DA Promotion Board Vs Vacancy Promotion - Field Grade Officer Promotion Tips

By Charles Holmes

Job Vacancy Indonesia, Employee, Vacancy 

In the Army National Guard, Field Grade Officer promotions happen two different ways. They are known as: DA Boards & Vacancy Promotions. Let's cover them in a little more detail below.

Vacancy Promotions: In my opinion, vacancy promotions are the fastest and easiest way to get promoted in the Army National Guard. Here's how it works. Several months before you meet your minimum time in grade requirements, you should seek a position in the next higher grade.

For instance, if you are a Major, you should begin looking for a Lieutenant Colonel slot once you have been a Major for at least three and a half years. That way, when you meet your minimum four year time-in-grade requirements, you can submit a state-level promotion packet.

At this point, your state will convene a promotion board to review your packet. Once they approve your promotion, you will get a promotion order and your promotion packet gets forwarded to National Guard Bureau to begin your Federal Recognition (FED REC) process. The FED REC process takes 3-4 months (normally). Once your FED REC process is complete, you will receive a NGB (Federal) promotion order.

Since you are already in a position in the next higher grade, you will get promoted. That's how simple it is.

DA Promotion Board: Each year, the Department of the Army holds promotion boards for Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard Officers. Each promotion board selects a group of officers based upon their date of rank. For instance, the DA Promotion Board might review Captains with a date of rank between January 2005 and August 2006.

At this point, the Department of the Army identifies all officers that fall into that date of rank category. Prior to the start of the board, officers are notified via mail and/or email that their packet will be presented to a DA Promotion board on a specific date.

Next, officers have the responsibility to ensure their packet is updated and current. They must get a new DA Photo, ensure their DA Form 2-1 is accurate, and update their records to include awards, OERs, etc. Most promotion boards provide a checklist for the officer to follow.

On the day of the DA Promotion Board, the DA Promotion Board reviews the packet of each candidate to ensure they meet minimum Army education standards, civilian education standards, APFT and Height/Weight Standards, etc. They also review the DA Photo to validate that it is accurate and current. Finally, they review the Officer Evaluation Reports to evaluate performance and potential.

At the end of the DA Board, the DA Board publishes the results.

In one respect the Active Duty Army and Army National Guard handle promotions differently. In the Active Duty Army, you receive a sequence number when you are selected at a DA Promotion Board. Everyone is given a sequence number. A sequence number is similar to an Order of Merit List. The list starts with #1 and ends with the last officer on the list. When their number comes up, they get promoted. Also, the Army finds them a job in their next higher pay-grade.

Unfortunately, the Army National Guard handles things differently. First of all, you do not get a sequence number. You get a letter of selection for promotion, BUT you must still find a unit vacancy within your state. If you can't get a slot, you won't get promoted. There are many officers who were selected for promotion by a DA Promotion Board, but never got promoted because they couldn't find a slot.