| In the Army National Guard, Field Grade Officer | | | | presented to a DA Promotion board on a specific |
| promotions happen two different ways. They are | | | | date. |
| known as: DA Boards & Vacancy Promotions. Let's | | | | Next, officers have the responsibility to ensure their |
| cover them in a little more detail below. | | | | packet is updated and current. They must get a new |
| Vacancy Promotions: In my opinion, vacancy | | | | DA Photo, ensure their DA Form 2-1 is accurate, and |
| promotions are the fastest and easiest way to get | | | | update their records to include awards, OERs, etc. |
| promoted in the Army National Guard. Here's how it | | | | Most promotion boards provide a checklist for the |
| works. Several months before you meet your | | | | officer to follow. |
| minimum time in grade requirements, you should seek | | | | On the day of the DA Promotion Board, the DA |
| a position in the next higher grade. | | | | Promotion Board reviews the packet of each |
| For instance, if you are a Major, you should begin | | | | candidate to ensure they meet minimum Army |
| looking for a Lieutenant Colonel slot once you have | | | | education standards, civilian education standards, |
| been a Major for at least three and a half years. | | | | APFT and Height/Weight Standards, etc. They also |
| That way, when you meet your minimum four year | | | | review the DA Photo to validate that it is accurate |
| time-in-grade requirements, you can submit a | | | | and current. Finally, they review the Officer Evaluation |
| state-level promotion packet. | | | | Reports to evaluate performance and potential. |
| At this point, your state will convene a promotion | | | | At the end of the DA Board, the DA Board publishes |
| board to review your packet. Once they approve | | | | the results. |
| your promotion, you will get a promotion order and | | | | In one respect the Active Duty Army and Army |
| your promotion packet gets forwarded to National | | | | National Guard handle promotions differently. In the |
| Guard Bureau to begin your Federal Recognition (FED | | | | Active Duty Army, you receive a sequence number |
| REC) process. The FED REC process takes 3-4 | | | | when you are selected at a DA Promotion Board. |
| months (normally). Once your FED REC process is | | | | Everyone is given a sequence number. A sequence |
| complete, you will receive a NGB (Federal) promotion | | | | number is similar to an Order of Merit List. The list |
| order. | | | | starts with #1 and ends with the last officer on the |
| Since you are already in a position in the next higher | | | | list. When their number comes up, they get |
| grade, you will get promoted. That's how simple it is. | | | | promoted. Also, the Army finds them a job in their |
| DA Promotion Board: Each year, the Department of | | | | next higher pay-grade. |
| the Army holds promotion boards for Army, Army | | | | Unfortunately, the Army National Guard handles |
| Reserve, and Army National Guard Officers. Each | | | | things differently. First of all, you do not get a |
| promotion board selects a group of officers based | | | | sequence number. You get a letter of selection for |
| upon their date of rank. For instance, the DA | | | | promotion, BUT you must still find a unit vacancy |
| Promotion Board might review Captains with a date | | | | within your state. If you can't get a slot, you won't |
| of rank between January 2005 and August 2006. | | | | get promoted. There are many officers who were |
| At this point, the Department of the Army identifies | | | | selected for promotion by a DA Promotion Board, |
| all officers that fall into that date of rank category. | | | | but never got promoted because they couldn't find a |
| Prior to the start of the board, officers are notified | | | | slot. |
| via mail and/or email that their packet will be | | | | |