US Military Promotion Rates
(Created July 2016)

The information on this page is basic information lifted off the internet from various RPG forums and other sites. Please note that these are for peacetime promotion rates and don't take into account the possibility of battlefield promotions, or extra-lateral promotions, such as when William S. Knudsen was directly appointed to the rank of Lieutenant General (LTG) based on his executive experience at General Motors during WWII.

U.S. Enlisted Promotion Rates

Rank

US Army
Minimum TIS
(Source)

US Air Force
Minimum TIS
(Source)

US Navy
Minimum TIS
(Source)

USMC
Minimum TIS
(Source)

Average
Minimum TIS
Of All Services

US Army
Average TIS
circa 2001
(Source)

E-1
Private (USA)
Airman Basic (USAF)
Seaman Recruit (USN)
Private (USMC)

Initial Rank

Initial Rank

Initial Rank

Initial Rank

Initial Rank

Initial Rank

E-2
Private (USA)
Airman (USAF)
Seaman Apprentice (USN)
Private First Class (USMC)

6 Months

6 Months

9~ Months

6 Months

6.75 months

6 months
(4 with waiver)

E-3
Private First Class (USA)
Airman First Class (USAF)
Seaman (USN)
Lance Corporal (USMC)

1 Year

16 Months

18 Months

9 Months

13.75 months

1 year

E-4
Specialist/Corporal (USA)
Senior Airman (USAF)
Petty Officer 3d Class (USN)
Corporal (USMC)

2 Years

3 Years

2 Years

1 Year

2 years

18 months

E-5
Sergeant (USA)
Staff Sergeant (USAF)
Petty Officer 2d Class (USN)
Sergeant (USMC)

3 Years

3 Years
and completing Skill Level 5

3 years

2 Years

33 months
(2.75 years)

4.2 years

E-6
Staff Sergeant (USA)
Technical Sergeant (USAF)
Petty Officer 1st Class (USN)
Staff Sergeant (USMC)

7 Years

5 Years
and completing Skill Level 7

6 Years

4 Years

66 months
(5.5 years)

8.5 years

E-7
Sergeant First Class (USA)
Master Sergeant (USAF)
Chief Petty Officer (USN)
Gunnery Sergeant (USMC)

6 Years

8 Years

9 Years

6 Years

87 months
(7.25 years)

13.6 years

E-8
First/Master Sergeant (USA)
Senior Master Sergeant (USAF)
Senior Chief Petty Officer (USN)
First/Master Sergeant (USMC)

8 Years

11 Years

12 Years

8 Years

117 months
(9.75 years)

17 years

E-9
Cmd Sgt Maj / Sgt Maj (USA)
Command / Chief Master Sergeant (USAF)
Command / Master Chief Petty Officer (USN)
Sgt Maj / Master GySgt (USMC)

9 Years

14 Years

15 Years

10 Years

144 months
(12 years)

20.8 years

U.S. Officer Promotion Rates

Rank

Time in Service

Minimum Time in Grade
(required by law)

Promotion Opportunity
(in the zone)

O-1

Initial Entry

Initial Entry

Initial Entry

O-2

18 months

18 months

99.99%

O-3

4 years

2 years

99.99%

O-4

10 years

3 years

80%

O-5

16 years

3 years

70%

O-6

22 years

3 years

50%

O-7 (1 Star)
O-8 (2 Star)
O-9 (3 Star)
O-10 (4 Star)

<1% of all career officers are promoted to flag rank.

Mandatory retirement age for General officers is 62 (waivable to 64 in specialist cases)
O-7s must retire 5 years after promotion to O-7 or 30 years of service (if not promoted)
O-7s must retire 5 years after promotion to O-8 or 35 years of service (if not promoted)