Army Promotions

So, how long does it take to get promoted in the Army? It's dependent on the particular MOS (job) and how many vacancies (due to separations and retirements) there are in that job. On average, however, one can expect to be promoted with the following time-in-service (2001 statistics):


 * Private (E-2) - 6 months
 * Private First Class (E-3) - 1 year
 * Specialist/Corporal (E-4) - 18 months
 * Sergeant (E-5) - 4.2 years
 * Staff Sergeant (E-6) - 8.5 years
 * Sergeant First Class (E-7) - 13.6 years
 * Master Sergeant/First Sergeant (E-8) - 17 years
 * Sergeant Major (E-9) - 20.8 years

So, assuming you're 18 when you join, just add that much time, and that's your average age per rank.

Or if you're talking officer, start at say age 23, and then add:
 * O-2: 18months
 * O-3: 4 years
 * O-4: 10 years
 * O-5: 16 years
 * O-6: 22 years

G.I. Joe, however, has a different system. Being a small, elite, secret unit, Joes typically do not advance in rank very quickly (or at all), and mandatory retirement ages are waived, since Joe commanders are not officially on the rosters. Joes are generally underpaid and underranked, but that doesn't seem to slow the number of applicants to the team.

Source(s):
What're the average ages per rank in US Military? http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080711111258AA49D1p

The ENLISTED promotion chart came from: http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/armypromotions/a/armypromotions_5.htm

The OFFICER chart came from: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/promotions/l/blofficerprom.htm