Protecting Professional Quality: Competency and Certification-Based Officer Promotions
Abstract
A 20-year history of low officer accessions, low officer retention, and growth in the Army's force structure has resulted in non-competitive officer promotions, placing the quality and professionalism of the Army's future senior leaders at risk. This problem can no longer be addressed through increased lieutenant accessions and bonuses to retain captains. To meet this strategic challenge, the Army must change its approach to how it selects and certifies its officers for promotion. This paper will show that the Army's current officer strength shortfall, combined with time-in-grade based promotion eligibility policies, have resulted in undesirably high officer promotion rates, rendering promotions virtually non-competitive; and that sustained non-competitive promotions threaten the quality of the officer corps and the professional reputation of the Army. This paper will conclude by proposing the Army implement a competency and certification-based promotion eligibility system, with extended career timelines, in order to sustain the quality and professional reputation of the officer corps.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 24, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA547397
Entities
People
- Sven C. Erichsen
Organizations
- United States Army War College