What is a lance corporal minimum time in grade?
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E-4 Noncommissioned Officer, U.S. Marine Corps Marine Corps Ranks » Corporal Rank • Cpl Pay • Cpl Rank History • Promotion Information Show
Marine Corps Promotion to E-4 CorporalA Corporal is a Noncommissioned Officer in the United States Marine Corps at DoD paygrade E-4. This page describes how the Marine Corps determines who is eligible for the promotion list to Corporal. To promote to E-4, a Marine must have spent a minimum of eight months as an E-3 and twelve months overall in the Corps. Each quarter, eligible Marines are reviewed for promotion. Marines are ranked based on a composite score, which is based on performance reviews, schools, marksmanship scores, physical fitness test results, time-in-grade, time-in-service, self-education, referrals, collateral duties, and more. There is a fixed number of slots for each rank of each MOS. Promotion depends on availability of these slots. Technical MOSs sometimes promote slightly faster than non-technical MOSs. If a Marine repeatedly fails to promote, they are presented with the options of separation or switching MOSs. Truly exceptional Marines have an opportunity to be meritoriously promoted by their Commanding Officer, if there is a vacancy within the unit. Want to learn more? Read about the Marine Corps' Corporal rank on Military-Ranks.org. Accession Number:ADA509354Title:Descriptive Note:Issue paperCorporate Author:MARINE CORPS COMMAND AND STAFF COLL QUANTICO VAReport Date:2005-02-01Pagination or Media Count:11.0Abstract:Liberty is sounded for all NCOs non-commissioned officers and hashed marked PFCs private first class E-2. The first edition of the Handbook for Marine NCOs uses this quote to illustrate the importance of the hash mark as a sign of seniority and experience. The quote has been banished to the lore of the old Corps as Marines are promoted much quicker today and the importance and prestige of the hash mark has diminished over time. The promotion rates for junior Marines is much quicker today then it was when hash marks were the coveted symbol of a salty non-NCO. As late as the early 1990s though, it was still not uncommon to see a Lance Corporal, E-3, wearing a hash mark symbolizing at least four years of service. Today with quicker promotions, a Lance Corporal with a hash mark is considered to be a less than a stellar Marine or a troubled young Marine who was not promoted with his peers. Many Marines today are promoted to Sergeant, E-5, before reaching the four years time in service. Currently the minimum time in grade for a lance corporal to be eligible for promotion to corporal, E-4, is only eight months. To preserve the prestige of the NCO ranks, the Marine Corps needs to adopt a rank structure similar to the Army model which reflects two separate grades for E-4, one for the current grade of corporal and another that is a non-NCO.Distribution Statement:APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASEImage by Melissa Ling. © The Balance 2018 The Marine Corps handles advancement based on its needs. Making advanced ranks in the Marines goes strictly by the numbers needed in the higher ranks. In the Marines, an E-4 (Corporal) has to earn his stripes and added responsibility, however, the promotions to the ranks of E-2 and E-3 are pretty automatic, barring any serious offense. Promotions to E-4 and above are competitive and are based on specific vacancies within the Marine Corps’ jobs. The Marine Corps takes the number of slots it has for each enlisted rank above the rank of E-3 and allocates them to the different enlisted jobs. In order to promote someone above the rank of E-3, there must be a vacancy. For example, if an E-9 retires in a certain military occupational specialty (or MOS, what the Marines call their jobs), that means that one E-8 can be promoted to E-9, and that opens an E-8 slot, so one E-7 can be promoted to E-8, and so forth. The enlisted ranks are the following:
Decentralized Promotions in the Marines (E-2 and E-3)Under decentralized promotion system, the unit, or company, is the promotion authority. In theory, the commander decides who gets promoted and who doesn't. In actuality, because there are no quotas for promotion for E-2s and E-3s, commanders pretty much promote everyone who meets the criteria, barring any egregious violations. The promotion criteria are set by the Marine Corps to ensure that the promotion flow remains stable, and everyone (regardless of MOS) can expect to be promoted in the same (approximate) time-frame. Marine Corps Promotion CriteriaThe promotion criteria for promotion to the ranks of E-2 to E-3 are:
The promotions to E-4 and above in the Marine Corps are competitive. That means there are only so many "vacancies" in each grade (above E-3) in each MOS (job).
