{"id":36970,"date":"2018-04-26T19:02:56","date_gmt":"2018-04-26T19:02:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/04\/26\/deployed-and-cant-go-to-school-you-may-still-be-able-to-get-that-promotion\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:09:24","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:09:24","slug":"deployed-and-cant-go-to-school-you-may-still-be-able-to-get-that-promotion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/04\/26\/deployed-and-cant-go-to-school-you-may-still-be-able-to-get-that-promotion\/","title":{"rendered":"Deployed and can\u2019t go to school? You may still be able to get that promotion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i><b>Editor\u2019s note: <\/b>This story has been updated to include links to documents on how to apply for a deferment to professional military education.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Army is now allowing a select group of soldiers to be promoted before they complete their <a href=\"https:\/\/partner-mco-archive.s3.amazonaws.com\/client_files\/1525201631.pdf\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">required professional military education<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The latest update to the Army\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/partner-mco-archive.s3.amazonaws.com\/client_files\/1525201543.PDF\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">STEP<\/a> \u2014 or select, train, educate and promote \u2014 policy, was effective April 7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.armytimes.com\/news\/your-army\/2016\/02\/18\/army-reduces-pme-backlog-but-classroom-vacancies-remain-an-issue\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">deferment<\/a> to professional military education targets soldiers who are deployed and unable to break away for school, said <a href=\"http:\/\/www.armytimes.com\/news\/your-army\/2017\/04\/04\/csm-the-army-wants-to-put-drill-sergeants-back-in-ait-in-2019\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">Command Sgt. Maj. Dave Davenport<\/a>, the senior enlisted soldier for <a href=\"https:\/\/partner-mco-archive.s3.amazonaws.com\/client_files\/1525201631.pdf\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">Training and Doctrine Command<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Eligible soldiers \u201cmust be fully qualified for promotion, and the only thing they\u2019re missing is PME,\u201d Davenport said. \u201cThey must be operationally deployed, [and] there\u2019s a lack of training opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apart from those exceptions, the Army\u2019s policy has not changed, Davenport said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPME remains a promotion requirement,\u201d he said. \u201cAll we\u2019re trying to do, because of the op tempo, is to try to [provide] a template for those that seek out a deferment to PME or exception to policy for those who are deployed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Soldiers who receive a PME deferment can be promoted, but they then have 24 months after returning from deployment to get to school, Davenport said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Davenport said he expects just a small number of soldiers will qualify for a deferment to PME.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe don\u2019t want to penalize soldiers, especially in low-density MOSs,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Deployed soldiers serving in small military occupational specialties whose PME courses are offered only two or three times a year are a good example of those who may need a PME deferment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey\u2019re doing everything, they\u2019re fit, they\u2019ve knocked out their [Structured Self-Development], they\u2019re doing everything right, but they don\u2019t have the opportunity to attend PME like those in the State or home station,\u201d Davenport said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another example is a deployed squad leader, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSquad leaders are very important to our Army,\u201d Davenport said. \u201cSo, if there\u2019s a sergeant team leader doing the right thing, leading soldiers every day in combat, we may not necessarily want to break them away for PME, even though some units are doing that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The option to receive a deferment is \u201canother tool a commander can use to build more squad leaders,\u201d Davenport said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As of May 1, Army leaders continued to work on official guidance on how to apply for a deferment. However, more information is available <a href=\"https:\/\/partner-mco-archive.s3.amazonaws.com\/client_files\/1525201631.pdf\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/partner-mco-archive.s3.amazonaws.com\/client_files\/1525201543.PDF\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Army began implementing STEP in January 2016.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under STEP, soldiers must complete a regimen of online and resident military education courses to be considered for, and then promoted to, the ranks of sergeant through sergeant major.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since the policy was put into place, STEP has \u201cproduced fantastic results,\u201d Davenport said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen we started this journey almost three years ago now, we had about 14,000 soldiers in the backlog,\u201d Davenport said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That number is now down to 1,800 soldiers who still need to attend their required PME.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"797\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ARM-PME-cover-1-web.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-73295\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ARM-PME-cover-1-web.jpg.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ARM-PME-cover-1-web.jpg.jpg?resize=300,199 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ARM-PME-cover-1-web.jpg.jpg?resize=768,510 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ARM-PME-cover-1-web.