E3 -> E4 Promotion Waiver Questions

[twisterx44]

Hey, hoping someone here can answer my questions. I've been trying to figure out exactly when the earliest I can pick up SPC is...I know as soon as its 'legal' within army regs my unit will promote me...I have a 310 PT score and my chain of command loves me. But i need to figure out when that is so I can take it up my chain.

I enlisted at MEPS 07MAR2009.
I shipped to basic 22APR2009
I came off Active Duty (graduated 31B OSUT) 03SEP2009
I was promoted to PFC 07OCT2009.

How is TIS (time in service) calculated? It seems with a waiver its 18months TIS and 3 months TIG (time in grade)? When does TIS start? Enlistment date? Beginning of active duty? End of active? someone help!

[Phantom]

TIG can be waived to 6mo I believe. 08APR10, would be the earliest, but its not instant and in good units, you would have to earn the waiver.

[twisterx44]

I read that normal promotion from PFC to SPC is 24months TIS and 6 months TIG, and waiver is 18months TIS 3months TIG. When does TIS start for the guard?

[WIBecky74]

When you leave for Basic training. Not sure how that works with split ops.

[twisterx44]

ok so my TIS starts 24 APR 2009? so I am at like 8 months technically...son of a!

[7011USMC]

ok so my TIS starts 24 APR 2009? so I am at like 8 months technically...son of a!

Don't sweat it. Specialist promotion will be automatic if you are "with in" standards; Based on your post your on the right track.

Learn your craft, be technically and tatically proficient, and emulate a good strong NCO in your unit. If your that good people will notice you shouldn't have toot your own horn! A specialist is still a "full bird private" so don't rush it. Everybody has this mentality that I gotta be a SGT soon talk to CHD he is 31B down at GITMO he will tell you about the E5 fiasco with all the E4 Specialist that have 5 and 10 yrs TIG and TIS.

[California Major]

Learn your job, maintain and improve your PT, and stay out of trouble.

Your next goal might be to prepare for the Warrior Leader Course be ready for a class sear as soon as you promote. Ask to lead the PT formation or become an instructor for some warrior tasks.

There's more to it than just TIG/TIS.

[Jmiranda_Cav]

Learn your job, maintain and improve your PT, and stay out of trouble.

Your next goal might be to prepare for the Warrior Leader Course be ready for a class sear as soon as you promote. Ask to lead the PT formation or become an instructor for some warrior tasks.

There's more to it than just TIG/TIS.

this is truth. Wish more people would understand this.

[PalatialGabe]

Learn your job, maintain and improve your PT, and stay out of trouble.

Your next goal might be to prepare for the Warrior Leader Course be ready for a class sear as soon as you promote. Ask to lead the PT formation or become an instructor for some warrior tasks.

There's more to it than just TIG/TIS.

QFMFT........

[SteveLord]

Be motivated, but don't be a brown nose.

[HawaiiBound]

I've got a concern. I swore the oath of enlistment on 04 MAR 2008, and was immediately promoted to E-3 on 01 APR 2008 for recruiting friends into the guard. My recruiter at the time had hold me I would be eligible for SPC around 8 months upon returning home. (I returned home 28 AUG 2008)....

Then I transferred states and this seemed to cause some problems.

I am STILL a PFC! It is almost exactly the 24th month since I became a PFC. Is something wrong here? I've brought it up to my command and they said its in the works...but shouldn't I have had this promotion a year ago? Can I provide documents to get back paid???

Thank you!

[49thadband]

things haven't changed much. we used to gripe about being E3s forever. Difference here is your chain is working for you evidently. We had a guy running around as an E2 forever, he didn't get his Civilian acquired skills E3 like he should have, he had more time in service than I did, I got the CASP, was an E3. I finally confronted the commander, "why am I not an E4?"

You certainly have to make some noise sometimes to get what you want.

Our case it was a couple of AGR guys sitting around not taking care of the troops.

key is don't let it affect your attitude, just be polite and keep after those guys.

you will get it.

[SteveGuard]

I've got a concern. I swore the oath of enlistment on 04 MAR 2008, and was immediately promoted to E-3 on 01 APR 2008 for recruiting friends into the guard. My recruiter at the time had hold me I would be eligible for SPC around 8 months upon returning home. (I returned home 28 AUG 2008)....

Then I transferred states and this seemed to cause some problems.

I am STILL a PFC! It is almost exactly the 24th month since I became a PFC. Is something wrong here? I've brought it up to my command and they said its in the works...but shouldn't I have had this promotion a year ago? Can I provide documents to get back paid???

Thank you!

Doesn't sound unusual. I'm just about to hit the 23rd month as a PFC, but I'm mostly brand new to my unit so I don't see why they would give a waiver. The TIS requirement for E-4 is 24 months.

