I am a 91B (formerly 63B) mechanic and I am interested in reclassing as a means of career progression. I want to reclass from 91B (63B) to 91L (62B) but I was told that if I reclass that I lose my promotable status; is this true? My retention NCO told me that it wasn't in any regs or anything like that, it's just something that happens and there's no way around it.

I've been in for almost 5 years and this just doesn't sit right with me; it doesn't seem logical. How is promotable status related to my MOS?

Also, I know of at least one other situation within my same BN where a soldier reclassed in order to make cut-off. This soldier went to AIT for the new MOS and was promoted before he would have had time to go to another promotion board. This leads me to beleive that he did not lose his promotable status while reclassing.

Any help with this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

You shouldnt loose your promotable status when you reclass. The only time it might come into question is if the mos you are reclassing requires you to be a SPC non-p. When I reclassed I had a friend who was a SGT-P when he reclassed, and was promoted to SSG in the new MOS after a month, which is when you are able to be promoted in the new MOS. SO you should not loose your promotable status.

If the MOS you are going into needs a SGT NON (P), and you are Promotable, then the only way to do it would be to give up (P) status. Ask me how I know, 68V school accepts only SGT NON (P) and below. So I personally had to give up (P) status to lock in the school.

b. Voluntary Reclassification. Soldiers reclassified as a result of volunteering, reenlisting, or implementation of the
Army’s FASTTRACK Program. These Soldiers retain their current MOS and remain fully eligible, in that MOS, for
promotion consideration, recommendation, and subsequent promotion until completion of the required training and
award of the new PMOS as identified by ASI 4A.
(1) SPC and SGT reclassified while in a promotable status will compete against the promotion point cutoff score of
the new MOS effective the month reclassification is completed and may be promoted in the newly awarded MOS
effective the first day of the second month following reclassification. USAR SPC and SGT reclassified while in a
promotable status will be moved to the appropriate permanent promotion recommended list (PPRL) following reclassification
and promoted in sequence based on promotion points. SPC and SGT who are not on a recommended
promotion list at the time of reclassification may be recommended in the new PMOS at any time following award of
the new PMOS (provided otherwise eligible).

That is an excerpt from AR 600-8-19 para 1-31. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but according to that I would be keeping the "p" status all the way through AIT for the new MOS.

Thank you DevilDog...

Yes, you Stay Promotable through the reclassification.

But what Corvette says is correct as well.
SOME MOS don't allow anyone to reclass as a SSG (or above,) or even SGT.

So if you want one of those MOS, check w/ the Career Counselor to make sure that you don't get "too much" rank before you're finished with your new MOS training.

Once you get orders for the new MOS and a 1059 in hand, then by all means go get promoted!!!