Once in, how does promotion work?

NV_USMA_Mom

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Since the summer, there have been parents of cadets saying how their cadet had been promoted and/or received medals of service. A parent group moderator says that cadets can be promoted at the end of the year after certain benchmarks are met/achieved. Can anyone explain how and when promotions are done (ie. are they based on the academic/physical/military criteria or are there others?). Do cadets earn medals for marksmanship, leadership, service, etc.?

Thanks!
 
Since the summer, there have been parents of cadets saying how their cadet had been promoted and/or received medals of service. A parent group moderator says that cadets can be promoted at the end of the year after certain benchmarks are met/achieved. Can anyone explain how and when promotions are done (ie. are they based on the academic/physical/military criteria or are there others?). Do cadets earn medals for marksmanship, leadership, service, etc.?

Thanks!

As long as a cadet is in good standing, he will be promoted. In fact I can't think of a case where a cadet was not, though perhaps America's Finest can give an example.
 
Everyone is promoted at graduation day (rising yearlings also receive a promotion at the end of CFT in addition to this). In addition to these automatic promotions, you can get promoted to the rank of your position if you receive a higher position (such as first captain).

As a general rule:

Plebes - No stripes
Yearlings - 1 stripe
Cows - 2 stripes (may have a diamond or star)
Firsties - 3-6 stripes

Everyone will be the exact same rank until Cow year. At this point, the majority will have the general rank for the class (2 for cows and 3 for firsties). During this time, leadership positions rotate every semester (with the exception of the highest leadership such as the First Captain which keeps his position all year).

As far as awards, there are cadet awards for academics, military, and physical performance. If a cadet exceeds the bar (ie >3.67 GPA) then they are authorized wear of that award.

Military awards are earned through the completion of certain military schools during the Summer such as Airborne and are always authorized for wear upon completion (even after graduation) while cadet awards are only authorized as a cadet.

As long as a cadet is in good standing, he will be promoted. In fact I can't think of a case where a cadet was not, though perhaps America's Finest can give an example.

I have not heard of any instances where one isn't promoted. Obviously, you can get demoted for serious infractions. Those are all usually alcohol related. The only time I really know of a promotion not happening is if the cadet has to repeat a year again.
 
Military awards are earned through the completion of certain military schools during the Summer such as Airborne and are always authorized for wear upon completion (even after graduation) while cadet awards are only authorized as a cadet.

Great rundown!

The only further point I would make is that the devices worn for completion of schools are not considered awards. They are skill badges, and indicate an additional military skill. For enlisted soldiers, the ASI (additional skill identifier) or SQI (skill qualification identifier) is appended onto their MOS. So an infantryman (MOS 11B) would, upon completion of airborne school, become an 11B1P as P is the SQI for parachutist. If he completed air assault instead, he would be a 11B1B, as B is the ASI for air assault.

Officers do not get an ASI or SQI added their AOC (branch code) but it will be reflected on their ORB.

So, in short, anything with an ASI or SQI is a skill device. Awards are pretty much everything else, with a few exceptions.
 
Great rundown!

Thanks! :thumb:

I forgot to add, since cadets are legally considered active duty, they all receive the National Defense Service ribbon (for joining the army during a time of war). This is the yellow and red ribbon you see most cadets have. It is usually handed out to the Plebes shortly after recognition.
 
Thanks, AF and scoutpilot! I appreciate your responses. There is so much to learn and my cadet doesn't appreciate me asking. :wink:
 
What about expert rifle in Beast, can a plebe wear that badge?
 
No, officers do not wear marksmanship badges ever. It is an enlisted skill device only.

Is that a solid rule? I always thought officers simply didn't wear it as a rule of thumb but technically they would be allowed if they wished. I have seen a few officers wearing them before (not at USMA, but in other posts). It has been pretty rare though.
 
Is that a solid rule? I always thought officers simply didn't wear it as a rule of thumb but technically they would be allowed if they wished. I have seen a few officers wearing them before (not at USMA, but in other posts). It has been pretty rare though.

No, I don't believe it's in a regulation. It's one of those officer protocol issues. Personally, I have never seen an officer wear one, ever. Technically you cannot wear a badge that is not reflected in your ORB and your OMPF. Officers are not awarded the badge in an official capacity, and thus the badge will not appear anywhere in an officer's record.
 
No, I don't believe it's in a regulation. It's one of those officer protocol issues. Personally, I have never seen an officer wear one, ever. Technically you cannot wear a badge that is not reflected in your ORB and your OMPF. Officers are not awarded the badge in an official capacity, and thus the badge will not appear anywhere in an officer's record.

All the cases have been officers who were prior enlisted. That clears things up though. :thumb:
 
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