As with any civilian job, Army officers must meet specified criteria in order to be eligible for the promotion. The Department of Defense calls for a given number of officers based on manpower needs and skill requirements for each category and grade.
So what is the career path for an Army officer? Here are some of the criteria and requirements that need to be met to be considered for a promotion.
Army Officer Candidate School
This is a 12-week program for enlisted soldiers, civilian college graduates and direct commission candidates (which include doctors and chaplains). Those who complete Officer Candidate School (OCS) become commissioned officers upon graduation and must serve at least three years on active duty following graduation.
The Army’s Officer Candidate School is located at Fort Benning in Georgia. Roughly 70 percent of enlisted candidates and 60 percent of those accepted overall successfully complete Army OCS.
Time in Grade and Time in Service
Two of the biggest factors influencing officer promotions are the time in service (TIS) and time in grade (TIG). Time in service is the total time in which someone is in the Army. An officer must spend a given amount of time in each grade prior to advancement to the next and he or she typically can’t skip grades.
Time in grade refers to the number of months or years in which an officer serves in a given rank (lieutenant, major, general, etc.)
The minimum TIG requirements for promotion to the next higher grade is shown in the table below.
Promote to: Time in Service Time in Grade Promotion Opportunity (DODI)
First lieutenant/O2 18 months 18 months Fully qualified
Captain/O3 4 years plus 1 year 2 years Best qualified (90 percent)
Major/O4 10 years +/- 1year 3 years Best qualified (80 percent)
Lieutenant Colonel/O5 16 years +/- 1 year 3 years Best qualified (70 percent)
Colonel/O6 22 years +/- 1 year 3 years Best qualified (50 percent)
Army Officer Categories
Officers in the same competitive category will compete among themselves for promotions. Changes in authorizations, losses, and promotions to the next higher grade will create variations in both the TIS and TIG when these promotions may occur.
The promotion timings are expressed in terms of the years of Active Federal Commissioned Service at which promotion occurs. The promotion opportunity is the percentage of total selects over the eligible in-the-zone population.
Different Types of Promotion Opportunities
There are three promotion opportunities in all branches of the U.S. military: Below-the-Zone, In-the-Zone, and Above-the-Zone.
Below-the-Zone only applies for promotion to the rank of O-4 (Major) to O-6 (Colonel). One year before they would be eligible for In-the-Zone consideration, about 10 percent of those recommended can be promoted Below-the-Zone.
Most promotions occur In-the-Zone. The selection rate for Above-the-Zone is only about 3 percent.
Two other significant factors in officers promotions are fitness reports and the nature of their current and past assignments. A poor fitness report may mean being passed over for promotion. An officer whose previous assignments didn’t have a significant degree of responsibility may also be passed over.
Promotions to O-7 Brigadier General and Above
For promotions beyond O-6, Army officers typically have to complete a full tour in a joint duty assignment with the Marines, Navy, Coast Guard or Air Force.
Grade Army Officer
O-7 Brigadier General
O-8 Major General
O-9 Lieutenant General
O-10 General
And just like the other branches of the service, the mandatory retirement age for Army officers is 62 (which can be waived to 64 in some circumstances).
Military Commissioned Officer Promotions
Air Force Enlisted Promotions Made Simple
Maximum Age to Become an Officer in the Military
Army Officer Candidate School (OCS) Enlistment Option
Preparing For Army Officer Training
Army Sergeant and Staff Sergeant Promotion Requirements
USMC Enlisted Promotions Made Simple
Army Enlisted Rank Promotion System Breakdown
The Best Career Paths for an Army Officer
Navy Limited Duty Officer Selection Program
Enlisted Promotions Made Simple
Being an Army General
Army Warrant Officer Job Overview
Military Enlisted Promotions: Can You Rank Up During Deployment?
Air Force Senior Airman (E-4) Below the Zone Promotions
Air Force Enlisted Rank (Insignia) History
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As with any civilian job, Army officers must meet specified criteria in order to be eligible for the promotion. The Department of Defense calls for a given number of officers based on manpower needs and skill requirements for each category and grade.
So what is the career path for an Army officer? Here are some of the criteria and requirements that need to be met to be considered for a promotion.
Army Officer Candidate School
This is a 12-week program for enlisted soldiers, civilian college graduates and direct commission candidates (which include doctors and chaplains). Those who complete Officer Candidate School (OCS) become commissioned officers upon graduation and must serve at least three years on active duty following graduation.
The Army’s Officer Candidate School is located at Fort Benning in Georgia. Roughly 70 percent of enlisted candidates and 60 percent of those accepted overall successfully complete Army OCS.
Time in Grade and Time in Service
Two of the biggest factors influencing officer promotions are the time in service (TIS) and time in grade (TIG). Time in service is the total time in which someone is in the Army. An officer must spend a given amount of time in each grade prior to advancement to the next and he or she typically can’t skip grades.
