Study guide
1.3 Promotion Points, the AFT Conversion, IPPS-A, and Monthly Cutoff Scores
Army Promotion Board SGT/SSG
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1 The Promotion Board Process, Eligibility, and Preparation
1.1 AR 600-8-19 Board Eligibility, TIS/TIG Zones, and PME Requirements 1.2 Board Proceedings, Protocol, Uniform Inspection, and Boardroom Bearing 1.3 Promotion Points, the AFT Conversion, IPPS-A, and Monthly Cutoff Scores 1.4 Board Preparation: Study Plan, Current Events, and World Affairs 1.5 Situational Questions, ICTL Proficiency, and Board Scenario Technique
2 Uniform Standards, Grooming, and Awards (AR 670-1, AD 2025-18, AR 600-8-22)
2.1 ASU and AGSU Configuration, Insignia, Badges, and Awards Placement 2.2 Hair, Cosmetics, Fingernails, and Jewelry Standards (AD 2025-18) 2.3 Wear of Combat Uniforms, Duty Accessories, and Body Modification & Tattoo Policies 2.4 Facial Hair, Medical Exceptions to Policy, and Religious Accommodation 2.5 The Army Awards and Decorations System (AR 600-8-22)
3 Army Leadership & Doctrine (ADP 6-22 & FM 6-22)
3.1 The Army Leadership Requirements Model: Attributes and Competencies 3.2 Leadership Levels, Dynamics, Command Climate, and the Warrior Ethos 3.3 The Counseling Process (ATP 6-22.1 & DA Form 4856) 3.4 The Evaluation Reporting System & NCOER (AR 623-3 & DA Form 2166-9 Series)
4 Customs, Courtesies, and Military Traditions (AR 600-25 & TC 3-21.5)
4.1 Saluting Protocols, Courtesies to Officers, and Hand Salute Standards 4.2 National Flag Etiquette, Colors, Reveille, Retreat, and Honors to the Nation 4.3 Drill and Ceremonies Fundamentals (TC 3-21.5) and Formations 4.4 Rank Structure, Chain of Command, the NCO Support Channel, and Unit Organization
5 Army History, Heritage, and Creeds
5.1 Army Birthday, Continental Army Foundations, and Historical Milestones 5.2 Evolution of the NCO Corps and the Sergeant Major of the Army 5.3 Major American Campaigns and Military Battle History 5.4 The Army Values, The Soldier's Creed, and The NCO Creed
6 Army Programs, Command Policy, and Soldier Readiness
6.1 SHARP Under AR 600-52: Reporting Options, Complaint Processing, and the OSTC 6.2 The Military Equal Opportunity and Harassment Prevention Program (AR 600-20, Chapter 6) 6.3 Army Substance Abuse Program (ASAP) and SUDCC (AR 600-85) 6.4 Soldier and Family Support Programs: AER, Red Cross, ACS, EFMP, and BOSS 6.5 Suicide Prevention, Behavioral Health, and Resilience 6.6 Prohibited Activities: Extremism, Retaliation, Prohibited Relationships, and Political Activity 6.7 Retention, Reenlistment, and the Career Counseling of Subordinates
7 Tactical Combat Casualty Care & First Aid (TC 4-02.1 & ATP 4-02.83)
7.1 TCCC Phases of Care: Care Under Fire, Tactical Field Care, and TACEVAC 7.2 MARCH PAWS Assessment: Massive Hemorrhage and Airway Management 7.3 Respiration, Circulation, Shock, Burns, and Environmental Injuries 7.4 9-Line MEDEVAC Request Protocol and Tactical Evacuation Procedures
8 CBRN Defense & Force Protection (ATP 3-11.32 & AR 525-13)
8.1 CBRN Hazards, Chemical Agent Classifications, and Physiological Effects 8.2 MOPP Gear Levels, Protective Mask PMCS, and Decontamination 8.3 Antiterrorism, Physical Security, and Force Protection Conditions (AR 525-13)
9 Weapons, Land Navigation, and Physical Readiness
9.1 M4/M16 Rifle Characteristics, Clearing, Malfunctions, and Weapons Safety (TC 3-22.9) 9.2 Map Reading, Grid Coordinates, and Marginal Information (TC 3-25.26) 9.3 Land Navigation: Terrain Features, Azimuths, Intersection, and Resection 9.4 Holistic Health and Fitness, the Army Fitness Test, and the Combat Field Test 9.5 The Army Body Composition Program and the Waist-to-Height Standard (AD 2026-13) 9.6 Crew-Served Weapons, Sidearms, and Munitions
