Return
to the "POINTER VIEW"May 24, 2002
Return
to the "POINTER VIEW"
May
24, 2002
WASHINGTON (Army News Service) -- Changes to the enlisted promotion system will result in 3,500 privates instantaneously rising to the rank of specialist later this year.
Constraints that prohibit soldiers from making sergeant will also be removed in October, said Sgt. Major Gerald Purcell, personnel policy integrator with the Army’s G1.
The playing field will be leveled for Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course graduates with similar military occupational specialties, he added.
Privates first class will pin on the rank of specialist after being in the Army 24 months instead of the required 26 months that is currently in effect. The change is designed to help the Army meet its required number of specialists and align the Army’s promotion policy with its sister services.
A shortage of specialists in the Army ranks now stems from a recruiting lull three years ago, Purcell said. The Army was forced to look at ways to get more privates first class promoted, he said.
"While researching ways to increase E-4 promotions, I discovered that under Department of Defense guidance, the services can advance to the grade of E-4 after 24 months of service. The other services are already complying with the guidance," Purcell said.
Part of DoD’s guidance was that there couldn’t be at any time more than 20 percent of the specialist force with less than 24 months of service. The Army didn’t have the technology to accurately track the force, which is why it chose to promote after 26 months, Purcell said.
The early promotion to specialist is considered a good thing for the Army, Purcell said. But it’s getting mixed reviews from senior noncommissioned officers.
"I understand the Army needs to meet end strength, but it’s not in the best interest of the soldier to promote him before he’s ready for the added responsibility," said 1st Sgt. Charles Greene from Fort Knox, Ky.
Soldiers who know their jobs and take the initiative to learn more, are the ones who deserve promotion, Greene said.
While not all senior NCOs are ecstatic about the change to policy, everyone agrees that junior soldiers will be pleased.
"The early promotion will be an overall benefit for the Army because it will increase morale in the junior ranks," said 1st Sgt. Roberto Vielma from Fort Campbell, Ky.
Another policy change initiated to increase morale, and promote more to the NCO corps, is the elimination of the requirement that a soldier have six months of remaining service in order to be promoted to sergeant, Purcell said.
The request was from Lt. Gen. Timothy Maude, who served as the Army’s deputy chief of staff for personnel until he was killed by the attack on the Pentagon Sept. 11.
"He felt that there were too many constraints in the regulation prohibiting soldiers to make sergeant. It was an unnecessary hurdle to overcome," Purcell said.
Until recently, sergeants were under strength in the Army, Purcell said. However, conditional promotions to sergeant have helped increase the numbers.
Specialists who meet the cutoff score for promotion -- but are deployed, on a temporary profile or on the waiting list to attend a Primary Leadership Development Course -- are able to receive a conditional promotion to sergeant. However, they are required to attend PLDC within 12 months.
May marked the 12-month deadline to attend PLDC for the first 500 soldiers that were conditionally promoted a year ago. An extension was given to 44 soldiers and three were administratively reduced to specialist, Purcell said.
The soldiers who were reduced in rank will not have to reimburse the Army because they did serve in the grade of sergeant, Purcell said. They just didn’t meet the conditions of their promotion.
Another change in promotion policy this fiscal year will affect promotable sergeants graduating from the Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course.
Beginning Aug. 1, soldiers will no longer receive four promotion points per BNCOC course week. Forty points will be awarded to individuals who successfully complete BNCOC, regardless of the course length, Purcell said.
"We’re treating BNCOC as an equal element. So as we merge MOSs, no one is at a disadvantage," Purcell said.
Soldiers who will mostly be affected are ones that are in MOSs that have been merged, such as the medical field. Last year several medical skills were combined under the umbrella 91W.
The new point system will give everyone promotion points based on set standards instead of the length of the course, Purcell said.
In July all Personnel Support Battalions will begin converting the BNCOC points, and adjusting promotion points. Soldiers will not be required to do anything, Purcell said.