alcohol intake low. Beer and gin are stellar career destroyers from back in the 90s. Make friends with a good group of people across the posts and bear with and obey even the worst leadership examples.

Response by CSM Patrick Durr made Apr 26 at 2018 2:12 AM

CSM Patrick Durr — Thu, 26 Apr 2018 02:12:53 -0400

learn your job, then do your job to the best of your ability. have a good attitude, be in shape.

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Apr 27 at 2018 10:35 AM

SSG Carlos Madden — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 10:35:36 -0400

You likely will not get promoted during BCT. If you do it is because promotions are automatic for grades E-2 to E-4 based on time in grade and service. However in BCT, everyone is just a "private" and in my BCT Bn we were a mix of E-1 through E-4's but no one was allowed to wear rank.

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Apr 27 at 2018 2:09 PM

SFC Kelly Fuerhoff — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 14:09:52 -0400

If you have college you can start out as a PFC or SPC in basic. (PFC if you have some college credit, SPC for degree). There are some other things that can start you at PFC. But during basic? You're not getting promoted during basic.

After - that all depends on you.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 2 at 2018 11:38 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 May 2018 23:38:49 -0400

*Basically, follow the doctrine- Soldier's Creed, Warrior Ethos, Army Values. I went through a summer cycle, meaning I was surrounded mostly by those who just came straight outta mom's house and don't know a hard day from an easy one. Only about 50% of them figured out that they had to grow up fast. The others were too prideful in their previous lives to let themselves be molded by the training process.
*Know the rank system before you join, as well as customs and courtesies.
*Be broken down. Yes, for real. Initial Entry Training is meant to turn Fred from the hood and Suzie from the suburbs into soldiers. If Fred and Suzie can't let go of everything they know for the brief moment they are in training, then they won't stand out in a favorable way. The Army isn't in the business of advancing the careers of soldiers who don't want to be in the service.
*That being said, prior to enlisting, during training, and throughout your career, really meditate on the reason you are serving. You must make this purpose integral with your soul.
*Don't be a BCT veteran. Those are the trainees that act like they know what the real Army is like. Instead of talking about what your uncle told you the Army was like, pick a drill sergeant you want to emulate and hang on their every word. Your drill sergeants are knowledgeable with the most recent renditions of Army doctrine, so it's best to learn from them instead of your peers who likely have never served in the military before.
*When they are making y'all do a task, from functional to punitive, don't shy away from giving your all. If they make you move every bed outside, be the soldier that keeps going even when your peers hide away. Don't worry, the drill sergeants like it when you get a little pissed at your peers for not acting like soldiers.
*Don't curse; speak and behave professionally. While the cadre will bombard you with language that would make your mother cry (or laugh like mine did), your peers will respect you more as a leader if you uphold doctrine while also treating them with respect. This goes a long way if you gain a leadership position.
*There won't be many chances to volunteer, but if it is within reason, do so.
*The first three weeks (after reception) is generally when the Drill Sergeants will solidify their assumptions about their training group, as a whole and as individuals. Sure, if you just do as your told and stay under the radar, you don't get called out for mistakes... but you also don't get seen for your laudable actions. On that note, if you decide to stand out in BCT and AIT, be prepared to have your mistakes put on blast for the whole platoon or company to suffer for, and be prepared to learn from those mistakes.
*This one is hard to explain: desire to be a leader but don't over-do it with your actions. If you don't have the drive to be a leader, you won't get advanced until you hit time in rank and time in service. If you over-do it, you'll just be annoying to the cadre and you'll be stuck begrudgingly glaring at the guy who got the advancement. I should mention now that I went from E-1 to E-3 in 7 months- I got one of the advancements at the end of BCT and another at the end of AIT. Anyway, during the first three weeks, I actually REALLY wanted to be in charge of my platoon, but I didn't tell anyone. Instead, it showed when I would correct my battle buddies when no one else thought the standards were important.
*You are always observed. Even when you think the drill sergeants don't see you, they do. Even during times that the drill sergeant isn't around- that's why they have student leadership. They are the eyes and ears and mouthpiece of the cadre when the cadre is not around. Respect peer-leaders as you would a drill sergeant. In fact, I'll be redundant- respect everyone and you won't screw up there.
*At the end of every BCT cycle, the cadre can only advance maybe 5 soldiers. The soldiers they pick are those who were good, long-term leaders such as platoon guides (PG), assistant PGs, line leaders or squad leaders, and those on duty squad.
*During AIT, you will find that the cadre is more relaxed and candid. Still obey regulations and stay squared away. In AIT, you will have a taste of self-reliance when it comes to decision making. The best defense against being labeled as a troublemaker is to study your SOP. If you encounter a problem not covered by SOP, make a choice and own it. Just, you know, don't commit any felonies.
*Be good at your MOS. Be interested in it- that starts with your recruiter. Ask as many questions about your MOS as you can before solidifying your enlistment.
*Be physically fit. Work out on your own time. An extra 30 minutes to 2 hours a day, depending on your study needs or social needs, will help you train to ace your PT test instead of walking the line between passing and failing every time.
*Once you get out of training, maintain those standards that you've learned.
*Earn your E-4 mafia club membership card, but don't spend too much time perusing loop-holes and dodging tasks.
*After the initial entry phases, you can start volunteering and working on your education. Those are important things to have under your belt when you go to the board to be promoted from lower enlisted to NCO.

So, in sum, work hard, be smart, and be right. Own mistakes, don't give up, and take care of yourself. You can take the slow stream and learn nothing, or you can take the high road and be awesome. Most importantly, understand that in the Army, EVERYONE ought to take the high road, as it's what separated the soldiers from the civilians. More often than not, doing the right thing is just that as being a soldier is what is expected of you. Advancements come to soldiers who are lucky to be in higher's field of view. The goal isn't rank advancement, but rather, to serve.

Hope that helps.

Response by PVT Private RallyPoint Member made May 9 at 2018 9:39 PM

PVT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 May 2018 21:39:27 -0400

When I went people for promoted for having the highest PT scores and for combatives.

Response by PVT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 19 at 2018 9:20 PM

PVT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Jun 2018 21:20:50 -0400

Kiss a lot of butt, well at fort Irwin that’s definitely the way to go if you want rank