10 Military Justice, the Law of War, and Duty
10.1 The UCMJ, Article 15 Non-Judicial Punishment, and Courts-Martial 10.2 The Code of Conduct, the Law of War, and Rules of Engagement 10.3 Guard Duty, the Three General Orders, and Operations Security
11 Training Management and Unit Sustainment
11.1 Training Management: ICTL, the Digital Job Book, and Sergeant's Time Training 11.2 Maintenance, Supply Discipline, and Property Accountability
1.3 Promotion Points, the AFT Conversion, IPPS-A, and Monthly Cutoff Scores
Key Takeaways Explain This Topic AI
The promotion score ceiling is 800 points for both SGT and SSG, but the category caps differ: military training 280/230, awards 145/165, military education 240/245, and civilian education 135/160.
The record physical fitness test is worth a maximum of 120 points for BOTH grades; AR 600-8-19 Table 3-4 converts an Army Fitness Test aggregate of 500 to 120 points and an aggregate of 300-304 to a single point.
Weapons qualification is capped at 160 points for SGT and 110 for SSG; with the M16/M4/M249 on DA Form 7801, 40 hits earns 160/110 and 23 hits earns 33/28, and a score older than 24 months earns nothing.
Graduating BLC adds 150 promotion points toward SGT and graduating ALC adds 150 toward SSG, with a further 20 points for commandant's list and 40 for distinguished honor or distinguished leadership graduate.
Correspondence and computer-based training earns 1 point per 5 hours of fully completed coursework, capped at 90 points for both grades; civilian education earns 2 points per semester hour plus a 20-point degree-completion award.
Last updated: September 2026
Promotion Points, the AFT Conversion, IPPS-A, and Monthly Cutoff Scores
Core Principle: Passing the board earns the recommendation . The promotion score decides when you actually pin on. Both SGT and SSG compete against an 800-point ceiling , but the four category caps are different for each grade, and they were re-weighted when the record fitness test was folded into the score. Memorize the current numbers from AR 600-8-19, paragraphs 3-15 through 3-18 — the older 340/180-point figures still circulating on study-guide websites are obsolete.
1. The 800-Point Architecture
- Category Regulation SGT (E-5) maximum SSG (E-6) maximum
- Military training (weapons qualification + record fitness test) Para 3-15 280 230
- Awards, decorations, and achievements Para 3-16 145 165
- Military education Para 3-17 240 245
- Civilian education Para 3-18 135 160
- Total 800 800
Note the arithmetic check a board member may run on you: 280 + 145 + 240 + 135 = 800, and 230 + 165 + 245 + 160 = 800.
- 2. Military Training (Para 3-15)
- Weapons qualification — 160 points max (SGT), 110 points max (SSG)
Points come from the most recent qualification with the Soldier's primary weapon , in accordance with TC 3-20.40.
A qualification more than 24 months old earns zero points. A Soldier in an organization without an assigned weapon may use the latest qualification as an exception, but once assigned to an organization with weapons has 12 months to requalify or lose the score.
DTMS is the official source. The primary weapon must be assigned in DTMS at least one day before the qualification date, or the system will not capture it. Failure to designate a primary weapon defaults to zero points .
On DA Form 7801 (rifle/carbine/automatic rifle) the scale runs from 40 hits = 160 points (SGT) / 110 points (SSG) down to 23 hits = 33 points (SGT) / 28 points (SSG) . Selected reference points for SGT: 38 hits = 145, 35 hits = 123, 30 hits = 85, 25 hits = 48.
Soldiers in the Integrated Disability Evaluation System, or on a profile from pregnancy or postpartum, retain their last qualification score until medically cleared.
