Where Are They Now?

Nice little pay bump: both a rank increase and over 2 years, or "O-2 over 2." See DFAS pay tables.

http://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/payentitlements/military-pay-charts.html

Promotion to O-2 and 0-3 is generally "fog-a-mirror" with CO's check in the "recommend for promotion" block, with promotion usually occurring on or about commissioning anniversary, at years 2 and 4.

Promotions to O-4 and beyond are board competitions, with selection percentages dropping significantly with each succeeding rank.

Nice to see the progression.
Well said. I don't know about other services, but the Army is currently looking at a 60% promotion rate to O-4 for this board.
 
Unfortunately I wasn't good at fogging the mirror, I guess! ;)

LITS, I have always thought the fog temp on USCG and USMC mirrors was set higher, due to smaller force size and high retention, driving selection rates lower, even in the non-board ranks. It's generally true by the time of O-5 promotion, that USNA Marine classmates get promoted a year after Navy classmates.
 
LITS, I have always thought the fog temp on USCG and USMC mirrors was set higher, due to smaller force size and high retention, driving selection rates lower, even in the non-board ranks. It's generally true by the time of O-5 promotion, that USNA Marine classmates get promoted a year after Navy classmates.

I don't know about higher, but definitely slower. I got selected for Captain over a year ago now with about 1/3 - 1/2 of my class (on the FY 16 board) but am so far down the list it'll be winter or later before I actually pick up.
The rest of my classmates got selected on the FY 17 board a few weeks ago. At the rate promotions are going they'll be at almost 5 years TIS before making Captain.
Everyone is still getting promoted (something like 96% selection), just very slowly.
 
My year group pinned on at exactly 5 years for USMC while my USN friends pinned at exactly 4 for O-3. I watched Army guys during this time pin O-3 with just over 3 years during this time too. We also had augmentation during this time and selection was around 75%. Then next few year groups pinned at 4. Looks like it has slowed again. My Marine year group pinned O-4 right around 1-2 years after Navy guys. We had a few early selects on the USN side to O-4. Now at O-5 the gap is bigger. It ranges from 2+ years in USN getting selected from USMC.
 
I will second (or third?) Hurricane and NavyHoops comments on USMC promotions. 30+ years ago it took 5+ years to get to O-3 Captain in the USMC. Army and Navy were much faster in those days. Looks like it hasn't changed much. I don't recall the details but I would guess 95% selection (I know it wasn't 100%).
 
It all depends how fast people are dying or quitting. I pinned at 38 months during the surge. Kids are pinning 48-60 months now, depending on sequence number.

I pinned O-4 at 9 yrs 11 months. A primary zone pinning takes 11 years now.
 
LITS, I have always thought the fog temp on USCG and USMC mirrors was set higher, due to smaller force size and high retention, driving selection rates lower, even in the non-board ranks. It's generally true by the time of O-5 promotion, that USNA Marine classmates get promoted a year after Navy classmates.

In reality, the reason I didn't do better rests squarely on my shoulders. But things certainly worked out for the best, and I wouldn't change what I do now.
 
Pinned on Capt (USMC) exactly at the 4-year mark.

Classmates just pinning on Col (USMC) now; proud to say I went to USNA & TBS with many of the FY-17 Col Selectees. Comforting knowing that our Corps and country are in good hands.

Me, I did the "5 & Dive" after a horrible last year on recruiting duty. I'm definitely neither a salesman nor a sales manager.

Did the corporate America gig and caught the bubble in the early yet as of the telecom explosion. Left corporate America as a middle management casualty of a large merger.

Wound up as a fireman in my hometown and haven't looked back. Promoted to Lieutenant then Captain, now I have my own firehouse and firetruck!

BEAT ARMY!
 
It's been abou 11 months since I last updated, when DS was just about to begin Ranger School after graduating from IBOLC. He managed to go straight through without recycling, graduated, and did get an Airborne school slot. He graduated, and made it to his first unit (Hawaii) in May, picked up a platoon pretty quickly, and is enjoying life as a PL. He pinned O2 yesterday, so is no longer a cherry LT.

