However, a Corporal, despite being the lowest rank possible for a noncommissioned officer, is more about leadership.Īlso, to qualify for a promotion to Corporal, you need 24 months in service, along with six months of time in grade. However, even though these two have the same pay rank, they have different responsibilities.Ī Specialist is known for having technical experience and knowledge. The lowest noncommissioned officer rank is a Corporal.Īlso, you might notice that the E-4 designation for the Corporal is the same as the Specialist in the Junior Enlisted ranks. There are three levels of Noncommissioned officers in the Army. Related Article – What Happens After Army Boot Camp? Army Promotion Timeline for NCO Ranks Image: Lastly, to continue to a Specialist (E-4), you will need two years of service and at least six months of time in pay grade. E-1 is the initial rank for those just coming out of basic training.Īlso, to promote to an E-2, which is a private second-class, you need six months of service.Īfterward, promotion to an E-3, or private second class, happens after 12 months as an E-2. Army Promotion Timeline for Junior Enlisted Ranks Image: Īn E-1 is the lowest rank in the Army. However, the higher up the promotion rank, the more competitive promotions become. The Army bases some of its promotion criteria on time in service and time in pay grade.
These ranks break into Junior enlisted, Noncommissioned officers, and Senior Noncommissioned officers.Īlso, the Army has commissioned officers. The Army consists of 13 different enlisted ranks. When considering your career in the Army, it is vital to consider the Army promotion timeline when you plan.