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,680 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A soldier assigned to the 25th Infantry Division navigates a series of obstacles during a leadership course at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. The Army is rolling out major changes to its professional military education courses in a bid to grow better, well-rounded leaders. (Army)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How did the Army do it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe really holistically looked at our processes and made sure we were getting the right soldier at the right time to school,\u201d Davenport said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">TRADOC also added capacity in the schoolhouses as needed, and streamlined the instructor certification processes in order to get them into classrooms more quickly, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One example is in the Basic Leader Course, which is required for promotion to sergeant. The Army sent a mobile training team to Afghanistan to run 10 iterations of the course for soldiers there. There also is a BLC mobile training team in Kuwait, run by the National Guard and Army Reserve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His biggest concerns with the backlog, Davenport said, are the noncommissioned officers who have been in grade longer than three years. There are about 500 of them among the 1,800 who need school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere are reasons why they\u2019re not going to school, and they are reasons we, TRADOC, don\u2019t control,\u201d Davenport said. \u201cThat\u2019s where the partnership with FORSCOM comes in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">TRADOC has been working closely with Forces Command to get units to identify soldiers who need school and work with them to get there, Davenport said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Units also have been playing their part, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cA lot of units are training ahead,\u201d Davenport said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, the 1st Armored Division has increased its number of instructors so more soldiers can get the PME they need before deploying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Davenport said he hopes soldiers \u2014 and their commanders \u2014 understand the importance of professional military education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But he also said he understands soldiers shoulder a high operations tempo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI want them to know STEP is not going away,\u201d he said. \u201cThis deferment to PME does not relieve them of the requirements of complete PME for their grade. We\u2019re not going back. We\u2019re just acknowledging the op tempo for our Army will require us to do this.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The deferment to professional military education targets soldiers who are deployed and unable to break away for school.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":73293,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":70,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[100,12,25,70],"tags":[],"coauthors":[505],"class_list":["post-36970","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-news","category-newsletters","category-your-army"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"CCWPXITCZFAINFJW7BE4PXMDXE","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/your-army\/2018\/04\/26\/deployed-and-cant-go-to-school-you-may-still-be-able-to-get-that-promotion\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Deployed and can\u2019t go to school? You may still be able to get that promotion - Army Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The deferment to professional military education targets soldiers who are deployed and unable to break away for school.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Deployed and can\u2019t go to school? You may still be able to get that promotion\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The deferment to professional military education targets soldiers who are deployed and unable to break away for school.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/04\/26\/deployed-and-cant-go-to-school-you-may-still-be-able-to-get-that-promotion\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Army Times\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2018-04-26T19:02:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-08T03:09:24+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Michelle Tan\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Michelle Tan\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\n\t    \"@context\": \"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\n\t    \"@graph\": [\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Article\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/news\\\/your-army\\\/2018\\\/04\\\/26\\\/deployed-and-cant-go-to-school-you-may-still-be-able-to-get-that-promotion\\\/#article\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/news\\\/your-army\\\/2018\\\/04\\\/26\\\/deployed-and-cant-go-to-school-you-may-still-be-able-to-get-that-promotion\\\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"author\": {\n\t                \"name\": \"migration\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"headline\": \"Deployed and can\u2019t go to school? You may still be able to get that promotion\",\n\t            \"datePublished\": \"2018-04-26T19:02:56+00:00\",\n\t            \"dateModified\": \"2026-08-08T03:09:24+00:00\",\n\t            \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/news\\\/your-army\\\/2018\\\/04\\\/26\\\/deployed-and-cant-go-to-school-you-may-still-be-able-to-get-that-promotion\\\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"wordCount\": 865,\n\t            \"commentCount\": 0,\n\t            \"publisher\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/#organization\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/news\\\/your-army\\\/2018\\\/04\\\/26\\\/deployed-and-cant-go-to-school-you-may-still-be-able-to-get-that-promotion\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/ARM-PME-cover-2-web.jpg.jpg\",\n\t            \"articleSection\": [\n\t                \"Daily News Roundup\",\n\t                \"News\",\n\t                \"Newsletters\",\n\t                \"Your Army\"\n\t            ],\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"CommentAction\",\n\t                    \"name\": \"Comment\",\n\t                    \"target\": [\n\t                        \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/news\\\/your-army\\\/2018\\\/04\\\/26\\\/deployed-and-cant-go-to-school-you-may-still-be-able-to-get-that-promotion\\\/#respond\"\n\t                    ]\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/news\\\/your-army\\\/2018\\\/04\\\/26\\\/deployed-and-cant-go-to-school-you-may-still-be-able-to-get-that-promotion\\\/\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/news\\\/your-army\\\/2018\\\/04\\\/26\\\/deployed-and-cant-go-to-school-you-may-still-be-able-to-get-that-promotion\\\/\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Deployed and can\u2019t go to school? You may still be able to get that promotion - Army Times\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/#website\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"primaryImageOfPage\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/news\\\/your-army\\\/2018\\\/04\\\/26\\\/deployed-and-cant-go-to-school-you-may-still-be-able-to-get-that-promotion\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/news\\\/your-army\\\/2018\\\/04\\\/26\\\/deployed-and-cant-go-to-school-you-may-still-be-able-to-get-that-promotion\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/ARM-PME-cover-2-web.jpg.jpg\",\n\t            \"datePublished\": \"2018-04-26T19:02:56+00:00\",\n\t            \"dateModified\": \"2026-08-08T03:09:24+00:00\",\n\t            \"description\": \"The deferment to professional military education targets soldiers who are deployed and unable to break away for school.\",\n\t            \"breadcrumb\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/news\\\/your-army\\\/2018\\\/04\\\/26\\\/deployed-and-cant-go-to-school-you-may-still-be-able-to-get-that-promotion\\\/#breadcrumb\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ReadAction\",\n\t                    \"target\": [\n\t                        \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/news\\\/your-army\\\/2018\\\/04\\\/26\\\/deployed-and-cant-go-to-school-you-may-still-be-able-to-get-that-promotion\\\/\"\n\t                    ]\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/news\\\/your-army\\\/2018\\\/04\\\/26\\\/deployed-and-cant-go-to-school-you-may-still-be-able-to-get-that-promotion\\\/#primaryimage\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/ARM-PME-cover-2-web.jpg.jpg\",\n\t            \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/ARM-PME-cover-2-web.jpg.jpg\"\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"BreadcrumbList\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/news\\\/your-army\\\/2018\\\/04\\\/26\\\/deployed-and-cant-go-to-school-you-may-still-be-able-to-get-that-promotion\\\/#breadcrumb\",\n\t            \"itemListElement\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 1,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Home\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/\",\n\t                    \"ad_zone\": \"home\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 2,\n\t                    \"name\": \"News\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/news\\\/\",\n\t                    \"ad_zone\": \"news\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 3,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Your Army\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/news\\\/your-army\\\/\",\n\t                    \"ad_zone\": \"your-army\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 4,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Deployed and can\u2019t go to school? You may still be able to get that promotion\"\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"WebSite\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/#website\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Army Times\",\n\t            \"description\": \"Independent News For Soldiers | Army Times\",\n\t            \"publisher\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/#organization\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"SearchAction\",\n\t                    \"target\": {\n\t                        \"@type\": \"EntryPoint\",\n\t                        \"urlTemplate\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"\n\t                    },\n\t                    \"query-input\": {\n\t                        \"@type\": \"PropertyValueSpecification\",\n\t                        \"valueRequired\": true,\n\t                        \"valueName\": \"search_term_string\"\n\t                    }\n\t                }\n\t            ],\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\"\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/#organization\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Army Times\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/\",\n\t            \"logo\": {\n\t                \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t                \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\n\t                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/army-logo-white.png\",\n\t                \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/army-logo-white.png\",\n\t                \"caption\": \"Army Times\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"\n\t            }\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Person\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1\",\n\t            \"name\": \"migration\",\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t                \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=gcf4cb6ee0ec29e49e7a963234e4340ec\",\n\t                