E-5 • E-6 • 2026 Standards • All 5 Categories

Army Promotion Points Calculator 2026

Enter your scores across all five promotion point categories — AFT, weapons qual, military education, civilian education, and awards — and get your total instantly. See how you stack up against typical MOS cutoffs.

Promotion Points Calculator
Maximum 800 points • E-5 (SGT) and E-6 (SSG)
Physical Fitness Max 120 pts
0 pts
Weapons Qualification Max 160 pts
0 pts
Military Education Max 260 pts
0 pts
included above
Civilian Education Max 100 pts
0 pts
Awards & Decorations Max 165 pts
0 pts

Award points: AAM = 15 pts, ARCOM = 25 pts, MSM = 35 pts, BSM = 40 pts, ACOM = 50 pts. Estimate based on your current decorations. Cap is 165 points.

Your Total
0
/ 800 POINTS

Competitive Range

Your total puts you in a competitive position for promotion.

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How Army Promotion Points Work in 2026

Army promotion points determine which soldiers get promoted to Sergeant (E-5) and Staff Sergeant (E-6). Every eligible soldier competes within their MOS — the soldier with the highest total points above the monthly cutoff gets promoted first. In 2026, your total comes from five categories with a maximum of 800 points.

Category Max Points How to Maximize
Physical Fitness Domain 120 pts total AFT contributes up to +30 pts (score 400+); remaining 90 domain pts from other fitness categories
Weapons Qualification 160 pts Qualify Expert on your primary weapon (160 pts)
Military Education 260 pts Complete SLC for full 260 pts; BLC/WLC = 80, ALC = 160
Civilian Education 100 pts Bachelor’s degree earns 75 pts; Master’s earns 100 pts
Awards & Decorations 165 pts ARCOM = 25 pts, MSM = 35 pts, BSM = 40 pts (capped at 165)
TOTAL MAXIMUM 800 pts

How the AFT Score Converts to Promotion Points

The Army Fitness Test contributes up to +30 promotion points toward your total. The remaining points in the Physical Fitness domain (up to 90 more) come from other fitness categories. AFT scores are recorded in DTMS and count from October 1, 2025 (general standard) and January 1, 2026 (combat MOS, Active Duty). Reserve and Guard combat MOS soldiers: June 1, 2026.

AFT Score RangeCategoryAFT Promotion Points
400–500Excellent / Exceptional+30 pts (maximum from AFT)
380–399Good+20 pts
350–379Satisfactory+10 pts
300–349Minimum Pass0 pts
Below 300Failure0 pts (triggers flag)

Exact point conversions are published in DA PAM 600-8-19. The ranges above represent the approximate tiers. Use the calculator above with your actual AFT score for the most accurate estimate.

Where to Find Your MOS Cutoff Score

Monthly promotion point cutoff scores are published by HRC (Human Resources Command) at hrc.army.mil under Enlisted Promotions. Cutoffs change every month based on how many promotion slots are available for each MOS and grade. Check HRC the first week of each month.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many promotion points does the AFT contribute?
The AFT contributes a maximum of +30 promotion points toward SGT (E-5) and SSG (E-6) promotion. The official tiers are: 350–379 = +10 pts, 380–399 = +20 pts, 400 or above = +30 pts (maximum). The Physical Fitness domain maximum of 120 points includes all fitness categories, not AFT alone. General standard effective October 1, 2025.
What are all 5 categories of Army promotion points?
The five categories are: Physical Fitness/AFT (120 pts max), Weapons Qualification (160 pts max), Military Education (260 pts max), Civilian Education (100 pts max), and Awards & Decorations (165 pts max). Total maximum is 800 points.
What AFT score earns maximum promotion points?
The AFT contributes a maximum of +30 promotion points. Tiers: 350–379 = +10 pts, 380–399 = +20 pts, 400 or above = +30 pts. Scoring above 400 does not add more — 400+ earns the same maximum. These tiers are official per Army records effective October 1, 2025.
How do I find the cutoff score for my MOS?
Monthly cutoff scores are published by HRC at hrc.army.mil under Enlisted Promotions. Cutoffs change every month. They vary significantly by MOS and grade. Check the first week of each month for the updated list.
Do promotion points differ between E-5 and E-6?
The five categories and maximum points per category are identical for E-5 (SGT) and E-6 (SSG). However, the monthly cutoff scores vary by MOS and grade. An MOS with many available E-5 slots may have a lower cutoff than E-6, or vice versa.
What is the fastest way to increase promotion points?
The three fastest improvements are: (1) Qualifying Expert on your weapon instead of Sharpshooter adds 40 points immediately. (2) Improving your AFT score from 350–379 (+10 pts) to 400+ (+30 pts) adds 20 promotion points. (3) Completing ALMS/DL courses available through your unit can add points in the Military Education category within weeks.