Time in grade refers to the number of months or years in which an officer serves in a given rank (lieutenant, major, general, etc.)
The minimum TIG requirements for promotion to the next higher grade is shown in the table below.
Promote to: Time in Service Time in Grade Promotion Opportunity (DODI)
First lieutenant/O2 18 months 18 months Fully qualified
Captain/O3 4 years plus 1 year 2 years Best qualified (90 percent)
Major/O4 10 years +/- 1year 3 years Best qualified (80 percent)
Lieutenant Colonel/O5 16 years +/- 1 year 3 years Best qualified (70 percent)
Colonel/O6 22 years +/- 1 year 3 years Best qualified (50 percent)
Army Officer Categories
Officers in the same competitive category will compete among themselves for promotions. Changes in authorizations, losses, and promotions to the next higher grade will create variations in both the TIS and TIG when these promotions may occur.
The promotion timings are expressed in terms of the years of Active Federal Commissioned Service at which promotion occurs. The promotion opportunity is the percentage of total selects over the eligible in-the-zone population.
Different Types of Promotion Opportunities
There are three promotion opportunities in all branches of the U.S. military: Below-the-Zone, In-the-Zone, and Above-the-Zone.
Below-the-Zone only applies for promotion to the rank of O-4 (Major) to O-6 (Colonel). One year before they would be eligible for In-the-Zone consideration, about 10 percent of those recommended can be promoted Below-the-Zone.
Most promotions occur In-the-Zone. The selection rate for Above-the-Zone is only about 3 percent.
Two other significant factors in officers promotions are fitness reports and the nature of their current and past assignments. A poor fitness report may mean being passed over for promotion. An officer whose previous assignments didn’t have a significant degree of responsibility may also be passed over.
Promotions to O-7 Brigadier General and Above
For promotions beyond O-6, Army officers typically have to complete a full tour in a joint duty assignment with the Marines, Navy, Coast Guard or Air Force.
Grade Army Officer
O-7 Brigadier General
O-8 Major General
O-9 Lieutenant General
O-10 General
And just like the other branches of the service, the mandatory retirement age for Army officers is 62 (which can be waived to 64 in some circumstances).
Military Commissioned Officer Promotions
Air Force Enlisted Promotions Made Simple
Maximum Age to Become an Officer in the Military
Army Officer Candidate School (OCS) Enlistment Option
Preparing For Army Officer Training
Army Sergeant and Staff Sergeant Promotion Requirements
USMC Enlisted Promotions Made Simple
Army Enlisted Rank Promotion System Breakdown
The Best Career Paths for an Army Officer
Navy Limited Duty Officer Selection Program
Enlisted Promotions Made Simple
Being an Army General
Army Warrant Officer Job Overview
Military Enlisted Promotions: Can You Rank Up During Deployment?
Air Force Senior Airman (E-4) Below the Zone Promotions
Air Force Enlisted Rank (Insignia) History
Home
Entertainment
Careers
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Humor
About Us Advertise Careers Privacy Policy Editorial Guidelines Contact Terms of Use EU Privacy
LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.
When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies
As with any civilian job, Army officers must meet specified criteria in order to be eligible for the promotion. The Department of Defense calls for a given number of officers based on manpower needs and skill requirements for each category and grade.
So what is the career path for an Army officer? Here are some of the criteria and requirements that need to be met to be considered for a promotion.
Army Officer Candidate School
This is a 12-week program for enlisted soldiers, civilian college graduates and direct commission candidates (which include doctors and chaplains). Those who complete Officer Candidate School (OCS) become commissioned officers upon graduation and must serve at least three years on active duty following graduation.
The Army’s Officer Candidate School is located at Fort Benning in Georgia. Roughly 70 percent of enlisted candidates and 60 percent of those accepted overall successfully complete Army OCS.
Time in Grade and Time in Service
Two of the biggest factors influencing officer promotions are the time in service (TIS) and time in grade (TIG). Time in service is the total time in which someone is in the Army. An officer must spend a given amount of time in each grade prior to advancement to the next and he or she typically can’t skip grades.
Time in grade refers to the number of months or years in which an officer serves in a given rank (lieutenant, major, general, etc.)
The minimum TIG requirements for promotion to the next higher grade is shown in the table below.
Promote to: Time in Service Time in Grade Promotion Opportunity (DODI)
First lieutenant/O2 18 months 18 months Fully qualified
Captain/O3 4 years plus 1 year 2 years Best qualified (90 percent)
Major/O4 10 years +/- 1year 3 years Best qualified (80 percent)
Lieutenant Colonel/O5 16 years +/- 1 year 3 years Best qualified (70 percent)
Colonel/O6 22 years +/- 1 year 3 years Best qualified (50 percent)
Army Officer Categories
Officers in the same competitive category will compete among themselves for promotions. Changes in authorizations, losses, and promotions to the next higher grade will create variations in both the TIS and TIG when these promotions may occur.
