How do you get promoted in the US Army?

Getting promoted in the Army works out mostly with "TIG" (Time In Grade) for the lower ranks, (E-1 to E-4) E-1 to E-2 normally takes 3 to 6 months. E-2 to E-3 takes about 9 to 12 months and E-3 to E4 15 to 18 months. There after, you have to complete training in specialized courses. They start with ANCOC (basic NCO training) and BNCOC (advance NCO Training) Combat Life savers, war college and so forth. There are many courses available to help you advance in the Army as far as rank is concerned. The most important thing to getting promoted and keeping it is the PT or physical training test. You must be able to do, (according to your age) so many pushups and so many sit-ups in two minutes, and run two miles in a certain amount of time. Failure to do the minimum required for your age will delay or even prevent you from getting promoted. I am not sure of the required count today, but when I was started 28 years ago, at 17, I had to do 45 pushups in two minutes, 48 sit-ups in two minutes and run 2 miles in 17 minutes. Keep in mind, the longer you are in and make the rank, the longer it takes to get the rank if you are just "average" The better you do with everything you do, the more you succeed.