got promoted july 1st...

[V]

yea, on july 1st i found out i had recieved the rank of PFC. Due to having off the 3rd-the7th and only being back at work on the 8th, thats when i found out there was a ceremony on the 3rd where all the people who advanced were pinned, and well like i said since i had off, no one bothered calling me to tell me about it. So today, i finally started wearing my new rank. 2 others in my platoon also got promoted and to be honest i think thats total BS. First off, i think it took way too long for my unit to promote me. I have just shy of 11 months in service and all those in rank as well, PV2. Automatic promotion is at 1 year time in service. so with the waiver i apparently got, i got it only like 45 days earlier. big whoop. I was first tld i was getting a waiver back in March... so yeah im a little annoyed. Also those 2 others that got promoted, do NOT deserve the waivers. They are stupid and dont know what it means to be a soldier. its so irritaiting. Keep in mind i'm in a distribution unit(distro) and mainly drive trucks, we arent mechanices though, yet im the only one with a mechanics backgroud. I've went above and beyond my job duties several times by fixing stuff when we were in a pinch, yet those higher up dont know nor care. Ive brought my feelings up to my one Sgt and he kinda agrees but has no control of that. I am however gonna be working really hard and making it known i want my waiver to E4(specialist) as soon as im eligable(at 8 months from now). And if that happens, i'm hoping to get my SGT stripes right when we return from deployment. All my immediate Sgts know how hard i work and are pretty sure i'll be on the fast track to being an NCO, (Sgt: non-commissioned officer) around my 2.5 year mark in the service. but as of right now i still annoyed i can't pull rank just yet over these morons in my platoon....

[69BirdX]

Congrats on the promotion and hope you see more soon. Sorry to hear about the problems im sure you derserve alot more. I think its a goverment issue. Politics play a big role unfortanatley.

[SteveR]

Congrats on the promotion!!! Dont worry about everybody else, focus on what it takes to move up.

[johnjzjz]

state side rank is tough to get early - among other things its a money thing for the most part ( budget )- once you are deployed and have a permanent job assignment and you shine so to speak it is a lot easer to end up being promoted - also critical MOSs get rank first their is a quota at play -- jz

[BonzoHansen]

Congrats on the promotion!!! Dont worry about everybody else, focus on what it takes to move up.

+1 on that!

[Tru2Chevy]

Congrats Paul, and like the others said. Pay no mind to the morons....

- Justin

[Untamed]

Paul,

I know advice is like ******** and opinions - everyone has one. But consider this for your military career:

1. No one will wave your flag for you. Keep on your platoon seargent and make sure he knows what you're doing. Most people take the humble side and hope others will notice - they wont. You don't have to be arrogant about it, but make sure they know you are busting your ass. The goal here is...

2. ... getting into PLDC. Find out from your platoon leader (Lieutenant) if there are any E5 (SGT) slots available. Tell your LT you are gunning for it and wanna know what it'll take to get to the top of the list in your unity. Be candid, don't be shy or humble. Make it look like you're ready for PLDC BEFORE you get deployed, that way you either get the E5 before deployment, or right after since you'll have the schooling.

3. The idea of "pulling rank" really doesn't happen until you get your SGT stripes. Below E5, everyone is a grunt and expected to be manual labor whenever needed. If you're a PFC and you are among 3 PV2's, you're looked at as one of them, by the higher-ups. If someone needs a detail formed out of your group without a SGT leading, you might be seen as the detail lead, but that's no big deal. Concentrate on 1 and 2 above, don't sweat the ranks below E5.

Good luck man and congrats on the delayed promotion.

[Fleetwiz]

Congrats and Thanks for your service to our great country.

[JL8Jeff]

Way to go Paul! :clap:

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