The promotion timings are expressed in terms of the years of Active Federal Commissioned Service at which promotion occurs. The promotion opportunity is the percentage of total selects over the eligible in-the-zone population.
Different Types of Promotion Opportunities
There are three promotion opportunities in all branches of the U.S. military: Below-the-Zone, In-the-Zone, and Above-the-Zone.
Below-the-Zone only applies for promotion to the rank of O-4 (Major) to O-6 (Colonel). One year before they would be eligible for In-the-Zone consideration, about 10 percent of those recommended can be promoted Below-the-Zone.
Most promotions occur In-the-Zone. The selection rate for Above-the-Zone is only about 3 percent.
Two other significant factors in officers promotions are fitness reports and the nature of their current and past assignments. A poor fitness report may mean being passed over for promotion. An officer whose previous assignments didn’t have a significant degree of responsibility may also be passed over.
Promotions to O-7 Brigadier General and Above
For promotions beyond O-6, Army officers typically have to complete a full tour in a joint duty assignment with the Marines, Navy, Coast Guard or Air Force.
Grade Army Officer
O-7 Brigadier General
O-8 Major General
O-9 Lieutenant General
O-10 General
And just like the other branches of the service, the mandatory retirement age for Army officers is 62 (which can be waived to 64 in some circumstances).
Military Commissioned Officer Promotions
Air Force Enlisted Promotions Made Simple
Maximum Age to Become an Officer in the Military
Army Officer Candidate School (OCS) Enlistment Option
Preparing For Army Officer Training
Army Sergeant and Staff Sergeant Promotion Requirements
USMC Enlisted Promotions Made Simple
Army Enlisted Rank Promotion System Breakdown
The Best Career Paths for an Army Officer
Navy Limited Duty Officer Selection Program
Enlisted Promotions Made Simple
Being an Army General
Army Warrant Officer Job Overview
Military Enlisted Promotions: Can You Rank Up During Deployment?
Air Force Senior Airman (E-4) Below the Zone Promotions
Air Force Enlisted Rank (Insignia) History
When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies
As with any civilian job, Army officers must meet specified criteria in order to be eligible for the promotion. The Department of Defense calls for a given number of officers based on manpower needs and skill requirements for each category and grade.
So what is the career path for an Army officer? Here are some of the criteria and requirements that need to be met to be considered for a promotion.
Army Officer Candidate School
This is a 12-week program for enlisted soldiers, civilian college graduates and direct commission candidates (which include doctors and chaplains). Those who complete Officer Candidate School (OCS) become commissioned officers upon graduation and must serve at least three years on active duty following graduation.
The Army’s Officer Candidate School is located at Fort Benning in Georgia. Roughly 70 percent of enlisted candidates and 60 percent of those accepted overall successfully complete Army OCS.
Time in Grade and Time in Service
Two of the biggest factors influencing officer promotions are the time in service (TIS) and time in grade (TIG). Time in service is the total time in which someone is in the Army. An officer must spend a given amount of time in each grade prior to advancement to the next and he or she typically can’t skip grades.
Time in grade refers to the number of months or years in which an officer serves in a given rank (lieutenant, major, general, etc.)
The minimum TIG requirements for promotion to the next higher grade is shown in the table below.
Promote to: Time in Service Time in Grade Promotion Opportunity (DODI)
First lieutenant/O2 18 months 18 months Fully qualified
Captain/O3 4 years plus 1 year 2 years Best qualified (90 percent)
Major/O4 10 years +/- 1year 3 years Best qualified (80 percent)
Lieutenant Colonel/O5 16 years +/- 1 year 3 years Best qualified (70 percent)
Colonel/O6 22 years +/- 1 year 3 years Best qualified (50 percent)
Army Officer Categories
Officers in the same competitive category will compete among themselves for promotions. Changes in authorizations, losses, and promotions to the next higher grade will create variations in both the TIS and TIG when these promotions may occur.
The promotion timings are expressed in terms of the years of Active Federal Commissioned Service at which promotion occurs. The promotion opportunity is the percentage of total selects over the eligible in-the-zone population.
Different Types of Promotion Opportunities
There are three promotion opportunities in all branches of the U.S. military: Below-the-Zone, In-the-Zone, and Above-the-Zone.
Below-the-Zone only applies for promotion to the rank of O-4 (Major) to O-6 (Colonel). One year before they would be eligible for In-the-Zone consideration, about 10 percent of those recommended can be promoted Below-the-Zone.
Most promotions occur In-the-Zone. The selection rate for Above-the-Zone is only about 3 percent.