Record physical fitness test — 120 points max for BOTH grades
The Army Fitness Test (AFT) replaced the ACFT as the test of record on 1 June 2025 , and AR 600-8-19 Table 3-4 now converts the AFT aggregate directly:
- AFT aggregate Points AFT aggregate Points
- 500 120 400–404 60
- 495–499 117 350–354 30
- 470–474 102 320–324 12
- 450–454 90 305–309 3
- 425–429 75 300–304 1
Rules that matter:
A Soldier must attain a minimum passing score in each event taken to earn any points, and must use the last record test , even if it is lower than an earlier score.
Soldiers flagged for AFT failure receive no promotion points.
Permanent profile: the Soldier takes and passes a record test within the limits of the profile and is awarded 60 points for each event waived or alternate event passed , using the actual score for events performed.
Temporary profile: the Soldier uses the most current record score, provided it is not more than 1 year old ( 2 years for pregnancy/postpartum, with a commander's memorandum to extend before expiration).
3. Awards, Decorations, and Achievements (Para 3-16) — 145 / 165
Selected values from Table 3-5 and Table 3-6:
- Award or badge Points
- Soldier's Medal or higher; Bronze Star Medal with "V" 35
- Bronze Star Medal; Purple Heart 30
- Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal; Air Medal with "V"; ARCOM with "V" 25
- Air Medal; Joint Service Commendation Medal; Army Commendation Medal 20
AAM; Joint Service Achievement Medal; Good Conduct Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal; Army Recruiting Ribbon 10
- Expert Infantryman, Expert Field Medical, and Expert Soldier Badges 60
- Combat Infantryman, Combat Medical, and Combat Action Badges 30
- Master Parachutist, Master EOD, Master Gunner, Master Recruiter 20
- Senior Parachutist, Drill Sergeant Badge, Basic/Senior Army Instructor Badge 15
- Basic Parachutist, Air Assault, Pathfinder, Driver and Mechanic Badge 10
Three rules candidates routinely miss:
Badges are not cumulative. A higher-level badge only increases the score by the difference between the levels. A Master Recruiter Badge is worth 20 total, not 15 + 20 = 35.
Certificate of Achievement (DA Form 2442): 5 points each, maximum 20 points . It is awarded by commanders or deputy commanders in positions authorized LTC or higher, by any general officer or GS-13-and-above civilian equivalent, or by brigade-level CSMs .
Airborne advantage (Table 3-7): an airborne-qualified Soldier in a paid parachute position receives 20 additional points , and a jumpmaster (ASI 5W) in a paid parachute position receives 40 additional points — and these are awarded without regard to the maximum point rules .
4. Military Education (Para 3-17) — 240 / 245
- Component SGT cap SSG cap
- PME (BLC for SGT, ALC for SSG) 150 + honors 150 + honors
- Resident military training (ATRRS) 110 115
- Computer-based / correspondence 90 90
PME is the single largest lever in the score. A graduate of BLC receives an additional 150 promotion points toward SGT; a graduate of ALC receives an additional 150 toward SSG. Add 20 points for commandant's list and 40 points for Distinguished Honor Graduate or Distinguished Leadership Graduate, verified on DA Form 1059 . Graduation must be a matter of record no later than the 26th calendar day of the board month.
Resident training listed in ATRRS earns 4 points per week , where a week is defined as 40 training hours . Ranger, Special Forces, and Sapper qualification courses each earn 40 points , and all phases must be complete.
No points are granted for MOS-producing courses, badge-producing courses, basic combat training, advanced individual training, new equipment training, language training, OCS, WOCS, on-the-job training, Sergeant's Time Training, FEMA courses, or anything recorded only on a DA Form 87.
Computer-based training through ATRRS Self-Development or Army e-Learning earns 1 point per 5 hours , and only for courses completed in their entirety — sub-course completion earns nothing. Allow up to 12 days for a completion to populate. Duplicate courses earn nothing.
5. Civilian Education (Para 3-18) — 135 / 160
2 promotion points per semester hour from an institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Quarter, contact, and clock hours convert to semester hours.
