How exactly do you rank up in the Marine corps?

Question

Im talking about the commissioned ranks, Private, Lance Corporal, Sergeant. Is it time in the USMC? Skill? Leadership qualities?

Answer 1

Private through Lance Corporal is by time and grade.  For a Pvt to get promoted to PFC, he just has to keep his nose clean for 6 months, and PFC to LCPL, same rules apply but for 9 months.  But once you are a LCpl for a year, you will rate a composite score.  Which is determined by your Pros/Cons, PFT Score, Rifle Qualification, Swim Qualification, and Self-Education-how many Marine Corps Institute (MCIs) you have completed.  You can only have 5 completed for score count.  However, you can do more than the minimum but it won't affect your score any more than the 5 completed.  There are different scores for different MOSs.  Once you get the mark for Corporal, it it doesn't necessarily say you rate it; it is determined also by if there is a spot available - there is a quota that has to be filled.  When you are a Corporal, the same rules applies.  However, there are always meritorious promotion boards that are available too.  Corporal have to complete the Corporal's Coures and completed the "Warfighting Skills" Study guides before being considered for Sergeant, along with their composite score.  A Sergeant has to complete Sergeant's School and also complete "Warfighting Skills" Study Books but more additional and advanced studies in the manuals.  They have to be completed, plus, they are required to complete 5 MCIs on top of that!  Usually (depending on MOS or quota, billet, etc.), MOS will change in their respective field to meet the leadership 'standard' that goes with the NCO rank.  And sometimes, a Cpl that gets promoted to Sgt; [again] in some cases, their MOS will change to fit that Marine's duties.

Now, to become a SNCO, it is determined by a fitness report evaluation (forgot what it is called since fitness reports are for Marine Officers).  That is in consideration of the same rules as above but have to attend an advanced leadership course, and the advanced school for their MOS, since their MOS will change within their respective field to "Chief" status, for example: "Bubblegum-chewing" Chief; just as the non-NCOs that get promoted to NCO.  They are required to complete the "NCO Resident Program" and the [again] a more advanced "Warfighter Skills" Study books.  With each higher rank you go as a SNCO, the more advanced "NCO/SNCO Resident Program" you have to attend.  Each year a Sergeant (or SNCOs) have to submit a package each year of their 'fitness report'.  If you have a good rating, and if there is a quota opening, you become a SNCO.  Be advised that it is very demanding to be a SNCO.  You can be a Sergeant for 8-12 years before you become a SNCO.  (We don't get promoted to Staff Sergeant [E-6] as quick as the Army, which is in 4-6 years).  While you are a SNCO, the same rules is applied [again].Leadership qualities and skills are a muster!  You have to earn your rank!

Once you are a Gunnery Sergeant [E-7], you either have a career decision to be a First Sergeant [E-8] or a Master Sergeant [E-8].  Although they are the same equivalent, the First Sergeant is billeted at Company-level, whereas the Master Sergeant is at field-level.  Technically, a 1st Sgt has a higher billet (meaning that he 'kinda' outranks the Master Sergeant' but not officially) than the Master Sergeant.

Only a First Sergeant can be promoted to a Sergeant Major, whereas a Master Sergeant can only become a Master Gunnery Sergeant.  They cannot cross-over, for example: A Master Sergeant CANNOT be promoted to Sergeant Major or a 1st Sgt to a MGySgt.  The Sergeant Major, officially is higher billeted than the MGySgt.

NOTE:  While a Marine is a SNCO (and sometimes a Sergeant) can also have a separated career move.  Everybody seems to leave out the Chief Warrant Officers.  These ranks are in grade between SNCO and Commissioned Officers (CO).  They outrank the SNCOs and are undermined by the CO [not abbreviated for 'Commanding Officer' in this discussion].  This requires a same type of package but it is very paramount to be very, very skilled in your MOS.  CWOs are the gurus, the masters of the MOS.  Consider them as if they are the professors in college; they dedicated their whole career in mastering their MOS.

