U.S. ARMY PROMOTION BOARD 2026
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT
◉ What date is considered the beginning of the U.S. Army? Answer:
June 14, 1775. (TC 7-21.13 Chapter 2)
◉ Who was the first Commander in Chief of the Continental Army
and when? Answer: George Washington; June 15, 1775. (TC 3-21.5,
Para 1-1a)
◉ When meeting an officer in the open, how far away should you be
before rendering the hand
salute? Answer: Six paces or when you can see the superior officer.
(TC 3-21.5, Para 4-4e)
◉ What are the courtesies rendered by individuals during Reveille if
they are in uniform and not in formation, either with or without
headgear? Answer: At the first note of music, face the flag and
render hand
salute. If the flag is not in view, face direction of the music. The
salute will end on the last note of
the music.
(TC 3-21.5, Appendix A-5c)
,◉ When are you considered to be under arms? Answer: When you
are carrying a weapon in your hand.
(TC 3-21.5, Appendix A-2)
◉ When was the Army Goes Rolling Along dedicated by the
Secretary of the Army? Answer: November 11,
1956. (TC 3-21.5, Para 1-2h)
◉ When did the "Star Spangled Banner" officially become the
national anthem? Answer: March 3, 1931
(TC 3-21.5, Para)
◉ When is a salute not rendered to a senior officer? Answer: When
both the senior or the subordinate or
both are: in civilian attire, engaged in routine work if the salute
would interfere, carrying articles
with both hands so occupied as to make saluting impractical,
working as a member of a detail or
engaged in sports or social functions where saluting would present a
safety hazard, in public
places such as theaters, churches, and in public conveyances, and in
the ranks of a formation.
(AR 600-25, Para 2-1i)
,◉ When walking next to an officer or an NCO of a superior rank,
where should you be? Answer: You
should walk on the left side.
(TC 7-22.7, Para 6.4c)
◉ What covers AR Promotion and Reductions Answer: (AR 600-8-
19)
◉ Name five reasons that a Soldier may be administratively reduced.
Answer: Erroneous enlistment grade,
misconduct, inefficiency, approved for discharge from service Under
Other Than Honorable
conditions, and failure to complete training (e.g. OCS, Flight School).
(AR 600-8-19, Para 10-1)
◉ What are the three levels of promotion? Answer: Decentralized
for E-1 thru E-4, Semi-Centralized for E-5 thru E-6, Centralized E-7
thru E-9.
(AR 600-8-19, Chapters 1, 2 & 3)
◉ What does STEP stand for? Answer: Select, Train, Educate, and
Promote.
(AR 600-8-19, Para 1-6)
, ◉ What is the time in grade requirement for promotion SGT and
SSG? Answer: To SGT = 12 months; to
SSG = 18 months
(AR 600-8-19, Table 7-1)
◉ What are the eligibility requirements for a battlefield promotion?
Answer: Be in the rank of SGT or below
assigned or attached to a unit serving in support of a specified
campaign, soldier not flagged,
serving in the position at the grade they are being recommended for
(SGT or SSG), and has not
received a battlefield promotion to an NCO rank in the past.
(AR 600-8-19, Para 11-3)
◉ Who has the authority to administratively reduce Soldiers in the
grades E-2 through E-9? Answer: E4 and below: Company
Commander or higher
E5 - E6: Battalion Commander (O-5 or higher)
E7 - E9: Brigade Commander (O-6 or higher)
(AR 600-8-19, Table 10-2)
◉ What is the responsibility of first-line leaders of soldiers who are
eligible for promotion without a
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT
◉ What date is considered the beginning of the U.S. Army? Answer:
June 14, 1775. (TC 7-21.13 Chapter 2)
◉ Who was the first Commander in Chief of the Continental Army
and when? Answer: George Washington; June 15, 1775. (TC 3-21.5,
Para 1-1a)
◉ When meeting an officer in the open, how far away should you be
before rendering the hand
salute? Answer: Six paces or when you can see the superior officer.
(TC 3-21.5, Para 4-4e)
◉ What are the courtesies rendered by individuals during Reveille if
they are in uniform and not in formation, either with or without
headgear? Answer: At the first note of music, face the flag and
render hand
salute. If the flag is not in view, face direction of the music. The
salute will end on the last note of
the music.
(TC 3-21.5, Appendix A-5c)
,◉ When are you considered to be under arms? Answer: When you
are carrying a weapon in your hand.
(TC 3-21.5, Appendix A-2)
◉ When was the Army Goes Rolling Along dedicated by the
Secretary of the Army? Answer: November 11,
1956. (TC 3-21.5, Para 1-2h)
◉ When did the "Star Spangled Banner" officially become the
national anthem? Answer: March 3, 1931
(TC 3-21.5, Para)
◉ When is a salute not rendered to a senior officer? Answer: When
both the senior or the subordinate or
both are: in civilian attire, engaged in routine work if the salute
would interfere, carrying articles
with both hands so occupied as to make saluting impractical,
working as a member of a detail or
engaged in sports or social functions where saluting would present a
safety hazard, in public
places such as theaters, churches, and in public conveyances, and in
the ranks of a formation.
(AR 600-25, Para 2-1i)
,◉ When walking next to an officer or an NCO of a superior rank,
where should you be? Answer: You
should walk on the left side.
(TC 7-22.7, Para 6.4c)
◉ What covers AR Promotion and Reductions Answer: (AR 600-8-
19)
◉ Name five reasons that a Soldier may be administratively reduced.
Answer: Erroneous enlistment grade,
misconduct, inefficiency, approved for discharge from service Under
Other Than Honorable
conditions, and failure to complete training (e.g. OCS, Flight School).
(AR 600-8-19, Para 10-1)
◉ What are the three levels of promotion? Answer: Decentralized
for E-1 thru E-4, Semi-Centralized for E-5 thru E-6, Centralized E-7
thru E-9.
(AR 600-8-19, Chapters 1, 2 & 3)
◉ What does STEP stand for? Answer: Select, Train, Educate, and
Promote.
(AR 600-8-19, Para 1-6)
, ◉ What is the time in grade requirement for promotion SGT and
SSG? Answer: To SGT = 12 months; to
SSG = 18 months
(AR 600-8-19, Table 7-1)
◉ What are the eligibility requirements for a battlefield promotion?
Answer: Be in the rank of SGT or below
assigned or attached to a unit serving in support of a specified
campaign, soldier not flagged,
serving in the position at the grade they are being recommended for
(SGT or SSG), and has not
received a battlefield promotion to an NCO rank in the past.
(AR 600-8-19, Para 11-3)
◉ Who has the authority to administratively reduce Soldiers in the
grades E-2 through E-9? Answer: E4 and below: Company
Commander or higher
E5 - E6: Battalion Commander (O-5 or higher)
E7 - E9: Brigade Commander (O-6 or higher)
(AR 600-8-19, Table 10-2)
◉ What is the responsibility of first-line leaders of soldiers who are
eligible for promotion without a
