Da 3355 Template

Guidelines on Filling in Da 3355

Filling out the DA Form 3355 is a crucial step in the process for United States Army Reserve soldiers seeking promotion. The information provided in this form helps to objectively calculate a soldier's promotion points by evaluating various aspects of their military and civilian achievements. The form's accurate completion can significantly influence a soldier's career advancement. Follow the steps below to ensure the proper completion of the DA Form 3355.

1. Begin by entering the Type of Authority under which the form is being filled: Initial, Total Reevaluation, or Annual Re-Computation.
2. Fill in the soldier's Name and Date of Birth in the format YYYYMMDD.
3. Enter the current Date, also in the format YYYYMMDD.
4. Provide the Organization name or code where the soldier is currently assigned.
5. Indicate the Recommended Grade and Recommended MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) for the promotion.
6. In Section A - Recommendation, start with Military Training. Record the Latest APFT (Army Physical Fitness Test) Date, include raw scores for push-ups, sit-ups, and run, and then calculate the Points Earned.
7. For Weapons Qualification, enter the date of the latest qualification, the DA Form used for recording, total hits, and the points earned.
8. Add up the Total Military Training Points Earned and enter the sum.
9. Have the recommending Commander provide their typed signature block, date, and then sign the form.
10. The recommended soldier must also sign and date the form.
11. Mark whether the Promotion Board Recommendation is Yes or No.
12. The Board President then provides their typed signature block, dates, and signs the form.
13. Proceed to Section B - Administrative Points to list Awards, Decorations, Badges, including the Order Number and Award Number, and calculate total points earned.
14. List all relevant Military and Civilian Education achievements, along with associated points earned in the respective fields.
15. Under Section C - Totals, compute the total points for each category: Military Training, Awards/Decorations, Military Education, and Civilian Education. Fill in the points earned and maximum points available.
16. In Section D - Authentication, an administrative official must certify the accuracy of the points by providing their name, signature, and date. The Promotion Authority also signs and dates the form.
17. If the soldier is not recommended for promotion, a counseling statement section is provided for acknowledgment.

Once the form is completed and all signatures are obtained, it should be reviewed for accuracy and completeness before submission. This ensures the soldier's promotion points are accurately reflected for consideration.

Filling out the DA 3355 form, which is crucial for evaluation and updating promotion points for members of the United States Army Reserve, requires careful attention to detail. Common mistakes can hinder the promotion process, making it essential to approach this task with precision and thoroughness. Here are eight common pitfalls to avoid:

1. Not updating personal information like name and date of birth correctly and completely. Simple errors here can lead to significant complications.

2. Entering incorrect dates for events such as the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) and weapons qualification. Precision with dates ensures that your records are current and accurately reflect your eligibility.

3. Omitting raw scores from the APFT section or inaccurately calculating the points earned. The calculation must reflect your current physical fitness status to ensure fair evaluation.

4. Forgetting to include or incorrectly listing awards, decorations, badges, and certificates of achievement. Every point counts, and missing information can lower your total score.

5. Not specifying military and civilian education details, including course names, completion dates, and corresponding points. These elements critically impact your educational points evaluation.

6. Overlooking the signature and date sections throughout the form, which are crucial for validation. Unsigned or undated forms lack the official endorsement needed for processing.

7. Incorrectly calculating totals in Section C for military training, awards/decorations, military education, and civilian education. Accuracy here affects your promotional eligibility directly.

8. Failure to accurately transcribe points from supporting documents which leads to discrepancies in the total points claimed. Always double-check your entries against the source material.

By steering clear of these common errors and proceeding with care, you significantly improve the accuracy of your DA 3355 form, paving the way for a smooth promotion evaluation process.

Completing the DA Form 3355, a pivotal document for evaluating promotion eligibility in the United States Army Reserve, often requires the compilation and submission of several additional forms and documents. Each plays a critical role in accurately portraying a soldier's qualifications, achievements, and overall readiness for promotion. Below is an exploration of some of these essential documents that, when combined with the DA Form 3355, provide a comprehensive overview necessary for the promotion board's assessment.