If a SNCO (or Sgt) has been considered for CWO, they are first brivated as Warrant Officer (WO1) - this is the testing of the Marine.  He is to prove that he is good enough to be a Chief Warrant Officer.  If he passes, he will earn the Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CWO2).  It goes all they up to CWO5.  If he has not have been up-to-speed, they will strip him of his WO1 rank and will assume his original rank once again.  Kinda of degrading in a way, but like I said.  You really have to know your stuff to rate being a CWO!

Oh, but there is more about the CWOs...  There exists a rank called "Gunner" - not Gunny as in Gunnery Sergeant.  This is the CWO5 that has one CWO5 bar on one collar while a 'bursting bomb' on the other collar.  There are only 5-8 Gunners that exist in the Marine Corps.  These are the most experienced Marines that consist of every trade, skill, and knowledge of weapons, order, and pretty much everything else.  These are the Marines that a General will consult if he has a major dilemna.  Since they all CWOs are lower than the rank of Lieutenants and all the Commissioned Officers above, they will have to salute a Lt as required; but these guys outrank all the SNCOs.  CWOs are "unofficially" Enlisted-Officers.  They are half-Enlisted, but every Enlisted ranks from E-1 through E-8 (Even Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps) wil be required to salute a CWO, and I advise them to do so, since they eat nails for breakfast!  They are meaner than a SNCO (if you are a screwball) and are meaner than the Officers!  Respect these Marines and be tact while with caution!

CWOs can also be the Commanding Officer of a Unit or Section, especially in the Admin Field.  They will obtain the same MOS as a Commissioned Officer, for example: "Bubblegum-chewing" Officer.

Now, for the Commissioned Officers.  As we all know that Officers were candidates, whereas all enlisted were recruits.  Officers have the Fitness Reports, whereas all Enlisted contains the Pros/Cons.  Their qualification and performance in their MOS is just the same as above, therefore the same rules apply.  But for a "Company Grade" Officer (2nd Lt [O-2]), 1st Lt [O-2], and Captain [O-3]) have to face a board to see whether they rate their next promotion to a "Field Grade" Officer ranks (Majors [O-4], Lt. Colonel [O-5], and Colonel [O-6]).  But once they are a Colonel, only Congress and the POTUS (Pres. of the US) can appoint the "General Officers".  There are 4 types of General Officers (O-7 through O-10), Brigadier Officer [1-star], Major General [2-star], Lt. General (3-star) and General [4-star].  There is never a such thing as a 5-star General in the Marine Corps, never has, never will.  Congress and POTUS is the ones that promotes them to their next star.

Answer 2

The commissioned ranks start with 1st and 2nd lieutenants. You are referring to non commissioned ranks.It doesn't follow a set  time line. A marine deployerd overseas may gain rank faster especially in combat, while one stationed in the stated has to wait for openings in the rank structure.It helps to get additional schooling or training. It is like a promotion at a job, if you shine or your boss likes you there is a chance for notice, and advancement. The MARINES DON'T HAND OUT PROMOTIONS UNLESS YOU MEASURE UP. iF YOU GET PROMOTED AND s***w UP, YOU GET BUSTED.It takes skill, and proven leadership skills to get advanced.Others lives may depend on it.

Answer 3

Through your time and service. Prove you are a veteran who knows what their doing. Know how to handle a bad situation, and prove that you know how to lead your men.

Answer 4

Time in service, time in grade, conduct and number of openings your unit is given. Corporal and above is Non-commissioned officer rate. At the rank of Corporal you can go to Non-commissioned officers training and leadership classes. Commissioned ranks are those of Officers.

Answer 5

I agree with the ones above me, but also... time in grade, pros/cons (that your higher ups give you on a scale of 1-5 on your day-day conduct), rifle score, PT score.. the MCI's are the big ones. I'm pretty sure you need to do 7 to max out on that and get the full 100 points. Once you get all of that done, all you can do is wait. Two good sites to help you figure out everything you can do and what the cutting scores are each month are these--