promotions, direct to E-5

[ro3434]

I read on the US Army Reserve HR Command website several mos ago that if someone was prior service active duty (E-4, with sufficient time in grade, 4 years) and decided to enlist in the reserves that they would qualify entrance into duty as an E-5 pending they attend the WLC(PLDC) within 12 or 24 mos. Is this true for the guard?

Any comments....?

[VTguard]

This is sort of true. The promotion system to E-5 in the National Guard is a points based system. Points are calculated from several factors to include:

Time in Service
Time in grade
college credits
coorespondence course credits
weapon qual scores
APFT scores
awards
military schools

Each year, a list is published with all eligible E-4s in order of merit. When E-5 slots are available, they take the top people on the list and promote them. This system is called the STPA (Select, Train, Promote, Assign). By regulation, a soldier is selected from the list, Trained (WLC - formerly known as PLDC) promoted, and assigned to the E-5 slot.

[sgtblack82]

pending your unit has a e-5 slot available at all.

Your mos has e-5 slots.

You get your unit to slot you for wlc, ahead of guys with more active time in grade.