Two other significant factors in officers promotions are fitness reports and the nature of their current and past assignments. A poor fitness report may mean being passed over for promotion. An officer whose previous assignments didn’t have a significant degree of responsibility may also be passed over.
Promotions to O-7 Brigadier General and Above
For promotions beyond O-6, Army officers typically have to complete a full tour in a joint duty assignment with the Marines, Navy, Coast Guard or Air Force.
Grade Army Officer
O-7 Brigadier General
O-8 Major General
O-9 Lieutenant General
O-10 General
And just like the other branches of the service, the mandatory retirement age for Army officers is 62 (which can be waived to 64 in some circumstances).
Army Officer Categories
Officers in the same competitive category will compete among themselves for promotions. Changes in authorizations, losses, and promotions to the next higher grade will create variations in both the TIS and TIG when these promotions may occur.
The promotion timings are expressed in terms of the years of Active Federal Commissioned Service at which promotion occurs. The promotion opportunity is the percentage of total selects over the eligible in-the-zone population.
Different Types of Promotion Opportunities
There are three promotion opportunities in all branches of the U.S. military: Below-the-Zone, In-the-Zone, and Above-the-Zone.
Below-the-Zone only applies for promotion to the rank of O-4 (Major) to O-6 (Colonel). One year before they would be eligible for In-the-Zone consideration, about 10 percent of those recommended can be promoted Below-the-Zone.
Most promotions occur In-the-Zone. The selection rate for Above-the-Zone is only about 3 percent.
Two other significant factors in officers promotions are fitness reports and the nature of their current and past assignments. A poor fitness report may mean being passed over for promotion. An officer whose previous assignments didn’t have a significant degree of responsibility may also be passed over.
Promotions to O-7 Brigadier General and Above
For promotions beyond O-6, Army officers typically have to complete a full tour in a joint duty assignment with the Marines, Navy, Coast Guard or Air Force.
Grade Army Officer
O-7 Brigadier General
O-8 Major General
O-9 Lieutenant General
O-10 General
And just like the other branches of the service, the mandatory retirement age for Army officers is 62 (which can be waived to 64 in some circumstances).
And just like the other branches of the service, the mandatory retirement age for Army officers is 62 (which can be waived to 64 in some circumstances).
Military Commissioned Officer Promotions
Air Force Enlisted Promotions Made Simple
Maximum Age to Become an Officer in the Military
Army Officer Candidate School (OCS) Enlistment Option
Preparing For Army Officer Training
Army Sergeant and Staff Sergeant Promotion Requirements
USMC Enlisted Promotions Made Simple
Army Enlisted Rank Promotion System Breakdown
The Best Career Paths for an Army Officer
Navy Limited Duty Officer Selection Program
Enlisted Promotions Made Simple
Being an Army General
Army Warrant Officer Job Overview
Military Enlisted Promotions: Can You Rank Up During Deployment?
Air Force Senior Airman (E-4) Below the Zone Promotions
Air Force Enlisted Rank (Insignia) History
Military Commissioned Officer Promotions
Military Commissioned Officer Promotions
Air Force Enlisted Promotions Made Simple
Air Force Enlisted Promotions Made Simple
Maximum Age to Become an Officer in the Military
Maximum Age to Become an Officer in the Military
Army Officer Candidate School (OCS) Enlistment Option
Army Officer Candidate School (OCS) Enlistment Option
Preparing For Army Officer Training
Preparing For Army Officer Training
Army Sergeant and Staff Sergeant Promotion Requirements
Army Sergeant and Staff Sergeant Promotion Requirements
USMC Enlisted Promotions Made Simple
USMC Enlisted Promotions Made Simple
Army Enlisted Rank Promotion System Breakdown
Army Enlisted Rank Promotion System Breakdown
The Best Career Paths for an Army Officer
The Best Career Paths for an Army Officer
Navy Limited Duty Officer Selection Program
Navy Limited Duty Officer Selection Program
Enlisted Promotions Made Simple
Enlisted Promotions Made Simple
Being an Army General
Being an Army General
Army Warrant Officer Job Overview
Army Warrant Officer Job Overview
Military Enlisted Promotions: Can You Rank Up During Deployment?
Military Enlisted Promotions: Can You Rank Up During Deployment?
Air Force Senior Airman (E-4) Below the Zone Promotions
Air Force Senior Airman (E-4) Below the Zone Promotions
Air Force Enlisted Rank (Insignia) History
Air Force Enlisted Rank (Insignia) History
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LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.
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Home
Entertainment
Careers
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About Us Advertise Careers Privacy Policy Editorial Guidelines Contact Terms of Use EU Privacy
About Us
Advertise
Careers
Privacy Policy
Editorial Guidelines
Contact
Terms of Use
EU Privacy
Entertainment
Careers
Activities
Humor
LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.
When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies
