USMC Enlisted Promotions Made Simple

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.

Marine Corps Enlisted Slots

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:

• E-1, Private, Pvt.
• E-2, Private First Class, PFC.
• E-3, Lance Corporal, LCpl.
• E-4, Corporal, Cpl.
• E-5, Sergeant, Sgt.
• E-6, Staff Sergeant, SSgt.
• E-7, Gunnery Sergeant, GySgt.
• E-8. Master Sergeant, MSgt. First Sergeant, 1Sgt.

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 Criteria

The promotion criteria for promotion to the ranks of E-2 to E-3 are:

• Private First Class (E-2) - Six months Time-In-Service (TIS) with six months Time-In-Grade (TIG)
• Lance Corporal (E-3) - Nine months TIS and eight months TIG

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).

• Corporal (E-4) - 12 months TIS and 8 months TIG
• Sergeant (E-5) - 24 months TIS and 12 months TIG

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:

• Staff Sergeant (E-6) - 4 years TIS and 24 months TIG
• Gunnery Sergeant (E-7) - 6 years TIS and 3 years TIG
• Master Sergeant/First Sergeant (E-8) - 8 years TIS and 4 years TIG
• Master Gunnery Sergeant/Sergeant Major (E-9) - 10 years TIS and 3 years TIG

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.

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:

• Staff Sergeant (E-6) - The Marine Noncommissioned Officer (MCI) Course, The Noncommissioned Officer Basic Nonresident Program, or The Sergeants Nonresident Program/Sergeants Distance Education Program
• Gunnery Sergeant (E-7) - Senior NCO (SNCO) Career Nonresident Program/SNCO Career Distance Education Program
• Master Sergeant (E-8) - The SNCO Advanced Nonresident Program/SNCO Advanced Distance Education Program and The Warfighting Skills Program
• First Sergeant (E-8) - Either the SNCO Career Nonresident Program/SNCO Career Distance Education Program or The SNCO Resident Course, and The SNCO Advanced Nonresident Program/SNCO Advanced Distance Education Program, and The Warfighting Skills Program, and The Staff Noncommissioned Officer Advanced Resident Course

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 Works

The 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 Marines

In 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:

• Private First Class (E-2) - No TIS requirements necessary
• Lance Corporal (E-3) - No TIS requirements necessary
• Corporal (E-4) - 6 months TIS** Sergeant (E-5) - 18 months TIS
• Staff Sergeant (E-6) - 4 years TIS
• Gunnery Sergeant (E-7) - 6 Years TIS** Master Sergeant (E-8) - 8 years TIS

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 Program

Commanding 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.

Promotion Averages

How 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:

• Private First Class (E-2) - 6 months
• Lance Corporal (E-3) - 14 months
• Corporal (E-4) - 26 months
• Sergeant (E-5) - 4.8 years
• Staff Sergeant (E-6) - 10.4 years
• Gunnery Sergeant (E-7) - 14.8 years
• Master Sergeant/First Sergeant (E-8) - 18.8 years
• Master Gunnery Sergeant/Sergeant Major (E-9) - 22.1 years