The best part is, he flew home and surprised me for Thanksgiving! It's great to have everyone home for the holiday. We're visiting him in Hawaii for Christmas, so that'll be great too. Hope everyone on the board here is enjoying their day!
 
Are they still promoting to O2 at 18 months for the Army.

Apparently so, since he was promoted. If you went on AD prior to Oct. 1, you were promoted the 23rd. After Oct 1 I think it's next May, so BOLC date dependent.
 
I joined when we were living in Jakarta, my husband had just died, and #1 DS was applying to USMA 2016. He was accepted and graduated into Cyber and is doing a masters at NPS. I used to correspond with BillSL who was also applying from overseas--and I know he got accepted and started. #3 DS feels called to serve like his mom and dad and brother and grandpa, etc...and is applying to schools now. We will see where he ends up-with the death and the move back to the States, he walked a hard road--and only when he was rejected from SLE and attended USMC SLCDA did he realize he was not going to make it if he didn't pull it together as a junior and senior--he did well, but you simply cannot make up for a wasted freshman year. I left the Pentagon (which was like a service academy PTA...just saying) and am teaching your kids at the military's medical school now...if you or your kids have any questions about USU, i am very happy to answer them.
 
Are they still promoting to O2 at 18 months for the Army.

Yes. For ROTC grads (excluding those that start AD the same month as USMA graduation) it is 18 months from the day you started AD or 24 months from the day you commissioned, whichever is sooner.
 
Guess I'll do a quick update.

Younger son has completed IERW (Primary Flight Training) at Ft. Rucker, his class had only 2 Chinooks and the rest Blackhawk Mikes at selection, son will be flying Blackhawks. Right now he is nearing the end of a 2 month hold and will start the Blackhawk course Dec. 6th.

Older son left Hawaii and the 2-6 CAV back in August. He made it through CA Selection and was selected. Now he is back at Ft. Bragg on the downhill slope of SOFCCC, he'll have about a 3 month hold before he starts the CA course and the Language School, his branch transfer will be complete when he finishes his very long CA training. He bought a house in Aberdeen NC and after a 4 year long distance relationship, his girlfriend finally lives in the same zip code (Same house really).
 
Congrats to both. The M model is a fantastic machine. Gone are the days of "steam gauges" for him! Hopefully your other son is happy with the CA route. A very rewarding career field.

We had our baby. She turns 4 months on Friday. She's the best thing on earth, and somehow sleeps 11 hours a night...though naps are not her thing. I'll probably be leaving the Army next summer to pursue some other opportunities.
 
Congrats to both. The M model is a fantastic machine. Gone are the days of "steam gauges" for him! Hopefully your other son is happy with the CA route. A very rewarding career field.

We had our baby. She turns 4 months on Friday. She's the best thing on earth, and somehow sleeps 11 hours a night...though naps are not her thing. I'll probably be leaving the Army next summer to pursue some other opportunities.

Congratulations again, and on the lucky sleep schedule. The memories are just beginning.

Son seems very happy with his choice of CA.
 
DS graduated with Distinction from Nuclear Power School in Goose Creek, SC earlier this month. He was able to come home for a few days then drove to Saratoga Springs, NY where he moved into a house with 3 Ensigns he met at NPS. He reports today; we fully expect he will be stuck in a backlog and don't know yet what he will be doing in the meantime. Summer in Charleston, winter in New York; at least he grew up in cold, snowy Michigan and has the clothes for it!
 
Congrats to both. The M model is a fantastic machine. Gone are the days of "steam gauges" for him! Hopefully your other son is happy with the CA route. A very rewarding career field.

We had our baby. She turns 4 months on Friday. She's the best thing on earth, and somehow sleeps 11 hours a night...though naps are not her thing. I'll probably be leaving the Army next summer to pursue some other opportunities.

Congrats Scout, that's great news! How many years do you have in now?
 
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