in the military how do you get your ranks up?

Question

what do you have to do to get your ranks up. im thinking about joining the military, whats it like?

Answer 1

It's a combination of a few things. You have to have a certain amount of time in, unless you are granted a waiver to the next rank. When trying to get above specialist in the Army, you have to go to a promotion board and then there is a points system. The points are different based on your job.
It can seem a little confusing. Once you are in, it makes a lot more sense.
*Waivers are granted for those who have gone the extra mile.

Answer 2

In the US Air Force, promotion from E-1 to E-4 is based on time in grade at each rank, evaluation reports and supervisor recommendation, while E-5-E-7 promotions are based on the Weighted Airmen Promotions, which is a combined score of your two test scores of your job (Skill Knowledge Test) and overall knowledge of the Air Force (Proficiency Fitness Exam), your awards and decorations, Evaluation reports, etc. You test against all others in your specific AFSC, then based on the needs of the Air Force a cutoff score is produce and everyone above the cutoff is given a line number that tells them basically when they'll sew on the new stripe. Those below the cutoff test again next year. While, say, a 236.5 will get a person promoted in one field, it might mean another year of study for another field.

Promotion to E-8 and E-9 is a bit different in that the person's entire personnel file is judge and given a score to add to all the other things listed above, however, there can only be 2% of the entire enlisted force serve as an E-8 and only 1% as an E-9. Above that is the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force who is an E-9 but there is only one of those in the entire Air Force.

It is possible to get a STEP (Stripes for Exceptional Performers) promotion where an individual is awarded a stripe for, well, exceptional performance. Not real common, but I've seen it done.

A college degree is HIGHLY advised for the SNCO positions and one day it will, if not already, be made mandatory.

Now, I've been retired for a long time so some of this may not be the most current information.

Answer 3

It depends what branch. I was in the air force (enlisted) and from E-1 to E-4 you had to have so much time in rank before you gained rank (i.e. E-1 for 6 months, E-2 you had be for like 1 year, E-3 you had to be for 24 months, etc.P) after you are E-4 your "automatic promotions" are done and you have to test to make E-5 thru E-9. Same thing with officers, O-1 thru O-3 were automatic promotions and O-4 and up you had to test. The Army I know progressed in rank alot faster than the Air Force but I am not sure why...

Answer 4

Each branch of the military have specific requirements for promotion....the Navy has rating exams. Along with you evaluations from the last reporting period a score is worked out and you ranked by score. The Navy sets a limit as to how many people in you specialty it wants to promote and if you fall within that number you get promoted.

You can also be meritoriously promoted if you go above and beyond in the performance of you job.

I know that the other branches of service have specific guidlines. Wouldn't want to give you false info, so I hope others will answer for their branch.

Answer 5

....In addition to the above.... Russia had "Marshal of the Soviet Union" because the maximum rank. They additionally had the rank of "Marshal", larger than a General. EDIT to ADD:- Scouse, there were at least 25 "Marshals of the Royal Air Force", (NOT JUST ONE m8 LOL). Granted, a couple of of the ones 25 have been "Promoted on Retirement", was once an "Honorary Rank", and in a single case, Sir Arthur "Bomber" Harris", was once promoted "months after retirement". The majority have held the rank in complete, external of those examples nevertheless. The rank is now not presented in "Peacetime", except, IF an R.A.F. Air Chief Marshal is a member of the Royal Family they'll acquire the rank of M.R.A.F., or, an Air Chief Marshal could also be promoted to M.R.A.F on the discretion of the monarchy, even though this hasn't occurred considering 1992 considering the primary circular of defence reduce backs on the finish of the "Cold War" The Rank would possibly extra be attained in "Wartime". Obviously ANY retired Marshal of the Royal Air Force keeps the rank for lifestyles. The EXACT identical applies to "five Star Rank" of the British Army, The Royal Navy, and The Royal Marines, without a extra Field Marshals, or Admirals of the Fleet presently in carrier. The Royal Marines are presently the one H.M. Forces Branch that has a "five Star" - "Captain General", (albeit ceremonially); HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Answer 6

The Navy version can take quite a while to explain, and it may have changed somewhat since I retired. Promotions up to E-3 are pretty much automatic and based on time in service.
Promotions from E-4 to E-6 are based on a Navy wide exam, time in service, and performance evals. E-4 promotions place more weight on the test, and E-6 places more weight on performance evals. If there are more candidates than openings, promotions can be very difficult. If there are more openings than candidates, then just passing the exam can be good enough for getting promoted.

E-7 has an exam also, but it only determines who is eligible to have their record reviewed by the promotion board, and in the case of an LDO candidate, who is eligible to be considered for promotion to officer, as a Limited Duty Officer.

E-8 and E-9 just have promotion boards.

Answer 7

It depends on which branch you are in. I will explain how it is in the Marine Corps. You become an E-1 when you graduate from bootcamp and 3 months later you will pick up E-2 unless you are a **** bird. To pick up E-3 I think you have to wait 8 months without getting non recommended for promotion. They can non rec you for alot of things. To pick up E-4, its a different game. You have to high enough composite score for your MOS. You need to have high PFT score, decent rifle score, good pros and cons. If you pick up E-4 before 2 years, you are doing good. E-5 is the same way. For E-6 to E-9 it changes again. You have to do PME and fitness record and all that ****. For now just worry about getting through bootcamp. If you pick up E-6 in 8 years you are doing good. If you don't pick up E-6 by your 13th year mark, you get kicked out. In the Marine Corps, you really gotta bust your *** to pick up rank.

Answer 8

Its like a being a member of the boy scouts only you get paid. As far as gaining rank, do your job and do it to the best of your ability. Put in extra effort when you can, thats how you get promoted.

Answer 9

its different in all the the branches of the military..in the Marines e-1 through e-3 is all time in grade then after that you have to get a high enough composite score, having a high pft and good pro and con and getting good rifle score will help you...there are also meritorious boards, but you got to be **** hot to get promoted in a board.. basically do your job and don't get in trouble and you will get promoted....oh and don't be one of those over weight **** cause you wont get promoted if your over weight

Answer 10

As donwhy60 said, it's different for each branch of the military.

In the RAF for "Enlisted Ranks", at the beginning, you get Aircraftman (AC). When you pass out from training, you get promoted to Leading Aircraftman. You keep this rank until you have been in for one year (see sidenote *) and then have to pass a test about specific safety in your workplace etc (Called A TAT or Trade ability Test). If you pass that, you get promoted to Senior Aircraftman (SAC).

From then on (excluding technical trades), your promotion is determined on time served together with general performance, like showing signs of excellence in your trade and leadership skills (reported on your anual assessment, which is submitted to an independant board for evaluation). They choose to promote a certain ammount of people each year for each rank and the better you perform, the closer to the top of the list you get.

For technical trades, after the Rank of SAC, you will be promoted to SAC Technician - SAC (T) after completing an NVQ in your chosen trade and after 3 years of service. After that, it goes to the aforementioned performance system for promotion. Gaps between promotions get larger as you progress, in general

*Sidenote, if your trade training is longer than 1 year, you get promoted to LAC after your training, but as it's after 1 year from joining, you get promoted to SAC within about 2 weeks of getting LAC (after your TAT).

It's pretty complicated, but it's not as bad as it seems.