How do you become a lance corporal while in boot camp?

Answer 1

I got promoted by showing a NCO potention and my contingent commander saw it and promoted me to L/CPL ... and thats my story. Some tips i would give are ... stand out e.g. have your kit always spotless and keep helping others to make their kit good but make sure you are seen doing this , so in other words show off and you will get promoted really soon :D

Answer 2

Promotion is a matter of time in service and time in grade, that is the amount of time you have served before being promoted, and the time you have held a specific rank before being promoted to the next. There are only two largely automatic promotions in the US Military, those are promotion from E-1 to E-2, and from E-2 to E-3. It is possible to enter the military with a higher rank. In the 1980's there was an enlistment program called the Buddy Program, where if you enlisted at the same time as a friend or friends, you would be granted a higher rank (one friend equalled E-2, two friends equalled E-3). I am not certain if this program still exists. The other way to enter service with a higer rank is to attend college and earn college credits prior to enlistment. I do not believe it is possible for anyone to enter service with a rank of E-4, Lance Corporal as this is a junior NCO rank. Promotion to E-4 and above has additional requirements beyond time in service and time in grade.