Career Progression
An Army officer's career is generally a series of 2 and 3 year assignments, each one preparing you for the next. Personal abilities and preferences affect the choices a person makes, so there is no one career blueprint. There is, however, a general progression most officers' careers follow.
Getting Promoted
One of the most attractive aspects of being an Army officer is the structured promotion system. The promotion system is designed to help both the Army and the Officer. The system design enables the best officers to reach positions of most importance and highest responsibility. From an individual officer's point of view, the promotion system assures qualified persons advancement after a certain time. In other words, your career can never get endlessly mired at middle management. Your performance is reviewed on a regular basis during rating periods. You will be told you are being rated, and told what is expected of you during this period. We think this process is more than fair and that it gives every officer a real chance to be at his/her best.
The Lieutenant Phase
Once a cadet graduates, he/she is commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. The first thing an officer does to enhance basic skills is go to Basic Officer Leader Course II (BOLC II). This is a 6 week course at Ft Benning, GA or Ft Sill, OK to develop and produce adaptive officers with increased maturity, confidence and competence. The next step for a Lieutenant is to develop in his/her primary branch by attending Basic Officer Leader Corse III (BOLC III). Some officers opt for Airborne or Ranger training (or both) after BOLC III; but most go right to their first duty assignment.
Progressing from second to first Lieutenant, the officer applies his/her training and develops his/her leadership abilities. In fact, learning how to lead troops is the key objective of this phase. Promotion to First Lieutenant takes about two years.
The Captain Phase
A lot happens while you're a captain. The most important thing is to get experience as a Company Commander. A Company Commander is normally in charge of over 100 soldiers. Command experience is a valuable resource throughout a career. During this phase, you attend the Captions Career Course which provides you with the necessary training to perform as a field grade staff officer. Additional training during the captain phase is your opportunity to become more valuable to the Army, since this is when you choose and begin to become qualified in a functional area. Promotion to Captain takes about four years.
The Major Phase
Being promoted to Major is a big step in your career. You've become a key staff officer in charge of such areas as Personnel, Intelligence, Operations, or Logistics. You'll be given new assignments which permit you to use previously developed skills, as well as expand your overall professional development. The objective here is to develop further in your branch, and continue development in your functional area. Some officer areas selected for Command and General Staff College or given the opportunity to attend civilian schools. Promotion to Major takes about 11 years.
The Lieutenant Colonel Phase
Your assignment might be as a Battalion Commander in charge of hundreds of soldiers or a general staff officer in a division or corps. Outstanding performance will merit more and more challenging positions. Some officers are selected for the Army
The Colonel Phase
At this phase, the Army takes maximum advantage of your talents. This means you'll be assigned as a Brigade Commander in charge of thousands of soldiers or director of a large staff. Your technical skills and accumulated executive talents will be put to the test. This is the senior level of responsibility. You're a top executive. Promotion to Colonel takes about 22 years.
General Officer
Officers who demonstrate extraordinary leadership and executive abilities are selected to become general officers; the CEO's of the Army. They do nothing less than run the Army. From division commanders to post commanders to high level staff positions, general officers are responsible for maintaining an efficient and effective Army. Promotion to General takes about 25 years.