• DA Form 705 (Army Physical Fitness Test Scorecard): This form records the results of a soldier's physical fitness test, a critical component of the DA Form 3355. It details the soldier’s performance in push-ups, sit-ups, and the 2-mile run, which are pivotal for calculating the total promotion points.
• DA Form 3595-R (Record Fire Scorecard) or DA Form 5789-R (Record Scorecard for Alternate Aerobic Event): These forms document a soldier's weapons qualification scores, another essential factor in determining promotion eligibility. The total hits and qualification level achieved contribute to the overall military training points on the DA Form 3355.
• Transcripts for Civilian and Military Education: Official transcripts are required to verify both civilian and military education points claimed on the DA Form 3355. These may include college courses, technical certifications, and military education courses completed by the soldier.
• Awards and Decorations Records: Documentation of awards, decorations, badges, and certificates of achievement that contribute to a soldier's administrative points must be presented. Each award's order number and award number must be accurately listed to ensure correct point calculation.
• DA Form 638 (Recommendation for Award): For any recent awards not yet recorded in the soldier's personnel file, a completed DA Form 638 can be submitted to verify the award and its corresponding promotion points.
• NCO Evaluation Reports (NCOERs): These evaluations provide a comprehensive look at a soldier's performance and potential for increased responsibility, vital considerations for promotion boards.
• DA Form 4187 (Personnel Action): This form may be needed to request updates to a soldier’s official military personnel file (OMPF) prior to the submission of the DA Form 3355, reflecting any recent achievements, duty position changes, or other pertinent updates.
• Proof of Battle Staff NCO Course Completion (if applicable): Soldiers claiming points for completing the Battle Staff NCO Course must provide a certificate of completion, boosting their total military education points on the DA Form 3355.

In summary, the DA Form 3355 is a crucial document that requires careful preparation and detailed support through various additional forms and records. Each supporting document verifies the soldier's achievements and competencies, thereby ensuring a fair and comprehensive assessment by the promotion board. Together, these documents paint a full picture of the soldier’s readiness for promotion, reflecting both their dedication to service and their potential for future leadership roles within the United States Army Reserve.

• The DA Form 638, used for recommending awards and decorations, shares similarity with DA Form 3355 by tracking soldiers' achievements to affect their career progression. Both forms require detailed documentation of a soldier's accomplishments, though one is focused on promotion points while the other pertains to specific awards.

• DA Form 1059, a Service School Academic Evaluation Report, is similar to DA Form 3355 in that it documents the educational achievements of soldiers, either through military or civilian education, and impacts their eligibility for further advancement and opportunities within the military.

• The DA Form 2166-9 Series (NCO Evaluation Report) is used to evaluate non-commissioned officers and directly influences their promotion points, similar to how DA Form 3355 compiles points for promotion eligibility. Both forms assess performance and military proficiency, contributing to career advancement decisions.

• DD Form 214, the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, while fundamentally a discharge document, contains information on a soldier's service, including training, awards, and education, which can be crucial for calculating promotion points on the DA Form 3355.

• The DA Form 4187, Personnel Action Form, can be used for various personnel actions including requests for reassignment, extra rations, or name changes. Its similarity to the DA Form 3355 lies in its capacity to affect a soldier's career through administrative changes that might impact promotion points indirectly.

• DA Form 705, Army Physical Fitness Test Scorecard, is directly related to DA Form 3355 in that the physical fitness test scores are recorded on this form and then used as an input for calculating total promotion points in section A of DA Form 3355.

• The DA Form 5500 (Body Fat Content Worksheet) and DA Form 5501 (Female Body Fat Content Worksheet) similarly impact a soldier's eligibility for promotion, much like DA Form 3355. While these forms focus on physical standards, the fitness aspect directly affects a soldier's promotability, reflecting on their overall assessment for advancement.

• DA Form 4856, Developmental Counseling Form, shares a purpose with the counseling statement section of the DA Form 3355. It is used to document counseling sessions, including those concerning promotion status and deficiencies, providing a comprehensive overview of a soldier's readiness and suitability for advancement.

When filling out the DA 3355 form, which is used within the United States Army Reserve for determining a Soldier's eligibility for promotion, it's crucial to approach the process with attention to detail and accuracy. The following are guidelines to help ensure the form is completed correctly:

1. Review the entire form to understand the information and documentation required.
2. Ensure all personal information, including name, date of birth, and recommended grade, is accurate and up to date.
3. Clearly document the latest Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) scores, including the date taken and points earned for push-ups, sit-ups, and the run.
4. Enter the most recent weapons qualification details accurately, noting the total hits and points earned.
5. Detail all awards, decorations, badges, and certificates of achievement, including order numbers and award numbers where applicable.
6. List all military and civilian education and training, ensuring that dates and points earned are current and correctly calculated.
7. Double-check the totals in each section to ensure that the point computations are correct.
8. Ensure both the Soldier and the recommending authority's signatures and dates are properly included in the respective sections.
9. Verify that the promotion board recommendation is clearly indicated as either 'Yes' or 'No'.

