Junior NCO promotions have collapsed — here’s the data, and why

[rangerrebew]

Junior NCO promotions have collapsed — here’s the data, and why
By Davis Winkie
 Mar 2, 08:05 AM

 
Promotable specialists, corporals and sergeants across the Army eagerly anticipate the release of promotion point cut-off scores each month.

It’s understandable. Earning enough points for promotion to sergeant or staff sergeant means more pay, more responsibility and more career opportunities.


Rank has its privileges, too. In most units, earning your stripes or first rocker means moving out of the barracks — many of which suffer from mold and maintenance problems — and escaping mandatory meal deductions from paychecks.

But the past three months’ cut-offs combined for the lowest quarterly promotion rates for both sergeant and staff sergeant since 2019, according to an Army Times analysis of Human Resources Command data.

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-army/2023/03/02/junior-nco-promotions-have-collapsed-heres-the-data-and-why/

[Maj. Bill Martin]

The article -- or more likely the Army itself -- is rather vague on the precise impact of the data/platform issues, which definitely sucks.  Not getting promoted because of computer glitches sucks.

But it also makes sense that when recruiting is poor, retention becomes key, and there just aren't as many open NCO slots.  And with fewer E-1 through E-3, you don't need as many noncoms.