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\n\t                \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\n\t                \"caption\": \"migration\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/author\\\/migration\\\/\"\n\t        }\n\t    ]\n\t}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Deployed and can\u2019t go to school? You may still be able to get that promotion - Army Times","description":"The deferment to professional military education targets soldiers who are deployed and unable to break away for school.","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Deployed and can\u2019t go to school? You may still be able to get that promotion","og_description":"The deferment to professional military education targets soldiers who are deployed and unable to break away for school.","og_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/04\/26\/deployed-and-cant-go-to-school-you-may-still-be-able-to-get-that-promotion\/","og_site_name":"Army Times","article_published_time":"2018-04-26T19:02:56+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-08-08T03:09:24+00:00","author":"Michelle Tan","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Michelle Tan","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/04\/26\/deployed-and-cant-go-to-school-you-may-still-be-able-to-get-that-promotion\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/04\/26\/deployed-and-cant-go-to-school-you-may-still-be-able-to-get-that-promotion\/"},"author":{"name":"migration","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/#\/schema\/person\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1"},"headline":"Deployed and can\u2019t go to school? You may still be able to get that promotion","datePublished":"2018-04-26T19:02:56+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-08T03:09:24+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/04\/26\/deployed-and-cant-go-to-school-you-may-still-be-able-to-get-that-promotion\/"},"wordCount":865,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/04\/26\/deployed-and-cant-go-to-school-you-may-still-be-able-to-get-that-promotion\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ARM-PME-cover-2-web.jpg.jpg","articleSection":["Daily News Roundup","News","Newsletters","Your Army"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/04\/26\/deployed-and-cant-go-to-school-you-may-still-be-able-to-get-that-promotion\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/04\/26\/deployed-and-cant-go-to-school-you-may-still-be-able-to-get-that-promotion\/","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/04\/26\/deployed-and-cant-go-to-school-you-may-still-be-able-to-get-that-promotion\/","name":"Deployed and can\u2019t go to school? You may still be able to get that promotion - Army Times","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/04\/26\/deployed-and-cant-go-to-school-you-may-still-be-able-to-get-that-promotion\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/04\/26\/deployed-and-cant-go-to-school-you-may-still-be-able-to-get-that-promotion\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ARM-PME-cover-2-web.jpg.jpg","datePublished":"2018-04-26T19:02:56+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-08T03:09:24+00:00","description":"The deferment to professional military education targets soldiers who are deployed and unable to break away for school.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/04\/26\/deployed-and-cant-go-to-school-you-may-still-be-able-to-get-that-promotion\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/04\/26\/deployed-and-cant-go-to-school-you-may-still-be-able-to-get-that-promotion\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/04\/26\/deployed-and-cant-go-to-school-you-may-still-be-able-to-get-that-promotion\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ARM-PME-cover-2-web.jpg.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ARM-PME-cover-2-web.jpg.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/04\/26\/deployed-and-cant-go-to-school-you-may-still-be-able-to-get-that-promotion\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/","ad_zone":"home"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/","ad_zone":"news"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Your Army","item":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/","ad_zone":"your-army"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Deployed and can\u2019t go to school? You may still be able to get that promotion"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/#website","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/","name":"Army Times","description":"Independent News For Soldiers | Army Times","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/#organization","name":"Army Times","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/army-logo-white.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/army-logo-white.png","caption":"Army Times"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/#\/schema\/person\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1","name":"migration","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=gcf4cb6ee0ec29e49e7a963234e4340ec","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"migration"},"url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/author\/migration\/"}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Army Times","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes","push-errors":false,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ARM-PME-cover-2-web.jpg.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36970","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36970"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36970\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36977,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36970\/revisions\/36977"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73293"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36970"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36970"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36970"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=36970"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}