• Do not leave any required fields blank. If a section does not apply, make sure to note it as 'N/A' (not applicable).
• Avoid guessing or estimating scores and dates; only use documented and verifiable information.
• Do not overlook the importance of the counseling statement section; complete it if the Soldier is not recommended for promotion.
• Avoid submitting the form without a thorough review by both the Soldier and the recommending authority to catch any errors or omissions.
• Do not forget to include the date in the YYYYMMDD format for consistency and accuracy.
• Resist the temptation to rush through the process; taking the time to accurately complete the form can impact promotion eligibility.
• Do not ignore the privacy act statement at the beginning of the form; understanding your rights and the purpose of the information requested is important.
• Do not use outdated editions of the form; always ensure you are filling out the most recent version.
• Avoid making handwritten changes or corrections; if errors are found, it is advisable to complete a new form to ensure legibility.

Many misunderstandings surround the DA Form 3355, which is crucial for managing promotion points in the United States Army Reserve. Let's dispel some common misconceptions for a clearer understanding.

• It's only for evaluations. While the primary purpose of the DA Form 3355 is to determine promotion eligibility by documenting a soldier's promotion points, it's a misconception that its use is limited to evaluation periods. This form also facilitates updates to a soldier's promotion points as they acquire new qualifications, awards, or complete additional training.
• Disclosure is mandatory. The form mentions that disclosure is voluntary, not mandatory. However, failing to provide the required information may result in a denial of promotion, which often leads to confusion. Soldiers are encouraged to submit this form to ensure accurate and up-to-date reflection of their achievements.
• All sections carry equal weight. Many believe that each section of the DA Form 3355 contributes equally to the final point tally. In reality, different sections have maximum points thresholds (e.g., 340 for sergeant and 255 for staff sergeant in the Military Training section), reflecting the varying importance of each category in the promotion decision process.
• Civilian education doesn't matter. Another common misconception is undervaluing the section on civilian education. This section can significantly impact a soldier's promotion points, with up to 135 points for sergeant and 160 points for staff sergeant available. This reflects the Army's holistic view of a soldier's development and the value of civilian-acquired skills.
• Filling it out once is enough. A prevalent myth is that soldiers only need to submit this form once during their service. However, as careers progress and soldiers complete additional training, earn new awards, or achieve other milestones, the DA Form 3355 should be updated to accurately reflect these achievements and potentially increase promotion points.
• It's a lengthy and complicated process. While the form does require thoroughness, the misconception that it's overly complicated can deter soldiers from timely submissions. Understanding the form's structure and the documentation required can simplify the process, making it more approachable for those aiming for promotion.

Understanding these misconceptions and the truths behind them is crucial for members of the US Army Reserve striving for promotion. Clarifying these aspects ensures soldiers can accurately showcase their qualifications and achievements, ultimately aiding their career progression.

• Filling out the DA Form 3355 is a critical step for United States Army Reserve soldiers who are looking to get promoted. It provides a standardized way to evaluate a soldier's promotion eligibility based on various achievements and qualifications.

• The form is divided into sections that cover different areas, including military training, administrative points, awards, decorations, and badges, as well as military and civilian education. Each section contributes to the soldier's total promotion points.

• It is important to accurately report your Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) scores and your weapons qualification results, as these are key components in the military training section that could significantly impact your total points.

• Awards, decorations, and badges are acknowledged in their specific section, and they can add a considerable amount of points towards promotion. Include all relevant details such as order number and award number to ensure you receive the appropriate points.

• Both military and civilian education play a critical role in the promotion process. Listing all attained military education courses and civilian education achievements can greatly increase your total points. Be sure to include certifications and completed courses.

• All parts of the form must be filled out completely and accurately. Incorrect information can delay the promotion process or result in denial of promotion. After completion, the form requires signatures from the recommending officer, the Administrative Official, and, if applicable, the Promotion Authority.