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Rocky C
05-15-16, 06:04 PM
Promotions to staff sergeant are set to drop 14 percent compared to last year’s numbers as post-drawdown promotions begin to level off.

Sergeants who hope to pin on a rocker will compete for 3,492 slots this year. That's down from the 4,072 spots available this time last year — the highest number since before the start of the drawdown — but still better than 2,966 available in 2014.

This year’s opportunities cross 143 military occupational specialties. The number of Marines who pick up staff sergeant could fluctuate slightly when the board convenes at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, for roughly nine weeks beginning July 13.


Similarly, the Corps looks to promote 1,696 Marines to gunny this year. This is an 8 percent drop from the 2,047 promoted last year, but far better than the 1,129 promoted in 2014. During the drawdown, gunnery sergeant promotions averaged around 1,400. That selection board kicked off April 20 and is expected to last eight weeks.

Infantry unit leaders have 244 allocations, the highest number of any MOS this year. Grunts had 350 slots last year, but only 131 in 2014. Remaining MOSs with triple-digit allocations include:


•Administrative specialist: 177 spots.
•Cyber networks systems chief: 170 spots.
•Radio chief: 152 spots.
•Motor-transport operations chief: 135 spots.
•Ground electronics systems maintenance technician: 108 spots.
•Logistics/embarkation specialist: 104 spots.

Thirteen MOSs are closed. Six of those are various aircraft mechanics for the EA-6 Prowler, and have been closed for the past three years as that aircraft flies into the sunset. Two others are aircraft mechanics for the F-35B joint strike fighter, which have also been closed since 2014 as that aircraft gets up to speed.

Aviation meteorological equipment technician, which was closed in 2014, remains so. Cryogenics equipment operators and packaging specialists remain closed for a second year, while combat photographer and tactical systems operator/mission specialist were added to the closed list this year.


Manpower officials emphasized the individual responsibility of each Marine to ensure the accuracy and completeness of their official military personnel file and master brief sheet before promotion board convenes.

Marines can audit their records on the Manpower Management Division's website. If Marines find errors or omissions, manpower officials say they should visit their career counselor.

The service limitation for sergeant is 10 years or two failed selections to staff sergeant. Service contracts are honored regardless of service limitation constraints.

There are two areas that can quickly throw a wrench in your promotion: photographs or incomplete professional military education requirements. The latter will play a larger role in promotions beginning this year. All eligible sergeants must have PME requirements completed prior to July 12 or they will be considered not qualified for promotion. This includes completion of sergeants course on MarineNet followed by the resident version of the class.

Details on the staff sergeant promotion board are outlined in Marine administrative message 250/16, which was released Thursday.

SGT7477
05-15-16, 06:53 PM
Well I know I fooked up could have been a SSgt under 5, been a SgtMajor before Troop was Potty trained, chit he was eating doughnuts before a month old,lmfao, Semper Fidelis.