[PalatialGabe]

Doesn't sound unusual. I'm just about to hit the 23rd month as a PFC, but I'm mostly brand new to my unit so I don't see why they would give a waiver. The TIS requirement for E-4 is 24 months.

This is correct. Just because a waiver exists doesn't mean everybody is going to get one. Sometimes you have to actually wait to meet your requirements to get it.

Another thing: promotion isn't always "automatic" either. A lot of people get to that threshhold and expect immediate promotion, but if you're not working hard, you won't get it.

[7011USMC]

This is correct. Just because a waiver exists doesn't mean everybody is going to get one. Sometimes you have to actually wait to meet your requirements to get it.

Another thing: promotion isn't always "automatic" either. A lot of people get to that threshhold and expect immediate promotion, but if you're not working hard, you won't get it.

So your saying a that a PFC that isn't "flagged", passes APFT, and is otherwised qualified for promotion wont get it "automatic" cause your not working hard.

Furthermore, the soldier has no No art. 15s, get average to above average ERB, qualified at least marksman still will not get promoted after 24 months TIG.

Too me something just doesn't add up.

[SGT Bart]

So your saying a that a PFC that isn't "flagged", passes APFT, and is otherwised qualified for promotion wont get it "automatic" cause your not working hard.

Furthermore, the soldier has no No art. 15s, get average to above average ERB, qualified at least marksman still will not get promoted after 24 months TIG.

Too me something just doesn't add up.

sounds like chain of command (squad lead's) just dropping the ball with keeping squad accountable for everything (including promotions) Just talk to you squad leader. You can sometime get promoted and back dated pay for example: It's March now, but your promotion dates back to Jan when you deserved it. You'll get retro pay, and if your not in a jacked up unit, get your new rank punched into your chest. velcro! Where's the pins at....

[PalatialGabe]

So your saying a that a PFC that isn't "flagged", passes APFT, and is otherwised qualified for promotion wont get it "automatic" cause your not working hard.

Furthermore, the soldier has no No art. 15s, get average to above average ERB, qualified at least marksman still will not get promoted after 24 months TIG.

Too me something just doesn't add up.

I'm not saying that. If he's all those things, then yes, he should be an E-4

[dnall]

Are you in an E-4 slot first of all? If not, is there one they can even move you to?

You will be promoted when your commander signs the promotion list with you on it. If you're on it & he's declined to sign, then there's something going on. If you're not on it, then that's something you need to take up with your readiness.

Waiver at the 18mo mark is limited to a percentage of the command. Some commanders try to limit it to the folks they see as the next crop of NCOs. Don't take it personally that you weren't promoted early.

[PalatialGabe]

Are you in an E-4 slot first of all? If not, is there one they can even move you to?

You will be promoted when your commander signs the promotion list with you on it. If you're on it & he's declined to sign, then there's something going on. If you're not on it, then that's something you need to take up with your readiness.

Waiver at the 18mo mark is limited to a percentage of the command. Some commanders try to limit it to the folks they see as the next crop of NCOs. Don't take it personally that you weren't promoted early.

Correct me if I'm wrong sir, but are there such things as E-3 slots? Or are they all E-4 slots until you reach NCO-hood? I've never heard of an E-3 slot, but I don't know because I wasn't an E-3 too long.

[dnall]

Yes there's slots on the UMR that are listed for E3, E4, etc. Otherwise you'd have a unit of all SPCs.

Generally this kind of thing isn't a problem. We can put an E-4 in an E-3 slot. So, we can just swap a couple people around to accomplish the promotion, then swap them back where we want them. It's all happening at the Company level anyway, so not a big deal.

[PalatialGabe]

Where's that "The More You Know" pic when I need it?

Thank you, sir.

[dnall]

Where's that "The More You Know" pic when I need it?

Thank you, sir.

No need. Just takes a quick look at your UMR to see what's supposed to be there.

[RedLeg]

The UMR has nothing to do with a PFC not being promoted. You could have all SPC's sitting in PFC slots.

Probably the issue is, the unit simply doesn't realize he's up for a promotion.

[PalatialGabe]

The UMR has nothing to do with a PFC not being promoted. You could have all SPC's sitting in PFC slots.

Probably the issue is, the unit simply doesn't realize he's up for a promotion.

Sorry, got off topic there. He probably just slipped through the cracks. I know when I got E-4, no one really realized it, it just showed up in MyPay.

But TS, squeaky wheel gets the grease. Let them know in a professional manner that you may have been overlooked. Without a doubt, they're not just keeping you there on purpose and like someone else said, you could even get backpay out of it (Just got my E-5 backpay )

[HR NCO]

The UMR has nothing to do with a PFC not being promoted. You could have all SPC's sitting in PFC slots.

Probably the issue is, the unit simply doesn't realize he's up for a promotion.

Yes...they could be SPC sitting in PFC slots, but you cant promote the PFC while still sittin in the slot. They would still have to do some moving around on the UMR to make this happen. Not hard to do, happens all the time.