For E-6 through E-9 promotions, the Commandant of the Marine Corps convenes a promotion board once per year. In order to be eligible to be considered for promotion by the board, Marines must meet the following Time-in-Service (TIS) and Time-in-Grade (TIG) requirements:
The Difference in the USMC E-8 (Master Sergeant and First Sergeant)Master Sergeants and First Sergeants in the Marine Corps are paid the same (both are E-8s). However, the First Sergeant has a much larger degree of authority and responsibility. The First Sergeant wears special rank (with a diamond) and is the top enlisted leader in the unit. First sergeants work directly for the unit commander and are responsible for the morale, welfare, and discipline of all of the enlisted members assigned to the unit. When you are an E-7 Gunnery Sergeant you will indicate on your proficiency reports whether you wish to be considered for promotion as a Master Sergeant or as a First Sergeant. Professional Military Education (PME)In addition to the Time-in-Service and Time-in-Grade requirements, NCO's must complete designated Professional Military Education (PME) courses in order to be eligible for promotion:
Successful completion of Drill Instructor, Recruiter or Marine Security Guard school in the grades of corporal through gunnery sergeant can replace the requirement to complete resident PME courses, including the SNCO Advanced Resident course, provided the Marine has also completed the appropriate nonresident program. How the Promotion Board WorksThe Marine Corps Promotion Board takes all the selectees (without regard to MOS), and gives them a promotion sequence number, which is assigned according to seniority. For example, if it's the E-7 list, the Marines will give the lowest sequence number (0001) to the E-7 selected with the most time-in-grade as an E-6. Each month, for the next 12 months, the Marines will then release the sequence numbers of those to be promoted during that month. This ensures a smooth promotion flow for the following 12 months when the next board will meet and do everything all over again. Meritorious Promotions in the MarinesIn addition to the normal promotion system and below-the-zone early promotions, commanders can promote a very few, outstanding Marines via the Meritorious Promotion System. Marines can be promoted up to the rank of E-8 under this system. Promotions to the rank of First Sergeant (E-8), however, cannot be made by meritorious promotion. Additionally, meritorious promotions to Master Sergeant (E-8) are limited to Marines in the Drill Instructor and Recruiter of the Year Programs. There are only minimum Time-in-Grade (TIG) requirements for meritorious promotions. They are the following:
Meritorious promotions are not used as rewards or when a personal commendation/award is appropriate. A meritorious promotion is based entirely on the Marine’s demonstrated capability to discharge the responsibilities and duties of the higher grade in a satisfactory manner. Combat Meritorious Promotion ProgramCommanding generals may award combat meritorious promotions to Private First Class (E-2) through Sergeant (E-5) in numbers that do not exceed the quarterly meritorious promotion allocations established by the Marine Corps Commandant's Office. In the cases of Sergeants (E-5) and Staff Sergeants (E-6), commanding generals make recommendations to the Commandant's office who approve or disapprove the recommendations for combat meritorious promotion based on meritorious action and performance in combat or performance under combat conditions. Determination of eligibility for promotion will be based on the command’s recommendation, combat performance, and past military record. Promotion AveragesHow long does it take to get promoted in the Marine Corps? Remember, it's dependent on the particular MOS (job) and how many vacancies there are in that job. On average, one can expect to be promoted with the following time-in-service:
How long does it take to get Lance Corporal?On average, one can expect to be promoted with the following time-in-service: Private First Class (E-2) - 6 months. Lance Corporal (E-3) - 14 months. Corporal (E-4) - 26 months.
What is a Lance Corporal's minimum time in grade requirement for regular promotion to sergeant?Current policy states a corporal must have 12 months TIG during any month within the quarter before being eligible for promotion selection to sergeant.
What is a Lance Corporal minimum time in service for Sgt?For promotion to Sergeant, current policy states that a Corporal must have 24 months TIS before being eligible for promotion to Sergeant. Effective 1 January 2020, a Corporal will be required to have 48 months TIS before being eligible for promotion to Sergeant. There will be no waiver of the TIS requirement.
What is a private's minimum time in grade requirement for regular promotion to Private First Class?Marines who have served for six months on active duty in the grade of private (Pvt) may be promoted to private first class (PFC) if the Marine's service has been satisfactory (as determined by the commander).
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