Army Sergeant and Staff Sergeant Promotion Requirements

In the U.S. Army, typically a soldier's time in service -- the time he or she started boot camp to the present -- and the performance of that soldier will determine the promotion status of a military member. Special performance can earn an early promotion in exceptional soldiers, while poor performance may stall a promotion to the next higher rank.

The time-in-service requirement for attaining eligibility for promotion to sergeant (SGT) is 36 months Active Federal Service for the primary zone and 18 months for the secondary zone. (Note: The secondary zone is a Below-the-Zone Promotion Program. Commanders can select highly qualified enlisted personnel for early promotion consideration. This is known as "Secondary Zone" Promotion).

The time-in-grade requirement for attaining eligibility for promotion to SGT is eight months as a corporal or specialist (CPL/SPC), waiverable to four months for those recommended in the secondary zone. Soldiers in the secondary zone may be boarded with 16 months time-in-service and four months time-in-grade as of the first day of the board month.

The time-in-service requirement for attaining eligibility for promotion to staff sergeant (SSG) is 84 months Active Federal Service for the primary zone and 48 months for the secondary zone. The time-in-grade requirement for attaining eligibility for promotion to SSG is 10 months as an SGT, waiverable to five months for those recommended in the secondary zone. Soldiers in the secondary zone may be boarded with 46 months time-in-service and five months time-in-grade as of the first day of the board month.

The minimum promotion point score for attaining recommended list status for promotion to SGT is 350. The minimum score for attaining recommended list status for promotion to SSG is 450.

The service remaining requirement is six months for promotion to SGT and 12 months for promotion to SSG.

Soldiers competing for promotion to SSG must be graduates of the Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC) prior to being recommended for promotion.

Soldiers competing for promotion to SGT/SSG must possess either a high school diploma, GED equivalency, or an associate or higher degree.

Each month the Department of the Army establishes the total number of soldiers to be promoted based on budgetary and strength constraints. The number of promotions is allocated by Primary MOS (job) within these constraints.

Department of the Army promotion cutoff scores are announced monthly. Soldiers who meet or exceed the announced cutoff score are promoted if otherwise eligible.

Army SGT/SSG Promotion Snapshot

* Language specific MOS (97E and 98G) have announced cutoff scores by language identifier; therefore the PZ AVG / SZ AVG columns for these MOS are indicated by asterisks.

If the MOS is not listed, that means there were no promotions in that MOS/rank during the snapshot. Usually, that indicates an overmanned MOS
with little promotion opportunity.

Above information courtesy of the United States Army.