how to pick up rank in the reserves

[urbansheriff]

I just recently picked up L Cpl, and I figured it would take me around 3 years before I pick up Cpl while in the reserves. I was wondering what I can do to help speed up the process. I know that pft, rifle range, and mcis play a role, but is there anything I'm missing?

[KARL THE GRUNT]

Show up for drills.
Be squared away.
If you see a job that needs doing ..do it.
karl

[Grimmy]

I don't know the specifics to the reserves but promos in the military tend to be much the same as promos in civilian life.

Sell yourself. Be visible. Stand out. Show up earlier, stay later. Work on getting yourself recognized as "the go to guy" when the hard jobs need doing and doing right the first time. Always be motivated and...lead.

Take charge. When in a detail with other non-rates, be the one to step up. If you can get the other non-rates round you to form the habit of looking to you, then that will tend to your leadership position becoming formalized with a promo.

[USMC Chuter]

Reservist here.. Promotions are what they are. Kick ass on the PFT, the rifle range, and in your everyday performance for pro/con marks. Most of all, DO YOUR FUCKING MCI'S! SO many Marines miss out on promotion opportunities because they're too lazy to do a cheezy correspondence course. If you do the basics, you won't miss promotion opporunities. Even if your MOS is closed, there are meritorious promotion opportunities if you pack the gear and perform.

[SGRock]

How about civilian education Chuter? Does that help in the Reserves?

[SpongeJuan]

I read it somewhere on MOL about offduty education. I think you get 10pts for offduty education but that's just scuttlebutt over here.

Also try getting people to join the Corps that gets you points right there too

[SGRock]

I got my advanced open water rating (SCUBA) through PADI and received points for that back in the middle '80's.

[SpongeJuan]

Hey the fastest way to pick up rank is meritoriously so start studying your knowledge and get to it just ask panzerman he won the board and now he's a Cpl

[USMC Chuter]

Sorry for the delayed response.. Yes, civilian education does translate into points for your composite score. Votech-type certifications often do not, but college credits certainly do. Like recruiters assistance points and MCI points, there is a limit.

[Panzerman]

Originally Posted by SpongeJuan

Hey the fastest way to pick up rank is meritoriously so start studying your knowledge and get to it just ask panzerman he won the board and now he's a Cpl

The fastest way to pick up rank is to enlist into an MOS where a 1520 composite score is enough to get you promoted :p

I spent 23 months as a Lance, dude. I would have had a 1674 composite score next month. Yeah, I got promoted meritoriously, but it certainly didn't happen "fast".

[SpongeJuan]

Well if you pick an MOS to get promoted fast instead of because you want to do that job is not a good idea. Do it because it's something you want to persuit or just something that interests you. That's why I ended up where I am. I wasn't thinking about picking up Cpl when I wanted to go to bootcamp.