Degree completion: 20 points. For SSG the degree must have been completed while in the rank of SGT ; for SGT it must have been awarded after enlistment and before promotion to SGT.
CLEP / DANTES: 2 points per credit hour where the credit is not duplicated on a transcript.
Technical certifications: 10 points each for a T2COM-approved certification, not to exceed five certifications or 50 points . Recertification earns nothing additional.
Defense Language Proficiency Test: 25 points for a 1/1 listening-and-reading rating (or 1 in speaking on the OPI). Both modalities must be taken within 30 days of each other, and the score must be no more than one year old at the point-computation month.
6. IPPS-A, the PRR, and the Monthly Cycle
Promotion points are computed automatically by IPPS-A from the data in the Soldier's record. Under paragraph 3-14, that automation is paired with a hard rule: there is no consideration for correcting a score outside the promotion cycle because information was missing or incomplete. A data entry made in February drives the 1 April promotion month.
Integration suspense: HR professionals must execute all integrations no later than the 26th day of the month; the record should then read "Promote Select."
Order of merit: the promotion recommended roster (PRR) groups Soldiers by grade and MOS, sequenced by promotion score from highest to lowest, regardless of zone .
Roster Audit History (RAH): an IPPS-A tool giving a date-by-date breakdown of a Soldier's points by category (AFT, weapons, awards, and so on). This is the tool to use before disputing a score.
Backdated promotions are requested as an Administrative Systems Correction (ASC) , not an Administrative Records Correction (ARC); an ARC is not pay-impacting and generates no promotion order.
Reevaluation: a Soldier who believes their score has increased by 20 or more points may request an administrative reevaluation at any time.
7. Reading the HQDA Cutoff Score Memorandum
Each month HRC's Promotions Branch publishes HQDA Promotion Point Cutoff Scores under the record number 600-8-19h , roughly on the 20th , for promotions effective the 1st of the following month . Army-level decisions are made against requirements and inventory data as of 0200 Eastern time on the 2nd calendar day of the month.
The memorandum lists, by MOS, the cutoff score, eligibles on list, and estimated promotions for SGT and SSG. Reading it:
A numeric cutoff (for example, 11B SGT at 250): every Soldier in that MOS on the order of merit list at or above 250 who meets the pin-on gates is selected.
A cutoff of 798: the practical ceiling. The MOS is effectively closed for that grade in that cycle because requirements are met or exceeded.
The published floor (currently 24): a "star MOS" shortage. Every fully qualified Soldier on the recommended list is selected.
"N/A": no requirement published for that MOS and grade this cycle.
- 8. Two Worked Calculations
- Specialist Garcia — competing for Sergeant (11B)
- Line Computation Points
- Weapons qualification 34 hits on DA Form 7801 115
- Record AFT Aggregate 455 → Table 3-4 band 459–455 93
- Military training subtotal cap 280 208
- Awards ARCOM 20 + 2× AAM 20 + GCM 10 + 2× COA 10 60
- Military education BLC graduate 150 + commandant's list 20 + 250 dl hours ÷ 5 = 50 220
- Civilian education 30 semester hours × 2 60
- Total 548
Note that Garcia's military-education line is capped at 240, so all 220 count. Against a published 11B SGT cutoff of 250, Garcia is selected.
Sergeant Jenkins — competing for Staff Sergeant (91B)
- Line Computation Points
- Weapons qualification 38 hits on DA Form 7801 (SSG scale) 104
- Record AFT Aggregate 470 → Table 3-4 band 474–470 102
- Military training subtotal cap 230 206
- Awards MSM 25 + 2× ARCOM 40 + 3× AAM 30 + 2× GCM 20 + 4× COA 20 (cap) + Air Assault 10 145
- Military education ALC graduate 150 + commandant's list 20 + 450 dl hours ÷ 5 = 90 (cap 90) 245 (capped)
- Civilian education 60 semester hours × 2 = 120 + degree completion 20 140
- Total 736
Jenkins's raw military-education line is 260, which the 245-point category cap reduces to 245. Jenkins has graduated BLC, so the pin-on PME requirement is satisfied.